Results 1 to 4 of 4
-
12-13-2024, 09:33 AM #1
- Join Date
- Jul 2021
- Posts
- 4
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.
-
01-27-2025, 04:49 PM #2
- Join Date
- Oct 2024
- Posts
- 6
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.
-
02-13-2025, 03:05 AM #3
- Join Date
- Oct 2023
- Posts
- 11
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?
-
02-15-2025, 09:56 AM #4
- 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.
Please help dial in my printer
Yesterday, 11:02 AM in Tips, Tricks and Tech Help