Proper handling of glass fibre reinforced filaments
I had a roll of Fiberon PET-GF that I had bought for a project but never used until a few days ago. It's extremely easy to print, has a really nice matte finish and is structurally rigid. However... it literally gets under your skin. Handling both the filament and even the printed objects (with sharp edges) requires gloves. I won't go into the gory details but suffice it to say my fingers are only now starting to heal.
Wear gloves.
RE: Proper handling of glass fibre reinforced filaments
I wanted to add, that if loose glass fibers embed themselves in your skin, makes me wonder about how much of this stuff gets aerosolized and enters the lungs.
RE: Proper handling of glass fibre reinforced filaments
I’ve had that with Sirayatech ABS-GF
Great filament, besides the that.
The problem with GF splinters are that they’re borderline invisible even under magnification.
I wouldn’t imagine much gets in the air, if you tried cutting or sanding it that would be different.
RE: Proper handling of glass fibre reinforced filaments
I’ve had that with Sirayatech ABS-GF
Great filament, besides the that.
The problem with GF splinters are that they’re borderline invisible even under magnification.
I wouldn’t imagine much gets in the air, if you tried cutting or sanding it that would be different.
Makes sense. Only reason I picked up the GF variant is it comes in colors other than black. Even with gloves, the fact that even printed parts shed fibers is worrisome.
RE: Proper handling of glass fibre reinforced filaments
When I use it, I take the printed part (in gloves) run it under warm water and scrub with an old sponge. Parts are fine to handle after that.
I’ve had other GF filaments that are nowhere near as obnoxious to use.
RE: Proper handling of glass fibre reinforced filaments
Same thing happens when you cut or drill fiber glass boards ( garolite ). Years ago, more than I care to remember. I used to make my own PCBS for DIY audio Hifi projects (amplifiers, DACs, etc..). The fiber glass dust is nasty, Apart from wearing HSS drill bits as if it were wood, it gets into your skin and may get into your lungs as well. I still remember the rash on my fingers after one or two hours drilling fiber glass. Looking back now, I shudder to think of how recklessly dumb I was for not wearing gloves and, more important, a mouth/nose mask.
RE:
Hi,
I had a roll of Fiberon PET-GF that I had bought for a project but never used until a few days ago. It's extremely easy to print, has a really nice matte finish and is structurally rigid. However... it literally gets under your skin. Handling both the filament and even the printed objects (with sharp edges) requires gloves. I won't go into the gory details but suffice it to say my fingers are only now starting to heal.
Wear gloves.
Thanks for bringing up this topic as I was preparing it but was not sure to post it as it seems to be "controversial" for some people. My post btw would have had the topic "Reinforced filaments - CF, GF - a health risk?".
I want to point to following YT videos which have carbon fibre as topic, but - from my point of view - it's the same issue:
Yes, someone maybe can call these videos as "clickbait".
BUT, after a post on Reddit I found following warning from a filament manufaturer on its own homepage:
https://fiberlogy.com/en_US/c/Nylon-PA12-CF/153 (at the bottom, right of "Print settings" and "Tips and recommendations")
Then, I recommend following YT channel about carbon fibre within filament:
https://www.youtube.com/@Ibuiltathing/search?query=scam
https://www.youtube.com/@Ibuiltathing
The videos combined witrh the manufacturers warning gives place to think about such "reinforced" filaments...
Btw: I can't find any warning/hint to health risks -. you experienced yourself - concerning this GF reinforced filament on Polymakers homepage
Core One L
RE: Proper handling of glass fibre reinforced filaments
I've not had skin issues being in contact with CF filaments at all. As for GF, I'm not sure it's worth the hassle having to post-process prints to make them "safe".
RE: Proper handling of glass fibre reinforced filaments
Would like to use Prusament PP Glass Fiber Natural for laboratory equipment, but glassfibres seem to be irritating the skin of users. So targeted use even described in the description of the filament seems impossible even with laboratory gloves
Did anyone use Prusament PP Glass Fiber Natural in lab equipment?
RE: Proper handling of glass fibre reinforced filaments
Would like to use Prusament PP Glass Fiber Natural for laboratory equipment, but glassfibres seem to be irritating the skin of users. So targeted use even described in the description of the filament seems impossible even with laboratory gloves
Did anyone use Prusament PP Glass Fiber Natural in lab equipment?
The question is, if we have to make the whole part out of a reinforced filament or just reinforce sections/areas of the part...like steel reinforcement within a reinforced concrete part. For this MMU or INDX would come very handy because you dont't have to deal the the reinforced filament durcing filemant change.
Core One L
RE:
It's a misconception that chopped carbon or glass fibers make the prints structurally stronger, in fact they do the opposite. It decreases layer adhesion. This is because the chopped fibers end up getting in-between the layers. Yes, the parts are stiffer and have (in some cases) better heat deflection, but they are also much weaker along the Z-axis. GF and CF are mostly added to filaments to make them easier to print (control shrinkage and warping) and/or to give a pleasing matte finish.
In the case of pure polypropylene, it is extremely difficult to print without very meticulous bed preparation and thermal control. If warps very easily due to it's semi-crystaline nature and has very high shrinkage (up to 1.5%). Adding carbon fiber results in a better experience attempting larger parts without warping at he expense of layer adhesion (which is already bad enough with PP filaments) and still keeps chemical resistance as a primary trait. Another trade-off is losing the flexible nature of the material.
RE: Proper handling of glass fibre reinforced filaments
@ hyiger
Yes, misconception and marketing play a big role when it comes to such kind of "reinforced" filaments. FibreSeeker's approach is completely different but also needs also different equipment.
My posting aims to try to use such "reinforced" filaments within the part. Be it as infill or having just 2 perimeters of "normal" filament as outer shell which prevents exposing the "reinforced" filament. But, this also doesn't solve the "healthy" risk when such printed part breaks...
An interesting approach could be Siraya Tech's "Core Technology Filament". But still risky when it breaks. Btw, interesting blog post by Siraya Tech: Demystifying Fiber-Reinforced Filaments.
Another way could be to coat the part with a sealing. But such parts are mostly used as functional parts - letting the misconception and marketing apart - and by this a sealing maybe would not stay long on the surface.
Core One L