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Most Rigid Material?

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2016 9:46 pm
by tofu702
I've only ever printed in PLA, but I'm trying to print a part that needs to be very rigid and normal Makergear PLA, even with 100% infill is too flexible. Is there another filament that would be more rigid? I'm not particularly worried about strength and would be willing to sacrifice strength for rigidity.

Re: Most Rigid Material?

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2016 10:05 pm
by Phil
What the most rigid material is, I do not know. I have found, however, that carbon-fiber filled ABS filament does produce stiffer prints. Since you are familiar with PLA, you might try CF-PLA first. You can get it from 3DXTech or MakerGeeks, maybe others.

Re: Most Rigid Material?

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2016 11:18 pm
by jimc
esun epc is super rigid and strong. its their polycarbonate. prints easy too.

Re: Most Rigid Material?

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 5:37 am
by Phil
Can you post a link to the FFF you use?

Re: Most Rigid Material?

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 5:42 am
by jimc
i would BUT i run an e3d hot end with a larger nozzle so my settings wont apply to you if your running an new m2 with the v4 extruder. settings are basically the same as abs except extruder temp is 265. run the bed at 100.

Re: Most Rigid Material?

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 9:34 am
by tofu702
Thanks Jimc & Phil!

I assume I can run the Carbon PLA w/ basically the same settings and regular PLA.

For ePC, are you printing on to Kapton + hairspray? Also, how badly does epc smell?

Re: Most Rigid Material?

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 1:08 pm
by jimc
Zero smell with epc. I print on hairspray. Its also flame retardant so its great for extruder parts.

Re: Most Rigid Material?

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 2:14 pm
by willnewton
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2592&hilit=esun+epc

seach engine is your friend.

Also carbon filled filament is brittle.

What are you designing that needs to be rigid? A change in your design will go will go a lot further than a change in filament.

Re: Most Rigid Material?

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 10:12 pm
by insta
jimc wrote:Zero smell with epc. I print on hairspray. Its also flame retardant so its great for extruder parts.
Have you tried burning some? It's not as flame-retardant as you'd think. :?

Re: Most Rigid Material?

Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2016 9:33 am
by tofu702
Thanks everyone! I ordered both the carbon fiber PLA and the eSun Polycarbonate filaments. I'll try the Carbon Fiber PLA first because I know PLA better.

This is a part of a larger prototype that will eventually go into production using either injection modeling or machined aluminum so I can't really redesign it.