TPU-GF?

3 months ago by ButteredWaffle_ to c/3dprinting

Hi y'all!

I've been wanting to have a go at tpu-gf. I mostly print mechanical parts, so reinforced tpu with its stellar layer adhesion seems very intriguing! Does anyone here have any experience with printing Glassfibre-filled TPU? How did it go?

Also, are there any shops selling it within the EU?

Greetings, Waffle :)

Edit 1: First print went well! Got an amazon spool from "Tinmorry" (a brand i've never used before). Glue stick is a must, and i'd recommend some 110%-130% nozzle size extrusion line width (maybe even more). I used a 0.6mm steel nozzle.

dual_sport_dork 11 points 3 months ago

That seems like one of those things that ought to be inherently contradictory, but I'll be interested to hear how it goes. Note that fiber fillings in a material inherently reduce its layer adhesion strength, so your formerly stellar adhesion may not be anymore with the inclusion of the glass fiber. It'll also make your flexible TPU a lot less flexible. This mitigates the two major advantages of TPU, which leads me to wonder if it's even worthwhile. But still, give it a go. For science!

Don't forget to get a hardened steel or gemstone nozzle, otherwise you'll destroy your brass nozzle in very short order printing with fiber filled materials.

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ButteredWaffle_ 2 points 3 months ago

For science! I'll be ordering a spool from amazon. Heard about the material from the "Lost in Tech" yt channel, was effectively looking for a less fussy nylon-cf.

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esc 4 points 3 months ago

I've bought it once from local producer. Printed fine, destroyed my build plate. 😑😑

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chiliedogg 3 points 3 months ago

Always use a glue stick with TPU. It's used as a release agent, not an adhesive.

Not knowing this, I once printed TPU directlt on my smooth plate and absolutely destroyed it getting the print off.

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Burninator05 2 points 3 months ago

What surface was on the build plate? TPU adheres to some surfaces almost as well as it adheres to itself.

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esc 4 points 3 months ago

Standard PEI build plate, I've printed normal TPU before and it was somewhat hard to take off, but not to this degree.

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LurkingLuddite 5 points 3 months ago

Isopropyl alcohol. a little dab under the print will help it come loose.

Though it is best to use a release agent with TPU, like a glue stick.

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ButteredWaffle_ 2 points 3 months ago

Oh dear, noted. Think i'll layer some gluestick on my buildplate as a cheap releaser

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squaresinger 3 points 3 months ago

I damaged my stock Snapmaker U1 build plate with a print of 2 layers TPU 85A topped with a solid PETG print.

TPU 85A only comes off the build plate because you can bend and peel it off. The PETG on top of it stopped me from doing that. It was a dumb idea.

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