First experiment ABS/Ninjaflex dual print

[sprior]

I've asked the questions and seen others ask it as well, but haven't ever seen anyone admit they they had tried a dual extrusion print with ABS and Ninjaflex to see how well they fuse. So I finally got around to trying it myself and here's a picture:

2014-12-30 17.15.11.jpg

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The bond between the Ninjaflex and the ABS seems quite good. The main problem I had was that the Ninjaflex had oozed out of the right hot end by the time it was called for so the initial outline of the D didn't have any filament to print with, but by the time it got to the infill it was printing fine. I printed the ABS with the default S3D ABS settings for a V4 extruder except that I bumped the temp to 245C. For the Ninjaflex I started with the ABS settings, bumped the temp to 245C and changed the print speed to 12000mm/sec. I printed with a skirt set very high to try to create an ooze shield - that seems to have worked, but I could still use a wipe tower.

I think that there are some very cool possibilities with a dual ABS/Ninjaflex print.

[jsc]

Nice. That's a layer to layer bond; I wonder how well a wall to wall bond would be. Could you print a flexing hinge, for example?

[sprior]

It's on my list to try, at the moment I'm printing the "space wrench" which is well designed to not need support.

[jimc]

steve, have you tried solvent bonding ninjaflex to abs using acetone or another solvent?

[sprior]

No, just dual extrusion. Another thing I did just try is whether Ninjaflex dissolves in Limonene - it doesn't. So at some point I'll try using HIPS as dissolving support for a Ninjaflex print.

[hybridprinter]

will Ninjaflex dissolve in Acetone like ABS does? or does Ninjaflex have no reaction to acetone?

[jimc]

just tested it. it does not dissolve it at all. it would probably soften it if submerged for an extended period but to squirt this ninjaflex part down with acetone had no effect at all.

[hybridprinter]

Interesting, wonder if its resistant to all solvents.

[jimc]

i have about every solvent imaginable in my shop so short of testing each one i can say that as a general rule of thumb if something is resistant to acetone it will be resistant to most common solvents. some of the more nasty ones like methylene chloride which usually melts or attacks everything would probably have an effect on it. i have a feeling though that ninjaflex would not melt the way abs melts. it would probably swell and separate if left to soak in it for long periods. possibly even breaking down into a chunky mess. rubbers tend to do that. acetone may have the same effect. i squirt some on it and it really did nothing to the stuff but if i put it in a container overnight i would bet that the ninjaflex part would have doubled in size by the morning. lol

[sprior]

I've now got small pieces of NinjaFlex in a jar with acetone and another with alcohol. Will see what happens by tomorrow.