Use of cyanoacrylate or other glues to assemble printed parts. Interested in comments and thoughts.
I have always endeavored to design and print my models so that they can be assembled with minimal use of external connectors or glues. However, I am beginning to take a more pragmatic approach and use superglue (cyanoacrylate) and screws when design and printing and final assembly of my model might otherwise be compromised.
Specifically regarding the use of glue, I am curious about the thoughts and experience of others on this topic? Is this the "optimal" approach? Am I using the best glue type (I print mostly using PETG filament)? How long can I expect the glue to hold under different conditions of mechanical and environmental stress? What are the alternatives?
Thanks for indulging me here.
JG
RE: Use of cyanoacrylate or other glues to assemble printed parts. Interested in comments and thoughts.
I can tell you how long the glued parts will hold, this also depends a lot on the contact area and stress scenarios. Cyanoacrylate glues are however in my opinion among the best allrounder glues for plastics in general. Your glueing strength might be enhanced by roughening up the contact surface with fine sanding paper first, and/or using activator.
For long lasting connections, especially under mechanical stress screeing connections, either with screw and nut or with screw and heat insert will be probably the better choice
Mk3s MMU2s, Voron 0.1, Voron 2.4
RE: Use of cyanoacrylate or other glues to assemble printed parts. Interested in comments and thoughts.
PS: PETG itself isn't the best material for glueing, if not to say among the worst. ASA/ABS for example aren't as tricky. Nonetheless cyanoacrylate glues work also with PETG, but probably less effective than with other polymers.
Mk3s MMU2s, Voron 0.1, Voron 2.4
RE: Use of cyanoacrylate or other glues to assemble printed parts. Interested in comments and thoughts.
I found CA glue to be an excellent tool, especially with PETG. Blow on one of the surfaces so the moisture of your breath will accelerate the bonding process. I found that my models are more likely to break elsewhere than at the glue site. I use brass heat inserts and screws or bolts and nuts as well but frankly only when I need to be able to separate the parts again.
RE: Use of cyanoacrylate or other glues to assemble printed parts. Interested in comments and thoughts.
I often use CA for all kinds of plastics and had no problems so far. At least not if I remember to clamp the parts together while the glue is setting in order to ensure a tight fit.
There have been a few situations where CA wasn't enough - for example that one time I had to glue a PETG part to a part made of HDPE... For those situations, I always have some epoxy in storage. 🙂
RE: Use of cyanoacrylate or other glues to assemble printed parts. Interested in comments and thoughts.
I like Starbond KEG-500. It's a flexible superglue. It's fast, effective, and won't crack or craze like regular superglue does.
As for fasteners, I like M4 machine screws for attaching parts together. They're self-threading and are quite strong. I also use pegs, slots, anchors, and lots of surface area with right angles to attach multiple parts together.
RE: Use of cyanoacrylate or other glues to assemble printed parts. Interested in comments and thoughts.
I too have had very good success with CA for PETG parts. I also use CA when attaching parts to metal though it is important to make sure you have a good fit before gluing up. Clamping is also a good idea.
RE: Use of cyanoacrylate or other glues to assemble printed parts. Interested in comments and thoughts.
CA may be sometimes tricky because it may bond too quickly.
So I prefer two part epoxy that bonds in 10 about minutes.
See my GitHub and printables.com for some 3d stuff that you may like.