Way to full in holes & blemishes in prints

[Eddie]

For those unfamiliar with friction welding, this is a great method for filling in those holes that you unfortunately sometimes get in your prints. It's also a method to add color and designs to your print. Read more at: http://3dprint.com/16023/friction-filling-3d-prints/

Have any of you ever used this method before?

[DjWang]

Just found out about this on Hack-A-Day. Definitely going to try this out tonight.

http://hackaday.com/2014/12/30/3d-pr...ction-welding/

[GOC]

- This is an awesome method for adhering parts together. I just started using it in combination with glue and it works amazing. It greatly improved the bond between my parts & pieces.

[richardphat]

Superglue works better.
Dichloromethane is best if you don't want cancer...

[Marm]

It's a good use for all those short pieces of filament I don't want. I just stick it in the end of my dremel and away we go. A tack weld will usually break off fairly easily, so it's a good way to temporarily hold together a part for gluing of the geometry doesn't allow for a solid clamp.

[old man emu]

Is that PLA or ABS filament?

If it's ABS, the method would be great for fixing broken plastic items like toys or anything made from hard plastic.

OME

[soofle616]

PLA or ABS would work. For that matter any thermoplastic would work. The caveat is that you need to use the same plastic as the part is made from for the best bond. Friction welding has been used forever in industry although the application is a bit different and it's generally referred to as ultrasonic welding. Two plastic parts come together, a fixture clamps around the weld area, then ultrasonic vibrations are passed through to the parts. The parts vibrate against each other and the resulting friction creates heat that melts and bonds them together. Any time you've been frustrated by plastic blister packs that have to be cut or ripped open, those were "friction" welded closed.

[GOC]

Superglue works better.
...

- That's why using this method in combination with glue improves the strength.