Dissolving PLA
Hey guys
What can I use to dissolve PLA from a hotend? I don't need it to be fast. I'm looking for something like acetone for ABS.
Thanks
Re: Dissolving PLA
Errr. I believe Chloroform is about the only options that is available at pharmacies, but they may not be too amenable to selling it for the described purpose.
Thy heating a little and wipe with paper tower. Worst cases, a wire brush will help. Better to prevent the issue in the first place; try the E3D socks.
Peter
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Re: Dissolving PLA
I had this issue with one print ,a huge glob of PLA attached and stuck around the Hotend (not my Prusa I3). As Peter suggested above heat the hotend to temp and the PLA can be removed by pulling it off and final cleanup maybe via a small wirebrush, it worked for me. (Ulitmaker 2+)
Nigel
Life is keeping interested and excited by knowledge and new things.
Re: Dissolving PLA
PLA also dissolves in di-chloro methane which is just about as toxic as chloroform, but since politicians have heard of chloroform (it's a DRUG!) and haven't heard of di-chloro methane there are no draconian laws against it and it's relatively easy to buy on ebay. Both will give you liver cancer so use either in a very well-ventilated area.
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Re: Dissolving PLA
Try ethyl acetate. It is a solvent for PLA. I brought some to make up a PLA glue and my test bond just painting it on PLA neat and worked. I tried pulling the test bond appart and the plastic broke instead of the bond.
It is also relatively safe. Like acetone it used in nail polish remover. So take similar precautions to acetone and you should be safe.
Regards,
Martin
Martin Wolfe