Noob questions on filament choices  

Re: Noob questions on filament choices

For your stated requirements, I'd go with PETG. There is some good comparison info here: https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.all3dp.com/1/3d-printer-filament-types-3d-printing-3d-filament/

Re: Noob questions on filament choices

PLA is by far the most forgiving, and easiest to print.
As for outdoor use- PETG is ok if you don't mind the color fading
ABS can be tricky to print-it can warp, does well outdoors, but also fades
ASA is your best bet for outdoor use, comparable in settings to ABS but does not exhibit the warping
You might take a look at Tom's video

Re: Noob questions on filament choices

For your stated requirements, I'd go with PETG. There is some good comparison info here: https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.all3dp.com/1/3d-printer-filament-types-3d-printing-3d-filament/

Thanks...believe it or not I was just there reading and have bookmarked that same page. Lots of good info there for sure.

PLA is by far the most forgiving, and easiest to print.
As for outdoor use- PETG is ok if you don't mind the color fading
ABS can be tricky to print-it can warp, does well outdoors, but also fades
ASA is your best bet for outdoor use, comparable in settings to ABS but does not exhibit the warping
You might take a look at Tom's video

Thanks for the info and the link. I will go watch that video now.

Nobody mentioned if any of the filaments can be used together (will they stick to each other) just to clear that up, can they?
Thanks,
dave

Re: Noob questions on filament choices

I believe PLA and TPU have been used together

regards Joan

Re: Noob questions on filament choices

I believe PLA and TPU have been used together

regards Joan

Re: Noob questions on filament choices

I believe PLA and TPU have been used together

regards Joan

Thanks joan,
So I guess only a few have that potential and the normal rule is to use the same material on all of your multi-color prints. I was mainly asking so i know that I have to buy 5 of the same type of filament and mixing of types is probably going to result in a fail. 😎
dave

Re: Noob questions on filament choices

Hi David,
the bottom right heart was done on a Mk3, using M600 manual filament change multicolour printing,

the others were done on a mk2 mmu printer

these are all PLA,

Below we have Black Sainsmart TPU and Prusa Silver PLA

this was interesting to print...

I set it up to print the TPU first, which was possibly a mistake

to stop the TPU sticking like crazy I put some forehead grease on the middle of the heatbed where I guessed the black would go...
started the print, and the nozzle temp went to 210C, which I wasn't expecting... so I dialled it back to 240, on the LCD,
the printer then did the outline in TPU, most of which missed the grease... then I caught the fan accidentally while changing filament,,, and the print failed due to a fan fault...

the tpu outline was a devil to remove.

I greased a larger area, and tried again... but the PLA didn't stick to the greased area...
so I stripped the filament off, regreased the buildplate... glad it's been hot over here, coz I had plenty of forehead grease... 😮

started the print again, when the TPU finished printing, the M600 code moved the extruder out of the way, and I wiped the build plate with an IPA soaked tissue to remove the remaining forehead grease, unloaded the TPU, Loaded the PLA and let the print complete

the TPU is 0.3mm thick, and the PLA 1mm thick,
I overlapped the PLA 5mm on each side to give a decent bond area. and it seems to have worked!

regards Joan

Re: Noob questions on filament choices

Hi David,
the bottom right heart was done on a Mk3, using M600 manual filament change multicolour printing,

the others were done on a mk2 mmu printer

these are all PLA,

Below we have Black Sainsmart TPU and Prusa Silver PLA

this was interesting to print...

I set it up to print the TPU first, which was possibly a mistake

to stop the TPU sticking like crazy I put some forehead grease on the middle of the heatbed where I guessed the black would go...
started the print, and the nozzle temp went to 210C, which I wasn't expecting... so I dialled it back to 240, on the LCD,
the printer then did the outline in TPU, most of which missed the grease... then I caught the fan accidentally while changing filament,,, and the print failed due to a fan fault...

the tpu outline was a devil to remove.

I greased a larger area, and tried again... but the PLA didn't stick to the greased area...
so I stripped the filament off, regreased the buildplate... glad it's been hot over here, coz I had plenty of forehead grease... 😮

started the print again, when the TPU finished printing, the M600 code moved the extruder out of the way, and I wiped the build plate with an IPA soaked tissue to remove the remaining forehead grease, unloaded the TPU, Loaded the PLA and let the print complete

the TPU is 0.3mm thick, and the PLA 1mm thick,
I overlapped the PLA 5mm on each side to give a decent bond area. and it seems to have worked!

regards Joan

Joan,
Thanks for posting that. I like the comment about having plenty of forehead grease. 😆 I see how you used the TPU and had a time with getting it to work but in the end you got it done. Those heart prints are looking good. Now I have to go read about the Marlin M600 filament change although I ordered the new v2.0 MMU with my MK3. Something tells me I will end up with more than one 3D Printer when it's all said and done. Must be reading too much and all the youtube videos where the people have 10 machines behind them on a wall with 100 boxes of filament. 😀

Question: I am in the US and wonder if it is more standard just to use metric with the software (as opposed to Imperial) like with Fusion 3D? Is there any advantage to one over another? If I download an STL file does that have any influence or is it just g-code at that point?? Still learning...
Thanks,
dave

Re: Noob questions on filament choices

3D printing can be addictive

most of the world uses metric units.

the reprap community is based on Metric units

your prnter is based on metric units

if you use metric units, you will not have to make conversions every time you slice a model.

good luck

regards Joan...

Re: Noob questions on filament choices

3D printing can be addictive

most of the world uses metric units.

the reprap community is based on Metric units

your prnter is based on metric units

if you use metric units, you will not have to make conversions every time you slice a model.

good luck

regards Joan...

Metric works for me. Thanks.

Re: Noob questions on filament choices

The trick to removing TPU- print it straight to the bed, no glue, tape, or anything else. When done, wick denatured alcohol (not IPA) around the perimeter with a q-tip. It helps to do this with the bed still warm. The TPU magically starts to lift off, with no residue or resistive force. I use this same trick to remove hot glue from any surface.

Re: Noob questions on filament choices

Question: I am in the US and wonder if it is more standard just to use metric with the software (as opposed to Imperial) like with Fusion 3D? Is there any advantage to one over another? If I download an STL file does that have any influence or is it just g-code at that point?? Still learning...
Thanks,
dave

If you import an STL file into Fusion 360, you will have to set the units to centimeters in order to keep the original scale. Otherwise you will have to do a manual conversion and scale your model properly. The reason being that STL files do not contain information about what unit was used to create a model. When Fusion imports it, it assumes it's centimeters.

I would suggest to work in millimeters though. After a while you will get a sense of it.