First print in PA6-CF20

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smokee

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Hey everyone, I’m new here, this is my second post (1st was introducing myself)

This is my first print on PA6-CF20.
I had printed a few in PLA+, but decided to do one in this filament. Overall I’d say it turned out good.

This is a chairman design. G17V3

Settings I used.
Printer - Bambu P2S
Walls 8
100% infill
Slowed speed for walls
Ironing top surfaces
Tree supports

Dried filament at 100•C for 10 hours, left dryer on while printing. After I removed supports I annealed it for 16 hours at 100•C

Is PLA+ still the preferred filament for printing?

Any tips would be appreciated.
 

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smokee said:
Is PLA+ still the preferred filament for printing?
Click to expand...
Being in Colorado and a law abiding citizen, I can't print firearms any longer.
I have however used PA6-CF25 for some parts and have been happy with it.

As far as frames go, I would still stick to PLA+.
There are a couple schools of thought pertaining to fiber filled filaments and I belong the one that thinks you lose adhesion between layers with fiber filaments.


I know there are other benefits to fiber filaments, but I don't really think any justify the cost or extra trouble while printing.
 
James Moore said:
Being in Colorado and a law abiding citizen, I can't print firearms any longer.
I have however used PA6-CF25 for some parts and have been happy with it.

As far as frames go, I would still stick to PLA+.
There are a couple schools of thought pertaining to fiber filled filaments and I belong the one that thinks you lose adhesion between layers with fiber filaments.


I know there are other benefits to fiber filaments, but I don't really think any justify the cost or extra trouble while printing.
Click to expand...
I appreciate the feedback, thank you
 
James Moore said:
Being in Colorado and a law abiding citizen, I can't print firearms any longer.
I have however used PA6-CF25 for some parts and have been happy with it.

As far as frames go, I would still stick to PLA+.
There are a couple schools of thought pertaining to fiber filled filaments and I belong the one that thinks you lose adhesion between layers with fiber filaments.


I know there are other benefits to fiber filaments, but I don't really think any justify the cost or extra trouble while printing.
Click to expand...
looking at polymakers site at pla: they have polymaker pla pro, and then the have HT-PLA pro. I'm assuming that pla pro is pla+, but this HT-PLA pro I'm not sure about.

Which one would you use?
 
HT PLA Pro was just released (like within the past week). I haven’t tested it yet. I would go with PLA pro until more people test out the HT version… unless you also wanna test it out…
 
Bobster said:
This song just came to mind... :D (jk)

But for us neophytes, could you give a rundown on the potential benefits and procedure of annealing 3D prints? :)


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtK63l541mw
Click to expand...

Soooooo…. First off, great song.

Second, annealing, to me, is an extra step in the process that is unnecessary.

Annealing PLA+ or pro is a bit tricky. I personally find it not a good management of time or resources. I think it comes down. To personal preference and what your risk/longevity tolerance is. For me, pla pro has been great without annnealing.

PACF - there are arguments for both sides.. stats here and stats there. The thing with 3d printing is, I go into it with the mindset of this things isn’t meant to last forever, and I’m ok with that. People have had success both ways, annealing and not annealing. I personally don’t spend the time time annealing. I do let the frame sit out for a couple of days after printing to somewhat “water condition” it, but that is relative to the time of year it is and the humidity (that I barley experience lol). Do I have success with my prints. Yes. YMMV. Truth is, I never really bought into 💯 of the hype about annealing. Call it lazy or whatever, I just haven’t really messed with that. If something is working great for me there isn’t really a need for me to change it (at the moment). I think everyone’s situation is different and everyone should experiment accordingly. IMO, there really isn’t a one size fits all here. What works for me in my area with a particular filament might be different than someone from the south or the east coast.
The files come with general guidelines. I take a peek and see what they recommend, think to myself why do they recommend that and does it make sense, and then take into consideration all of my experience, the beta testers experience, research the frame and others peoples experience, and make the appropriate adjustments.

Long story long, no I do not find benefit to anneal things for my purpose or use case. To me that’s the benefit of a printer is I can always make another, or 8…

I think people get caught up in making a forever frame, and unfortunately, printing just isn’t there for a functional print yet. I do have tribute prints that I have fired a handful of times and then put away as kind of a keepsake. But in all honesty, I keep the file and can always just print another if needed.

I guess it all depends on your end game and what your plans are. Will annealing make a printed frame last forever, no, but it might make it last a little longer? Can you always duplicate the frame if needed, yes. Can you improve the frame along the way, yes.

I guess what I’m really trying to to say is the beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
 
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smokee said:
looking at polymakers site at pla: they have polymaker pla pro, and then the have HT-PLA pro.
Click to expand...
Like @Benchies Go Boom says, give it some more time before going whole hog, but I plan on getting some to do my own very unscientific testing lol.

I have always been happy with Polymaker Pro and while Polymaker doesn't come right out with an official endorsement of 3D2A, they have always been very open to the community.

I don't think you'll find any other filament producers that feature 3D2A in their ads.

www.facebook.com

Polymaker

✨Meet Polymaker™ HT-PLA Pro. Engineered for functional prints that require more from your material, it delivers enhanced toughness and improved thermal performance after annealing—all while keeping...
www.facebook.com www.facebook.com


I don't know if that's an actual firearm, but it definitely gets the point across.
 
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Benchies Go Boom said:
Annealing PLA+ or pro is a bit tricky. I personally find it not a good management of time or resources. I think it comes down. To personal preference and what your risk/longevity tolerance is. For me, pla pro has been great without annnealing.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the explanation! :) (y)
You sound like me: If it ain't broke, don't fix it... ;)
 
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