3 ms·

I wonder how the "wood" 3D filament which is particles embedded in a brown PLA would compare. PLA is generally quite weak, this filament is only suitable for or

I wonder how the "wood" 3D filament which is particles embedded in a brown PLA would compare. PLA is generally quite weak, this filament is only suitable for ornamental things. https://all3dp.com/2/wood-filament-for-a-3d-printer-explained-compared/ https://all3dp.com/2/wood-filament-for-a-3d-printer-explaine... For the actual woods, I am not suprised by the ironwood. I once had a coffee table with an ironwood top and it was ridiculously dense and strong. also, did you know there's an ironwood smuggling problem internationally? https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=ironwood+smuggling+indonesia https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=ironwood+...

almog 5y ago
I would guess that much like MDF, PLA wood's strength is determined by the binding agent. My understanding of this product is that it's basically sawdust + PLA, whereas a wood's strength is stemmed (sorry!!) from its grain.
mjb 5y ago
PLA is not "quite weak". In fact, PLA's tensile strength is the highest of the easily printed materials (so excluding nylon and polycarbonate). Typical printed tensile strength of PLA is 40-60% higher than PETG, for example. PLA is also stiff, among the stiffest of common printing materials.
- Robotbeat 5y ago
  Yeah, PLA, if you anneal it and use the right grade, has a strength to weight ratio the same as common Aluminum 3003 alloy, about 50MPa/(g/cc), which is also about the same as standard strength steel. It is quite strong for its weight. https://www.mmscience.eu/journal/issues/november-2020/articles/the-influence-of-annealing-temperature-on-tensile-strength-of-polylactic-acid/download https://www.mmscience.eu/journal/issues/november-2020/articl...
  - walrus01 5y ago
    I do not have any experience using pla in an industrial setting. When talking about 1.75mm filament one can buy on a roll for a basic 3d printer, I can say I've printed a number of PLA things at 200-215C with appropriate slicer settings, speeds and such for beautiful looking output results, but all of them can be easily snapped in half by hand if I try.
    - kube-system 5y ago
      Many aluminum objects can be easily broken by hand too. The design of your object will greatly affect whether it can withstand a given force. I have prints that have seen hundreds of pounds of force in use with no problem -- printed on $200 printers with $18 filament. As a general rule, you will get best results if your part is printed so that the force this in line with the layers, not perpendicular to them.
- walrus01 5y ago
  PLA in the context of low cost consumer fused deposition 3d printers is quite weak, compared to other filaments that can work in the same printer, such as abs. For something like a $300 printer you generally have a choice of pla, something like sainsmart tpu for semi flexible, and abs if you can print with ventilation. https://youtu.be/ycGDR752fT0 https://youtu.be/ycGDR752fT0
derbOac 5y ago
I can confirm from trying to cut fallen ironwood trees that they are ridiculously hard. It's viscerally obvious when it takes several times the amount of time and effort with a quality chainsaw. I was always confused after that experience why there isn't more ironwood furniture, and just assumed it's because it's too difficult to work with.

almog 5y ago

I would guess that much like MDF, PLA wood's strength is determined by the binding agent. My understanding of this product is that it's basically sawdust + PLA, whereas a wood's strength is stemmed (sorry!!) from its grain.

mjb 5y ago

PLA is not "quite weak". In fact, PLA's tensile strength is the highest of the easily printed materials (so excluding nylon and polycarbonate). Typical printed tensile strength of PLA is 40-60% higher than PETG, for example. PLA is also stiff, among the stiffest of common printing materials.

Robotbeat 5y ago
Yeah, PLA, if you anneal it and use the right grade, has a strength to weight ratio the same as common Aluminum 3003 alloy, about 50MPa/(g/cc), which is also about the same as standard strength steel. It is quite strong for its weight. https://www.mmscience.eu/journal/issues/november-2020/articles/the-influence-of-annealing-temperature-on-tensile-strength-of-polylactic-acid/download https://www.mmscience.eu/journal/issues/november-2020/articl...
- walrus01 5y ago
  I do not have any experience using pla in an industrial setting. When talking about 1.75mm filament one can buy on a roll for a basic 3d printer, I can say I've printed a number of PLA things at 200-215C with appropriate slicer settings, speeds and such for beautiful looking output results, but all of them can be easily snapped in half by hand if I try.
  - kube-system 5y ago
    Many aluminum objects can be easily broken by hand too. The design of your object will greatly affect whether it can withstand a given force. I have prints that have seen hundreds of pounds of force in use with no problem -- printed on $200 printers with $18 filament. As a general rule, you will get best results if your part is printed so that the force this in line with the layers, not perpendicular to them.
walrus01 5y ago
PLA in the context of low cost consumer fused deposition 3d printers is quite weak, compared to other filaments that can work in the same printer, such as abs. For something like a $300 printer you generally have a choice of pla, something like sainsmart tpu for semi flexible, and abs if you can print with ventilation. https://youtu.be/ycGDR752fT0 https://youtu.be/ycGDR752fT0

derbOac 5y ago

I can confirm from trying to cut fallen ironwood trees that they are ridiculously hard. It's viscerally obvious when it takes several times the amount of time and effort with a quality chainsaw. I was always confused after that experience why there isn't more ironwood furniture, and just assumed it's because it's too difficult to work with.