Originally shared by Mark Wheadon
Is translucent PLA different?
Early days, but whilst #VeloicityPrinting with translucent PLA gives a useful result which looks like changes in surface properties (matte to shiny), I’m starting to think that opaque PLAs show almost no change when I tinker with print speed.
So I guess either what I’m seeing isn’t caused by a change in surface texture but rather by the way the light reflects off / refracts through the inside of the plastic, or maybe translucent and transparent PLA is (at least usually) somewhat different stuff? #3DPrinting
This is all very interesting. Did you determine if there is a thickness change generated? The amount of material, at least with translucent filaments, affects how the light refracts through it.
With a strong enough light would you see the effect in more opaque material?
Do you have an opaque material with a wood fiber like filler that you could try as it should go darker with slower speeds?
I’m not sure about change in thickness. I haven’t yet printed something nice and straight / flat that would be non-error-prone to measure – it’s too easy to get different measurements from a slightly curved surface depending on how and where you place the callipers. If there is a thickness change then it’s slight though – nothing major.
I don’t have and woodfill or similar.
Make that “#VelocityPainting” in the above.
Check if there’s any voids inside the bead.
Next is to go from 2 speeds to variant speeds so you can do gradients… I’ve been looking into making 3D printed lithopane lamp shades but I have’t come across a nice way to generate the 3D yet. http://www.instructables.com/id/Litophanes-How-to-3D-Print-your-photos/
I’m working on it – the code handles greyscale now. I’ll let you know how I get on when I have something to show.
My guess would be a difference in PLA’s crystallinity. The faster and colder you extrude a polymer, the more the molecular chains end up aligned as they exit the nozzle. Whereas hot and slow printing makes the molecules amorphous (like a ball of spaghetti).
Aligned / semi-crystalline polymers are more opaque and reflective, while amorphous polymers are more translucent.
Oh man I am loving this so much!
Can’t wait to see what you are going to do with the Perl script. Fascinating, for sure.
@Lykle_Schepers Well the current project involves flames and @Louise_Driggers 's Singing Serpent. It’s sitting on the print bed at home after eleven and a half hours of printing and the quick glance I had time for this morning suggests it’s come out well! I’ll post pictures when I have them.
Can’t wait, but will have to.
A sign of successful transition to adulthood I reckon: still capable of the former whilst able to handle the latter
This is really cool, I hope you’ll continue to share these.
Thanks, Mark, for sharing this.
Wow Mark, way to go! Exciting times, right?
