How to use the Dowell 3d material PLA filament
5 tips for 3D printing with PLA filament
First of all it’s important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of PLA filament. Furthermore you also have to know how to get the most from this material. It’s important to take possible issues into account when deciding to start 3D printing with PLA. So you know what you can expect. To help you with 3D printing PLA filament, we’re giving our 5 tips for using PLA filament:
1. Control the temperature
When printing with PLA material it is important that the temperature is right. Therefore, begin with a starting temperature of 195 °C will ensure that you give yourself the best chance of success. The temperature can then be reduced or increased by 5-degree increments to obtain the right quality of print and strength so that they complement each other. Some high quality PLA plastics can be printed at a lower temperature because it contains a higher level of pure resin with fewer contaminants. To improve the adhesion to the build plate, it is important that it is heated to 60 degrees.
2. Look out for stringing (temperature too high)
If the temperature is too high then strings will appear between the separate parts. The extruder will leak PLA material when it moves between the different areas during printing. Should this occur, then you will be required to decrease the temperature. Do this in increments of 5 degrees per step, until the extruder stops leaking so much material.
3. Layers fail to adhere (temperature too low)
Should the printing temperature be too cold, you will find that the filament will fail to adhere to the previous layer. Which will then create a surface that looks and feels rough. It can also mean that the part will be weaker and can then be pulled apart easily. If this should happen, the printhead temperature should be increased by five-degree increments until the printing looks good and the line segments for each layer are right. As a result the part will be stronger once the job has finished.
4. Lower level of viscosity
It can occur that a filament has a lower level of viscosity when compared to other types of PLA material. For that reason leaking will be higher at lower temperatures. If this is the case then the retraction should be increased by a few millimeters. You can change the retraction distance in the 3D printing software, for example in Simplify3D.
5. Keep the PLA filament dry
PLA material needs to be storaged in a cool and dark place, preferably in a sealed bag. By doing this, you will preserve the quality of the PLA plastics. Consequently it will ensure that the result of the printing process is as expected.
Industries that use PLA material
As PLA is a very adaptable material that comes with many benefits, it is common to find its use in a number of industries. Consequently the applications for which it can be used are developing and growing. Printing with PLA material brings a multitude of benefits. Therefor the it’s getting more popular in more and more industries. And it creates new possibilities for manufacturers. The way in which the filament is better for the environment certainly works in its favor and this means that it will continue to play a major role in FFF printing. As it is easier on the environment, it will mean that businesses are seen to be doing their bit for the environment. As a result manufacturers produce more products that are durable, strong and reliable.
Food Packaging
As PLA material is seen as a safe alternative to traditional plastics, it is now being used in food packaging. However, it is used because of its ability to package food as it can be disposed extremely easily and will not harm the environment.
Automotive
The automobile industry is constantly looking at ways to build vehicles that are environmentally friendly and so, PLA material is the perfect option when it comes to prototyping car parts. End-products can be found in plastic trim and plastic on dashboards.
Household appliances
Many household appliances can be found which contain PLA material. This is because it’s a plastic that offers environmental benefits as well as benefits for the application for which it is used.
