PLA 3D Printing
PLA 3D printing is the use of PLA materials to stack and print three-dimensional solid products. Pla is a widely used plastic in the field of printing and manufacturing.
PLA 3D Printing
PLA 3D printing is an economical and widely used 3D printing material. This technology has sustainability, good printing performance, and wide applicability, making it a popular choice in the field of 3d printing.
- High Material Utilization Rate
- Low Environmental Pollution
- Easy to Operate
PLA 3D Printing Capabilities
The application of PLA in 3D printing is very extensive, and the operation of PLA 3D printing is relatively simple.
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US
Metric
PLA
47.2in. x 31.4 in. x 23.6 in.
1200mm x 800mm x600mm
PLA 3D printing is mainly used in the production of decorative products, small tools, and small workpieces.
PLA 3D Printing Material
The ability of PLA material components to change shape is often relatively low, but the advantage is that this makes the 3D-printed parts more accurate.
Material
- PLA
The Advantages & Disadvantages of PLA 3D Printing
PLA 3D printing has advantages in manufacturing, but there may also be some issues.
Advantages
Disadvantages
Efficient production
High viscosity
Widely applicable
Easy to change color
Simple steps
Low strength
Good chemical resistance
Weak forming accuracy
Application of PLA 3D Printing
PLA 3D printing technology has also been applied in multiple other industries, such as manufacturing toys, building models, etc.
Guidelines for PLA 3D Printing
PLA 3D printing parameters can be adjusted according to specified requirements and standards, mainly including printing thickness, printing speed, and temperature.
PLA 3D Printing
PLA 3D Printing
PLA 3D printing is the use of PLA materials to stack and print three-dimensional solid products. PLA is a widely used plastic in the field of printing and manufacturing.
The Advantages of PLA 3D Printing
The melting temperature of PLA 3D printing is around 180 degrees Celsius, which is relatively low compared to other materials and does not require the use of heated trays or enclosed printing rooms for processing. If the material is properly cooled, the filament will provide good performance under fast 3D printing parameters. The ability of PLA material components to change shape is often relatively low, but the advantage is that this makes the 3D printed parts more accurate.
The application of PLA in 3D printing is very extensive, and the operation of PLA 3D printing is relatively simple, mainly used in the production of decorative products, small tools, and small workpieces. At the same time, many industries also use PLA materials for prototype production, saving a lot of materials. PLA filament is commonly used in the automotive industry to create automotive components and even some components of the dashboard.
The biodegradability of PLA is also an important aspect of its sustainability. If it meets the requirements, PLA can be decomposed by living organisms to avoid an increase in the amount of plastic waste materials. However, the biodegradability of PLA depends on the surrounding environmental conditions. If the surrounding environment does not meet the requirements, PLA may take several decades to decompose. Therefore, although PLA has biodegradability, operators need to properly handle and resolve the waste of PLA materials to avoid environmental impact.
Although PLA 3D printing has many advantages, there are also some improvements. The strength of PLA is not very high, which makes the 3D printed parts less sturdy. In addition, due to exposure to sunlight and high temperatures, PLA is prone to shape and color changes. Therefore, PLA is generally rarely used in high-strength and high-temperature resistant manufacturing. Even if printing cannot be avoided at high temperatures, PLA materials can still play an important role in many industries.
In the field of 3D printing, PLA has the performance of ease of use, so PLA 3D printing is more popular. PLA filament is usually easy to print, and the printing settings are very simple and do not require complex steps. 3D printing parameters can be adjusted according to specified requirements and standards, mainly including printing thickness, printing speed, and temperature. In addition, the post-processing of PLA 3D printing is not as complex. However, there are also some challenges with PLA 3D printing. Due to its high viscosity, it may cause blockage of the printer. Therefore, operators will regularly clean the 3D printer and use appropriate printing parameters to reduce blockage issues. In addition, the printed workpieces of PLA materials may experience deformation and warping during the printing process. To reduce these issues, printing parameters such as printing speed and layer thickness can be adjusted appropriately, and appropriate support structures can be used.
The Difference between PLA 3D Printing and ABS 3D Printing
There are significant differences between PLA 3D printing and ABS 3 printing, such as in terms of raw materials, printing effects, printing process parameters, and usage environment. In actual material use, the materials corresponding to different needs will also be different. It is necessary to choose suitable materials according to the design requirements, to achieve high-quality printing effects and a good user experience. PLA material and ABS material are two common 3D printing materials, which have significant differences in printing effects, performance characteristics, industry types, and other aspects.
1.Printing Effect
In terms of 3D printing effects, there are also some differences between PLA materials and ABS materials. 3D printing uses PLA materials to print product models with smooth surfaces and good texture, which are often used to print models with high appearance requirements. The surface of the ABS printed model is not as smooth, but it has good toughness and impact resistance, making it suitable for printing products that require high strength and durability. Therefore, the printing effect is closely related to 3D printing materials. According to the different 3D printing effects, different materials can be selected to meet actual needs.
2.Materials
Firstly, PLA and ABS differ in terms of raw materials. PLA 3D printing is a biodegradable material, usually made from fermented and purified plant materials. The main plant material is corn starch, so PLA 3D printing has good environmental protection. As ABS is a petrochemical product, its advantage is that it has strong heat resistance and corrosion resistance. Comparing the two materials, from the perspective of raw materials, PLA material is more environmentally friendly than ABS material, but the characteristics of ABS are high-temperature resistance and corrosion resistance.
3.Print Parameters
The third point is that from the perspective of printing process parameters, the printing temperatures of PLA 3D printing and ABS 3D printing are also different. In general, the temperature of PLA 3D printing is lower, not higher than 220 degrees Celsius but higher than 180 degrees Celsius. The printing temperature of ABS is relatively high, not higher than 250 degrees Celsius but higher than 220 degrees Celsius. Therefore, to ensure the printing effect and quality of printed products, technicians need to make reasonable choices based on the model and printing parameters of the 3D printer when selecting 3D printing materials.
4.Environmental Requirements
In addition, the environmental requirements for the use of PLA 3D printing and ABS material printing may differ. ABS materials need to be used in a well-ventilated environment or conjunction with professional air equipment, as ABS materials may produce some gases during the printing process. These gases can cause harm to human health. Choosing PLA materials for printing is relatively environmentally friendly, as the odor generated during the manufacturing process is not significant and the environmental requirements are not very strict. Therefore, when selecting materials, it is also necessary to pay attention to the factors of the usage environment.
Maintenance Methods for PLA 3D Printing Equipment
Maintaining 3D printing is also important as a way to improve product quality. There are several maintenance methods:
When not using the PLA 3D printer for a long time, place the 3D printer in a dry place and cover it with a cloth or plastic to prevent dust from affecting the machine. If there are no special circumstances, maintain it once a month and do a good job of cleaning, such as cleaning dust, wiping the shaft, oiling the bearings, and cleaning the residual material residue of the feeding gear. Regular inspection of 3D printers: Technicians regularly inspect the mechanical components of the 3D printer, checking every detail of the parts for any looseness. If any looseness occurs, it needs to be reinforced and stabilized promptly. If the situation is serious, the parts need to be replaced and dealt with promptly.
Lubrication and maintenance of equipment: Ensure that the 3D printing machine bearings have sufficient lubricating oil to maintain the lubrication of the machine bearings and extend the service life of the 3D printing machine.
Good environment: The 3D printer should be installed in a ventilated location to ensure the normal dissipation of heat from the motor of the 3D printing machine and avoid damage caused by the inability to dissipate heat. After the 3D printing is completed, it is necessary to clean the dirt on the components. The main components that need to be cleaned include the nozzle, platform, motor, fan, etc. Timely cleaning is to avoid long-term accumulation and difficult cleaning.
Consumable maintenance: For FDM wires, such as PLA. Materials should be moisture-proof. Wires exposed to air for a long time are prone to moisture. It is advisable to place the materials in a sealed space to avoid problems such as wire drawing and breakage. After using the materials, store them in a sealed space as soon as possible. For moisture-proof treatment, you can put a few dry bags.
Refueling operation: When replacing consumables, the temperature of the nozzle may change, so attention should be paid to the temperature of the nozzle. If the nozzle is at a high temperature, greater than 180 degrees Celsius, consumables can be returned directly to avoid the problem of clogging.
PLA 3D printing is an economical and widely used 3D printing material. This technology has sustainability, good printing performance, and wide applicability, making it a popular choice in the field of 3D printing. The foundation of 3D printing technology is based on digital models, using plastic materials for layer-by-layer printing to construct products. This technology has also been applied in multiple other industries, such as manufacturing toys, building models, etc.
