Looking for some community feedback on what “interesting” filaments we should sell: http://e3d-online.com/Filament/Interesting-Filament
We already have a bit of a range, and have more coming from Taulman and NinjaFlex, and some Polycarbonate. The whole reason I made my first all metal hotend is because I wanted to be able to print anything and everything, with all the cool filaments coming out now it only makes sense for us to be stocking them so people can get them with their hotends. If there’s anything else you’d like to see from us please let me know below so I can look into getting it in! Even if it’s something that doesn’t exist yet let me know - it’s not out of our reach to get something made up.
We’re also trying to get stock of FEP and Ultem, but that’s obviously a bit more challenging than other filaments! There’s also the possibility of POM/Delrin, but I’ve no idea how that will print.
Very Good work Sanjay! I have in mind some possible filament that can be classified in the “doesn’t exist yet” list or “wishlist” of future filaments: A filament “charged” or “filled” with particles, similarly to what is made for wood filament, but with for example glass fibers or carbon fibers or other micro-fibers. This does not have to be confused with material of which carbon fiber composite are made (these are normally reinforced plastic using carbon tissue or glass ply tissue that give the tensile strength of the material), but filament in which these small particles are inserted and when printed remain in a sort of non homogenous way. I’m not sure if this increase the strength of the material, but for my understanding there are non-wooven tissue or anisotropic materials that is made in a similar way. Another interesting type of plastic can be a conductive charged plastic. I know that there are conductive gaskets made of rubber with aluminum or silver powder in it. The most useful application is not related to “print circuits”, but to build custom shapes antennas for example considering that the material can reflect the electromagnetic energy. What do you think?
Interesting comments!
We have some filament on the way from ProtoPasta that is PLA+Short Chopped carbon fibers, which is I think exactly what you described. There’s quite a lot of lead time on it though because they have to setup all their machinery and then fulfil their Kickstarter orders. They also have some PC/ABS blend and a PLA that has an additive that increases the heat deflection temp. We’ll be getting them all in stock.
I’d like to see a PC/ABS with short-chopped CF in it.
We also have some really interesting conductive filament from a well known vendor that looks really promising. I need to check out exactly how resistive it is. I also have no idea if it will ever actually get to market.
I will look forward for these new filaments Regarding the conductive one in my experience these type of conductive plastic or rubber are not so useful for printing a “wire” due to resistivity, not so high, but no comparable with copper or aluminum, but it can be interesting also for EMI sealing or antistatic property. I don’t know if for have a good antenna the resistivity is so important, there are a lot of cheap WiFi antennas made from CD or cans, so it may work. You can tune your antenna changing the reflectors or directors ecc… As I said it’s a wish list, so very interested if these exists
@Ben_Malcheski Ultem is definitely something we want to stock. We might also start selling heated beds that can attain the temps needed to print the stuff too.
@Daniel_Wood PEEK is hard to extrude my manufacturers tell me, not out of the question, but not something I have an immediate source for. I do have one guy that thinks he can do it, but not in volume.
@Richard_Horne What is autochromic? I see references to car mirrors, but how does it differ from photochromic? Just backwards in terms of response?
After testing the E3D on our new “Bridge” material (some of the parts in our main photo are printed with an E3D), we purchased 6 each units 3 @ 3mm and 3 @ 1.75mm for testing with new materials we have on-going. While several are in test, an aluminum filled nylon that allows one to print odd shaped heat-sinks (as seen in most laptops) and some PC variants are in the cue.
@Tom_Martz Aluminium filled Nylon sounds very interesting, does it wear the nozzle? Would be great to print a hot-end mount that would also dissipate some heat.
We’ve got 4 different test lines, each of a different % of aluminum. We’re testing to find the optimum % as too much and durability suffers and too little, the effect is insufficient. That said, the order of requirements from our industrial customers is (1)Thermal Durability - Components will be pressed against the material…will it begin to flow over time? (2) Mech Strength - Most designs will include securing the part with screws, bolts, etc… (3) Thermal gradient - Will it equate to a metal HS by a usable %. After that, we would look at wear and other specs.
Regarding the conductive one in my experience these type of conductive plastic or rubber are not so useful for printing a “wire” due to resistivity, not so high, but no comparable with copper or aluminum, but it can be interesting also for EMI sealing or antistatic property. I don’t know if for have a good antenna the resistivity is so important, there are a lot of cheap WiFi antennas made from CD or cans, so it may work. You can tune your antenna changing the reflectors or directors ecc… As I said it’s a wish list, so very interested if these exists