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Nylons are a implausible group of 3D printing supplies. Glorious chemical, abrasion, and impression resistance coupled with its sturdiness and toughness make it an ideal selection for robust, useful 3D printed elements.
The principle “cons” of nylon filaments are the dearth of rigidity, comparatively excessive shrink charge, and the truth that it’s extremely hygroscopic (absorbs water from the air).
Enter Nylon X.
By including chopped carbon fibers to nylon, we enhance the rigidity, scale back the shrink charge, and the quantity of water it could soak up, whereas nonetheless sustaining the sturdiness and toughness of nylon.
Ideas and really helpful settings for succeeding with NylonX:
NylonX is a Nylon at its root – for that reason the identical practices for 3D printing Nylon needs to be used. Under are specifics for NylonX, however you will discover deeper info in our article ‘PRINTING WITH NYLON.’
Extruder Temperature: 250 – 265°C
Nylon X, like different nylons, will extrude at decrease temperatures, however elements simply delaminate and break when not printed sizzling sufficient. An all-metal hotend is really helpful for these printing temperatures, learn extra right here.
Mattress Adhesion: 60 – 70°C heated mattress with PVA primarily based glue stick
We like Elmer’s Washable disappearing purple glue stick. Nylon would not stick effectively to BuildTak, PEI, or different comparable mattress surfaces. Heated glass with glue, or a sheet of Garolite LE with no warmth are the most effective choices.
Print Pace
There aren’t any particular pace necessities or limitations for Nylon X. It prints effectively from 10 – 80mm/s relying in your nozzle measurement, temperature, and layer peak settings.
Dry Filament Earlier than Printing
To dry filament, place it in an oven at 180°F – 200°F for six to eight hours. After drying, retailer in an hermetic container, ideally with desiccant. Study extra right here.
Nozzles
A stainless-steel or hardened nozzle is required. Carbon fiber could be very onerous and abrasive and can rapidly abrade and spoil brass or different smooth steel nozzles.Bigger nozzles (0.6mm and bigger) produce extremely robust elements. It is because interlayer adhesion is instantly proportional to hint width. For the very best power elements, strive printing with the biggest nozzle you should use in your sizzling finish.
Layer cooling followers are not really helpful
How does NylonX evaluate to different supplies?
We’ve been printing carbon fiber PLA, PETG, and ABS for some time now. The carbon fiber does the identical factor to those supplies. PLA, which is already stiff and pretty brittle, turns into even stiffer and extra brittle. PETG and ABS, that are each pretty ductile and impression resistant, additionally grow to be significantly extra brittle with added carbon fiber. All 3 appear to delaminate simpler as effectively, which is probably going on account of the truth that the fibers don’t chemically bond to the bottom resin and create what basically are tiny weak factors all through the half.
NylonX is completely different although. As a result of nylon is significantly more durable and extra sturdy than ABS, PLA, and PETG, sacrificing a small quantity of impression resistance for a major enhance in stiffness is a superb trade-off.
The Testing!
To indicate the distinction, we 3D printed a component and did some testing.
The design is 60mm extensive, 10mm deep, and 25mm tall. The unsupported span is 50mm.
They have been all printed at 0.25mm layers, 25% infill, 3 perimeters, and 5 stable prime/backside layers. These settings make the bridge stable. To bridge this hole, now we have our bridge pace set to 20mm/s and the cooling fan at 100%. Discovering the suitable settings to your particular printer will relying on the ambient air temperature, how dry the filament is, your printer’s layer cooling means, and the size of the bridge.
We used a drive gauge and pressed down slowly to deflect the bridge sufficient to the touch the desk.
These GIFs present the check being carried out on Nylon 645, NylonX, PLA, PETG, and PETG with carbon fiber.
Nylon 645
Nylon X
PLA
PETG
PETG with CF
We additionally shot a couple of clips displaying these elements being bent by hand
PLA
PETG
Nylon X
We ran 6 elements of every materials with the drive gauge. Here is what we discovered:
Nylon 618: 2.6 – 3.5 lbs
Nylon X: 6.6 – 7.81 lbs
PLA : 6 -11 lbs (it typically breaks throughout first bend, and virtually all the time breaks on 2nd or third bend)
PETG: 4.5 – 7 lbs (completely creases/deforms on the bend)
Carbon Fiber PETG: 12 – 18 lb (all the time shatters on first try)
So Nylon X is simply barely much less stiff than PLA, nevertheless it maintains the toughness and sturdiness of nylon. This makes for superior useful elements.
The opposite nice function of NylonX is that the carbon fibers scale back the shrink charge throughout printing. If you happen to’ve ever printed with ABS or Nylon, you’ve possible skilled warping or curling in your half. There are methods to assist stop this, however NylonX just about eliminates any points with warping or curling. The added fibers assist to maintain the fabric dimensionally secure.
So, if you happen to’re in search of robust, sturdy, and useful elements, decide up some Nylon X and begin printing. It is superior stuff.
We shot some extra footage displaying the power of Nylon X. Keep tuned – these movies are coming quickly.
As all the time, Completely satisfied Printing!
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