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Some suggestions for durability

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 1:45 am
by DJWing79
I am building a lightsaber and trying to print it in PLA. It is hollow on the inside for the electronics but I am having an issue with it breaking along the screw threads. I have tried increasing the wall thickness and the fill density. these have helped but it still breaks, though it lasted a little longer when I printed it at an angle (see pic). I am attaching the IGES file for people to look at. What I am seeing is that under impact of the blade, the screws connecting the blade holder and the button holder breaks. I am wondering if I should switch to nylon or use an epoxy to toughen the inside wall to impact. I need them to be able to unscrew for maintenance, so i can't glue the pieces together.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/l3wrheyopalfy ... .iges?dl=0

Re: Some suggestions for durability

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 7:41 am
by jimc
Pla is going to be a poor choice for this. Pla can get soft just from the heat of your hands holding it. Strongest filament i know of while still being easy to print is epc from esun. Its a modified polycarbonate. This is providing your print can handle extruding at 270-275. Nylon is too soft and a real pia to print with. Epc is extremely rigid