HOW TO PRINT WITH LW-PLA

DataSheets:

HOW DOES IT WORK?

This material is based on our unique PLA/PHA recipe which means that it will print very similar to our other PLA/PHA materials. We’re sure most will be able to dial in settings in no time, but we still thought a write-up on print settings is interesting to share.

Assuming nozzle size and layerheight are fixed, our main input variables are Temperature, speed and flow to determine the amount of expansion.Assuming nozzle size and layerheight are fixed, our main input variables are Temperature, speed and flow to determine the amount of expansion.

HOW TO DETERMINE THE EXPANSION OF THE FILAMENT

If you want to print lightweight parts which are dimensonally accurate, it’s important to first determine the possible expansion of the material. This can be done by printing single perimeter test cubes (Download here: Test Cube) without top and bottom layers. We use the following 4 step process to determine the maximum expansion at a certain speed, temperature and flow.

1. PRINT CUBES (Download here: Test Cube) AT A SET SPEED IN TEMPERATURES VARYING FROM 200°C UP TO 280°C

2. MEASURE PERIMETER THICKNESS OF EACH CUBE, NOTE TEMPERATURE WITH HIGHEST EXPANSION.

3. PRINT CUBES WITH DECREASING STEPS OF FLOW, USING TEMPERATURE FOUND IN STEP 2.

4. FIND THE CUBE AT WHICH PERIMETER THICKNESS EQUALS NOZZLE SIZE.

APPLICATIONS

LIGHTWEIGHT PRINTING

Lightweight printing can be done by using the settings determined in the paragraph above. Keep in mind that if the flow is decreased to low values the hot-end might clog due to the filament expanding before exiting the nozzle.

LARGER LAYER HEIGHTS

Due to the expanding behavior of the material it is possible to 3D print with larger layer heights the nozzle itself, this means short build times for quick draft models.