Material for Bike Part
Hi all,
i would like to print a part for my bike and scooter to hold a light. The weight of the light will be quite low ~100g, but the part will be subject to vibrations, heat, rain, cold,..... I was wondering how to print this part best (It's not designed yet though ;))
- What material is best? I so fast only used PLA, but have PETG and ASA here to try it
- Do I print with 100% infill? The part will be quite small - so no cost issue there 😉
- anything else to take into consideration?
Thanks
Dennis
RE: Material for Bike Part
I've had a PLA focus adapter on my bike headlight for two years now. I intend to replace it with PETG when it breaks; if it breaks.
Use whichever is your cheapest filament as you design, test and refine the part. When you have it working properly you can replace it with something else if you so desire. 100%? No. If you want extra strength add extra perimeters; voids in the centre give the part a little more resilience and act as crack stoppers, 30% should be enough.
Cheerio,
RE: Material for Bike Part
ASA, 3 or 4 outer layers, 100% infill, no question for me.
I try to give answers to the best of my ability, but I am not a 3D printing pro by any means, and anything you do you do at your own risk. BTW: I have no food for…
RE: Material for Bike Part
ASA filament is made for outdoor use (plastic parts on cars) as it better resists UV radiation without breaking down. Exposure to high/low temperature is better too.
Like @diem suggest, build the prototype in your preferred filament and make the final version in ASA with 3 perimeters, 0.5 - 1 mm top/bottom and 10-15% gyroid infill. If the infill is to dense there will be warping.
A draft shield or a build chamber will reduce warp if it is a problem.
I have printed some piping parts in PETG for outdoor use and they still works after 1-2 years, but the colors has fainted - PETG is far easier to print with than ASA.
Have a look at my models on Printables.com 😉
RE: Material for Bike Part
ASA or Nylon with CF, but you need to be really good with PLA and PETG before you move to these products.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Material for Bike Part
is ASA really that hard? 😉 I only used PLA so far. The printer is housed and i have both sheets.
RE: Material for Bike Part
@dehein2
In general, the higher the temp the more difficult the filament to print with. ASA is less difficult than ABS, but it can be challenging. Jumping right to ASA can a recipe for failure.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
RE: Material for Bike Part
@dehein2
PLA is - other than for learning the basics of 3D filament layer printing - IMHO a crappy material good for rapid size-fit, non-functional prototyping and the direct way to the trash can. A good ASA such as Spectrum ASA is a professional-grade material for functional parts and components, weather-resistant, UV-restistant and mechanically tough.
I try to give answers to the best of my ability, but I am not a 3D printing pro by any means, and anything you do you do at your own risk. BTW: I have no food for…
RE: Material for Bike Part
@justme3d
There is a strange collective aversion to PLA, I find I use it more and more these days. It is cheap, easy to print, much stronger and more durable than most people suppose and is suitable for a wide range of small domestic items, spare parts and repairs.
Like many others I used to print in a range of filaments ... and I still do, but far less nowadays.
Several parts printed in PLA over six years ago, before I bought my own printer, are still in good working order; prototype parts, intended to be replaced with tougher plastics but left in place pro-tem just never needed to be replaced. In time I realised that for many small plastic items PLA lasts as long as the expected working lifetime. Go figure.
Of course there are conditions where PLA is unsuitable and will fail, but they are easy to predict and then I reach for the nylon, PETG, Flex or whatever else is required.
But most of the time, PLA is the first choice.
Cheerio,