Spec me a plastic that can withstand 60°C without warping!

[engstrom0304]

Hey guys!

Im building a 3D printer and want to make most of it out of a thermoplastic that can be laser cut!

I will be using mainly 6mm sheets, but it must be able to withstand around 60°C without warping etc...

Also must be possible to laser cut.

Any ideas?

 

[Mr Jones]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylonitrile_butadiene_styrene

Would this work?

 

[engstrom0304]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylonitrile_butadiene_styrene

Would this work?

I don't think so. It may work, but its not much better than acrylic. I might go for polycarbonate.

 

[danza]

Acetal.

 

[phil675]

Is this for a time machine?

 

[Dis86]

PA11

 

[grumpysculler]

I might go for polycarbonate.

Polycarbonate is a thermoset, not a thermoplastic.

Even restricting yourself to thermoplastics, I'm surprised you can't easily find one that doesn't soften at 60 degrees. 80 would be a more usual limit.

 

[peige]

Peek can but I don't know if its possible to laser cut it.

 

[Caged]

Why the requirement for laser cutting / it being a plastic? Why couldn't you use metal and/or get it water jet cut?

 

[dirtychinchilla]

I'm jealous! Which printer are you building?

 

[danza]

Actually, as someone already suggested - why not metal? Aluminium alloy 6061 or 6082 would be ideal. It's cheap, too.

 

[Doomedspeed]

Peek can but I don't know if its possible to laser cut it.

Awesome but bleeding expensive, you may aswell get PTFE for that price (upto 240C working temp IIRC)

Acetal.

Good choice but may be tough to come by..

Maybe nylon 66 (can that be laser cut?)

 

[engstrom0304]

I'm designing my own 3d printer. Trouble is, my current design requires 6mm thick material which wouldn't be suitable for aluminium. I could even go for plywood. Thanks for the suggestions guys.

 

[Glaucus]

Wynn you designing yourself? There's few parts that need to be heat resistant.
Rather than one of the many free deisgns.

Still waiting for mine.

 

[dirtychinchilla]

I'm designing my own 3d printer. Trouble is, my current design requires 6mm thick material which wouldn't be suitable for aluminium. I could even go for plywood. Thanks for the suggestions guys.

Let us know how it goes! I'd love to make one

 

[engstrom0304]

Wynn you designing yourself? There's few parts that need to be heat resistant.
Rather than one of the many free deisgns.

Still waiting for mine.

Well.. The plastic mount for the heatbed needs to be heat resistant. I may not make the whole thing out of a heat resistant plastic. Depends on cost.

 

[engstrom0304]

Let us know how it goes! I'd love to make one

I might start a build log... but where?

 

[Fuzz]

Why don't you print a piece... Oh wait.