Know about the filaments used in a 3d printer
The 3D printing technology is one of the most unique and significant technology in the recent times. The technology came into limelight in the 1980s. The printer uses filament made of required materials and it is heated to form the supply for the printing.
In the initial stages, only a few materials were used for the 3D printing purposes. But due to the constant experiments which are being in this field, nowadays many materials are used. Since the use of the 3D printers is getting longer and the range is more diverse, the printer is getting advanced. One has to get the filament of the required material as per requirements of the project for which it will be used. The user should make careful planning before starting the printing process, since the parts made cannot be undone and the usage of wrong materials may harm the whole project. Nowadays, the 3D printing pen is also used which have also found its use in homes and offices. The 3D Doodler is the first 3D printing pen of kind.
Here, we are going to list the materials which may its use in the filament of the 3D printing technology and eventually become one of the most significant materials for printing.
- ABS and PLA
The two most popular materials used for 3D printing technology are Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA). The models made out of this material are extremely strong, since the materials have strength, nice flexibility and lightweight, that makes them quite perfect for this job.
The best material is PLA and can be considered as the king in these respects. The second is ABS since it has a small disadvantage and that requires very high temperature. The materials are mainly used for extrusion and extrusion of small materials become really tough if the temperature goes very high. The temperature required for PLA is about 105°C while the temperature required for ABS is over 200°C. Another setback is that produces lots of fumes while the 3D printing is done by that material, which is a bit tough for people and pets who have the breathing problem. Still, people consider ABS to be used more often since it is cheap than most other filaments used in this field.
- NYLON
Nylon is another great material which can be used for the projects done in homes. This material finds its use mainly in the medical industry since it possesses great biocompatibility. Many cartilage operations and other prosthetics are done with this material. The most popular among the Nylon materials is the Nylon 618 and but not worked with it often, compared to the traditional materials like ABS and PLA which are very easy to find.
Another trick which is used in using Nylon materials is the dyeing of the Nylon wires. The Nylon wires are dyed and dried before using. The results found using these materials in the 3D printing industry are quite impressive.
- WOOD
Wood is also used as the material for 3D printing. Many do not know the use of wood as the 3D printing material since it is not used widely. Wood, with a binding polymer, is used as the material. The models printed does not look like the traditional 3D prints because of the wood nature. The temperature needed for this material is medium and the method is FDM (Fused Deposit Modelling). The temperature changes and this might affect the colour of the model produced.
- PET
PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate) is another material used for 3D printing. This material is colourless and clear but when the material is heated, it changes its transparent nature. It is lightweight and the models built from them are shockproof.
There is a modification, which is known as PETG, which is also colourless and it is often compared with PLA. It is really stiff and tough and the models created from them are also of good strength and steady nature.
- PC
Polycarbonate (PC) is another thermoplastic material which is used for 3D printing technology. It is also extremely strong and shock resistant. This material is used widely in the making parts of automobile and other aerospace materials. This is because the material has gone good mechanical and heat resistant properties. The parts built with it are hard, strong and durable. The PC filament materials have the second best tensile strength among all the 3D printed materials, only before the materials that are made of PLA.
The material does need a fairly good temperature and is biocompatible and is the main reason why it is so much popular among the people who are involved in this technology. The prototyping needs are also met by this material.
There are also many other materials in the world out there which also proves to be quite perfect for 3D printing material. We have just listed the most common among them which is widely used among the people all over the world.
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