Plastic for 3D printing

malx · 07/27/2016, 01:45 PM

I need to 3D print some small spacers for my tank. I know this topic has been debated but never was able to find a firm answer.

This is the filament i want to use. Anyone have experience with any of these? Are they reef safe?

Natural: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Black: https://www.amazon.com/Octave-Black-...Black+Filiment

Let me know!
Joey

mcgyvr · 07/27/2016, 03:31 PM

ABS is totally fine..
pla or pla/plh is not (it will degrade over time with water contact)
petg is fine..
nylon is fine.. (but expansion with water can be higher).

malx · 07/27/2016, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

ABS is totally fine..
pla or pla/plh is not (it will degrade over time with water contact)
petg is fine..
nylon is fine.. (but expansion with water can be higher).

Thanks! Got both ABS black and natural. Going to use the natural for the proof of concept of what I need and if it works I'll print the finals in black.

mcgyvr · 07/27/2016, 04:05 PM

Ever printed with ABS before?
It can be more difficult that typical PLA..
Warping/shrinkage and bed securement can be a big issue..

I run ABS with my printer fully enclosed to keep the temp stable during printing and use a glue stick on the glass bed to keep it stuck down.. I'll also print parts with little bed contact with a "brim" to provide more surface area keeping it down.

Also keep it dry/away from humidity to keep the moisture out before printing..
"drying" it prior to use isn't a bad idea either if you seen to be having moisture problems..

malx · 07/27/2016, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

Ever printed with ABS before?
It can be more difficult that typical PLA..
Warping/shrinkage and bed securement can be a big issue..

I run ABS with my printer fully enclosed to keep the temp stable during printing and use a glue stick on the glass bed to keep it stuck down.. I'll also print parts with little bed contact with a "brim" to provide more surface area keeping it down.

Also keep it dry/away from humidity to keep the moisture out before printing..
"drying" it prior to use isn't a bad idea either if you seen to be having moisture problems..

I live in Vegas, no moisture problems here. I'm printing a custom spacer for my MP40s. It's mostly flat and round. I don't anticipate any of these issues as its a really small job.

Bmore88 · 07/27/2016, 05:18 PM

Malx, just curious, what other things have you printed off your 3D printer? Anything interesting or tank related?

malx · 07/31/2016, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bmore88

Malx, just curious, what other things have you printed off your 3D printer? Anything interesting or tank related?

Nothing yet. I'm borrowing this 3D printer! I'll let you know how it goes.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

bundybear1981 · 08/01/2016, 03:06 AM

Good luck! It gets almost as addictive as the salt water does.

malx · 08/07/2016, 05:54 PM

So this 3D printer is having trouble printing ABS and PLA isn't safe. Meh, dilemma.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

bundybear1981 · 08/08/2016, 03:58 AM

Can you explain what you mean by its having trouble?
What type of printer is it?

07/27/2016, 01:45 PM	#1
malx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,324	Plastic for 3D printing I need to 3D print some small spacers for my tank. I know this topic has been debated but never was able to find a firm answer. This is the filament i want to use. Anyone have experience with any of these? Are they reef safe? Natural: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Black: https://www.amazon.com/Octave-Black-...Black+Filiment Let me know! Joey

07/27/2016, 03:31 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	ABS is totally fine.. pla or pla/plh is not (it will degrade over time with water contact) petg is fine.. nylon is fine.. (but expansion with water can be higher). __________________ Who me?

07/27/2016, 04:05 PM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Ever printed with ABS before? It can be more difficult that typical PLA.. Warping/shrinkage and bed securement can be a big issue.. I run ABS with my printer fully enclosed to keep the temp stable during printing and use a glue stick on the glass bed to keep it stuck down.. I'll also print parts with little bed contact with a "brim" to provide more surface area keeping it down. Also keep it dry/away from humidity to keep the moisture out before printing.. "drying" it prior to use isn't a bad idea either if you seen to be having moisture problems.. __________________ Who me?

08/01/2016, 03:06 AM	#8
bundybear1981 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia Posts: 685 Blog Entries: 1	Good luck! It gets almost as addictive as the salt water does. __________________ Tank inhabitants : 2x Clownfish, 1x Blue Koran, 1x Foxface Lo, 1xCoral Beauty, 1x Blue Tang, 1x Sailfin Tang Current Tank Info: New Build : 250g (6x3x2) with 2x RW15 pumps, 2x 2200lph return pumps, Tunze ATO, Jebao Dosing Pump, AquaOne G220 Skimmer

08/08/2016, 03:58 AM	#10
bundybear1981 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia Posts: 685 Blog Entries: 1	Can you explain what you mean by its having trouble? What type of printer is it? __________________ Tank inhabitants : 2x Clownfish, 1x Blue Koran, 1x Foxface Lo, 1xCoral Beauty, 1x Blue Tang, 1x Sailfin Tang Current Tank Info: New Build : 250g (6x3x2) with 2x RW15 pumps, 2x 2200lph return pumps, Tunze ATO, Jebao Dosing Pump, AquaOne G220 Skimmer

07/27/2016, 05:18 PM	#6
Bmore88 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Baltimore, MD. USA Posts: 127	Malx, just curious, what other things have you printed off your 3D printer? Anything interesting or tank related?

08/07/2016, 05:54 PM	#9
malx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,324	So this 3D printer is having trouble printing ABS and PLA isn't safe. Meh, dilemma. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk