2 ms·

For something like this, where you need durability, lightness, and heat resistance, you just can't be at ABS. If your printer can't print it, I think it's worth

by stavros 10mo ago

For something like this, where you need durability, lightness, and heat resistance, you just can't be at ABS. If your printer can't print it, I think it's worth getting it printed somewhere else (after prototyping with other materials). Just the reduced weight alone will be worth it, let alone the fact that ABS is nigh indestructible.

WillAdams 10mo ago
PETG is a nice option w/o the same fumes and which has less of a need to vent outside.
- stavros 10mo ago
  PETG is nowhere near as light or heat-resistant as ABS, so it's a nice option only when you don't really care about the characteristics of what you're printing.
  - Aurornis 10mo ago
    PETG has a higher density than ABS. Its heat resistance is also not that far behind ABS. ABS is harder to print well. Warping and layer adhesion problems could make it perform worse than PETG unless everything was tuned properly.
    - stavros 10mo ago
      Yes, PETG has higher density, so it's much heavier for the same volume, exactly what the author doesn't want. The heat resistance isn't far behind, but that still means it's behind. Yes, it's hard to print well, but it's the best-performing material when you need light, durable material. That's the tradeoff.
      - Aurornis 10mo ago
        > Yes, it's hard to print well, but it's the best-performing material when you need light, durable material. That's the tradeoff It is not the "best performing material". There are several options which exceed its properties even further, but are increasingly expensive and harder to print. Engineering is about being good enough. PETG is good enough in this case, and also cheap and easy. Using PETG was a good choice. There's a spectrum of 3D printing materials. Not sure why you've chosen to die on the ABS hill. ABS isn't even in favor relative to ASA, FYI.
Aurornis 10mo ago
PETG and ABS have similar stiffness. Both are fine at the temperatures involved here. PETG is easier to print and deal with. ABS puts out some bad fumes that require actively exhausting the printer outside if you're trying to print in the house. ABS is harder to print. Getting good layer adhesion is hard. It's more prone to warping. You want a heated chamber, ideally. PETG is a fine choice for this. Going to ABS wouldn't change anything. Also FYI, most people prefer ASA over ABS for printing because it's a similar material with better properties almost across the board.

by stavros 10mo ago

WillAdams 10mo ago

PETG is a nice option w/o the same fumes and which has less of a need to vent outside.

stavros 10mo ago
PETG is nowhere near as light or heat-resistant as ABS, so it's a nice option only when you don't really care about the characteristics of what you're printing.
- Aurornis 10mo ago
  PETG has a higher density than ABS. Its heat resistance is also not that far behind ABS. ABS is harder to print well. Warping and layer adhesion problems could make it perform worse than PETG unless everything was tuned properly.
  - stavros 10mo ago
    Yes, PETG has higher density, so it's much heavier for the same volume, exactly what the author doesn't want. The heat resistance isn't far behind, but that still means it's behind. Yes, it's hard to print well, but it's the best-performing material when you need light, durable material. That's the tradeoff.
    - Aurornis 10mo ago
      > Yes, it's hard to print well, but it's the best-performing material when you need light, durable material. That's the tradeoff It is not the "best performing material". There are several options which exceed its properties even further, but are increasingly expensive and harder to print. Engineering is about being good enough. PETG is good enough in this case, and also cheap and easy. Using PETG was a good choice. There's a spectrum of 3D printing materials. Not sure why you've chosen to die on the ABS hill. ABS isn't even in favor relative to ASA, FYI.

Aurornis 10mo ago

PETG and ABS have similar stiffness. Both are fine at the temperatures involved here. PETG is easier to print and deal with. ABS puts out some bad fumes that require actively exhausting the printer outside if you're trying to print in the house. ABS is harder to print. Getting good layer adhesion is hard. It's more prone to warping. You want a heated chamber, ideally. PETG is a fine choice for this. Going to ABS wouldn't change anything. Also FYI, most people prefer ASA over ABS for printing because it's a similar material with better properties almost across the board.