Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
The smaller the nozzle, the more de-
tailed the print, but the longer it takes.
220°C and does not require a heated bed
(painter's tape is just fine). When heated,
PLA smells a bit like sweet, toasted corn.
PLA tends to be stiffer than ABS. While
PLA does not require a heated bed, it can
warp a bit during cooling, something
that a heated bed can greatly improve.
Note that there is a “flexible PLA” variant
that, while trickier to use, will result in
objects that are squishy.
Plastic filament
The filament is the consumable of the
printer. Like an inkjet squirts ink, a 3D
printer squirts melted filament.
Choosing a Filament
There are a handful of plastics that are com-
patible with MPD-based printers. Each has its
pros and cons. I choose to print exclusively
with PLA because of its low toxicity and gen-
eral environmental friendliness.
PVA
PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) is a specialty
plastic used on multiple-extruder print-
ers to print support material. PVA is typ-
ically extruded at 190°C, is water soluble,
and can be used to print support mate-
rial in complex 3D prints with lots of
overhangs. PVA absorbs water like a
sponge, which causes problems in high-
humidity environments.
Alternative Materials
While MPD printers are generally tuned
to filament printing, it's not hard to
adapt them to support other materials.
A common mod is to add a syringe-style
extruder that handles materials such as
chocolate, frosting, and various kinds of
clays.
All printers are not compatible with all ma-
terials. Some materials may really stress a
printer, as the temperature range for extru-
sion may vary from 160°C to 305°C, depend-
ing on the material. A printer designed for
PLA/ABS at a max of 250°C may fail entirely
at 300°C.
With that in mind, the three most common
materials are PLA, ABS, and PVA. (Read more
about materials choices in Chapters 8 and 9 .)
ABS
ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene),
the cheapest of the three, is typically ex-
truded at between 215-250°C, and does
best with a heated bed to prevent warp-
ing. ABS creates mild, generally tolerable
fumes that may be dangerous to sensi-
tive people or certain pets (personally:
fume hood, please!). ABS can be quite
versatile. It can be sanded, and by mixing
ABS with acetone, it can be easily glued
together or smoothed to a glass-like fin-
ish.
Next Steps: What to Make
Once you start to get the hang of 3D printing,
a world of possibilities opens up. I've given
many of these things away as gifts. The ma-
terial costs are very cheap and the look of
surprise when you say, “Yeah, I printed that.
You want it? Different color? Nah, no prob-
lem, I can print as many as you want easily,”
is priceless! With my Ultimaker, I have printed
the following handy bits, and many, many
more (see Figures 1-8 through 1-15 ).
PLA
PLA (polylactic acid or polylactide) is a
biodegradable plastic typically made
from corn or potatoes. PLA filament is
extruded at a lower temperature of 160-
 
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