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  1. #1

    Exclamation PSA: Don't use PLA for long-lived items

    Anyone notice that PLA becomes brittle on their spools? This is honestly a warning sign to *not* print long-lived items on PLA. I printed a Arduino bracket around 10 years ago on my Solidoodle 2. It was solid, and chewy gripping screws threaded into it. It was in storage for almost the complete duration of it's life. (indoors, not in sunlight, in a plastic storage container). I picked it up yesterday afternoon and the whole thing crumbled into dust. PLA absorbs moisture. It always will... on the spool or printed on your printer. *eventually* PLA will always crumble. PLA has a ton of benefits, but it also has a lot of drawbacks.

  2. #2
    Well what do you recommend? ABS? H--no. I can't get that stuff to half stick to the bed. By the time the item is finished, it's warped, if it didn't come loose and get knocked over by the head sooner.. And my research shows the other filaments have the same bed sticking problem.

  3. #3
    Would it be a good idea to regularly (every couple of years) put the item in an oven with like 50-60C (120-140F) temperature to get the moist out?

  4. #4
    Technician
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Location
    South Carolina
    Posts
    59
    Me too. I have just about given up on ABS. ASA is easier to use, but I haven't found PLA to cause problems in most cases. I have made parts that I submerge in my pond, use in my shower, my garden and keep in my car that work fine with PLA. I live in the south, so if I need to hold shape or strength I have to use something else. Otherwise, PLA works fine - especially white - it doesn't melt as easily as darker colors.

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