Below are the most common questions we receive. If you do not see your question listed below, please use the contact us page to send us your question(s) or for more information about our product(s).
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[bs_citem title=”Will Nylon 12 work with my 3D printer?” id=”citem_d4c4-2e58″ parent=”collapse_0968-9921″]
Testing has been on-going for over a year and we continue to have people test on new machines. So far, any machine we have had the material tested on has not had problems running the material, but must have a heated bed.
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[bs_citem title=”How does Nylon 12 differ from other materials?” id=”citem_3459-e0fe” parent=”collapse_0968-9921″]Our NYLON 12 Filament is a high strength, flexible, durable polymer. Other filaments sold in the “Nylon” category are co-polymers made from several materials and using additives for stability and as a binder. They work great and have their own unique qualities. Our material does not incorporate “other” materials. It is processed using only Nylon 12 and provides additional characteristics for 3D printed projects.
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[bs_citem title=”What about absorbing moisture? Is it as bad as the other filaments in the Nylon categories?” id=”citem_2f8a-6732″ parent=”collapse_0968-9921″]
One of the foremost complaints when using other nylon filaments is the absorption of moisture. Whether in the original raw material before extrusion or after sitting in a finished product, moisture can cause end use problems while using it for printing. A comparison of materials has shown that PLA and Nylon 6/6 absorb up to 9.5% moisture at saturation levels. Nylon 12 has a saturation rate of 1.4%. Because of the long “hydrocarbon chain length” found in processed Nylon 12, it absorbs very little moisture.
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[bs_citem title=”What are one of the other better characteristics of using Nylon 12 Filament?” id=”citem_1090-9a44″ parent=”collapse_0968-9921″]
One of the things we have seen with other printing materials is that when they are put under stress they will crack, separate, split, fail or whatever term you might use at the layer lines. Our material has shown that it fails randomly across the layers of filament showing that it has much better adhesion between layers. This produces a much stronger end product.
The crude but effective pull test….. with results showing cross layer failure
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[bs_citem title=”What size 3D Printer nozzle are you using to print?” id=”citem_e5c6-0984″ parent=”collapse_0968-9921″]
Most of our testing has been done using a 0.4mm nozzle tip. Other customers using & testing our Nylon 12 filament have used different size nozzles up to 0.6mm but we do not have a list.
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[bs_citem title=”What speed are you printing at using the Nylon 12 Filament” id=”citem_6def-9950″ parent=”collapse_0968-9921″]
Typically our speeds are running @ 25-120mm/sec. Our experienced operators have far exceeded these speeds but push the limits of the printer head temperature. Since the software typically has a high end set point and the printer head is not designed for higher temperatures that would allow faster rates, we did our testing at 230°C – 265°C which all printers can handle. Our machines have been modified to handle much higher head temperatures and therefore get higher printing speeds. Newer 3D printers have a higher temperature capabilities built in to the software and mechanical hardware of the machine. We may in the future post these changes.
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[bs_citem title=”What bed material are you using?” id=”citem_7e8d-f041″ parent=”collapse_0968-9921″]
Currently our material of choice is glass, but we have used on aluminum & Garolite XX. It’s inexpensive and readily available.
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[bs_citem title=”What are you using to bond the print to the bed material?” id=”citem_24be-ffbd” parent=”collapse_0968-9921″]
We have been using a very thin layer of Fubar Glue. 25 drops are all that’s necessary for a typical 8″ x 8″ bed. Spread evenly and dry thoroughly before using. Lasts for 10-25 prints before cleaning and re-coating the bed table.
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[bs_citem title=”What is the initial bed temperature?” id=”citem_9b51-2929″ parent=”collapse_0968-9921″]
We start by using a setting of 80°C.
[/bs_citem][bs_citem title=”What’s the first pass temperature?” id=”citem_de9e-0611″ parent=”collapse_0968-9921″]
245-265°C
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[bs_citem title=”After I make my first pass , do I change the bed temperature?” id=”citem_de9e-0612″ parent=”collapse_0968-9921″]
Yes, reduce it to 70-75°C[/bs_citem]
[bs_citem title=”What’s the retraction speed setting?” id=”citem_de9e-0613″ parent=”collapse_0968-9921″]
2mm per 0.1mm of nozzle diameter. (for example: 2mm x 0.4mm diameter nozzle = 8mm)
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[bs_citem title=”How about default retraction?” id=”citem_de9e-0614″ parent=”collapse_0968-9921″]
Fast but we like to cut to 50% of that.
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[bs_citem title=”What’s your preference?” id=”citem_de9e-0615″ parent=”collapse_0968-9921″]
10mm average retraction rate.
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[bs_citem title=”Have you used any other bed materials?” id=”citem_de9e-0616″ parent=”collapse_0968-9921″]
Recently we started using a cheap mirror purchased at any arts and crafts store, then cut to size to match our printer bed. Works great and is really inexpensive. We clean it well with soap and water, then dry it completely. Then we attach it to the bed. As a final cleaning before coating with glue we clean it with MEK or Alcohol to remove any oils and fingerprints. We coat with the glue and dry it until it turns clear at 80°C.
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[bs_citem title=”Are we going to see other materials?” id=”citem_de9e-0617″ parent=”collapse_0968-9921″]
We are currently testing production of Nylon 11 Filament. This filament will have other interesting characteristics and be black in color.
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[bs_citem title=”Does the Nylon 12 Filament only come in Natural Color?” id=”citem_de9e-0618″ parent=”collapse_0968-9921″]
Currently yes, but if requested, we can possibly provide White Nylon 12 Filament. It would however be a 6-8 week lead time as a special order. You would need to send us a special request. Use this Contact Form….
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[bs_citem title=”Is it very flexible?” id=”citem_de9e-0619″ parent=”collapse_0968-9921″]
Yes it is. As you can see in the video this bracelet is printed one width wide or 0.4mm and shows extreme flexibility and strength …
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[bs_citem title=”What about filament diameter…Will you be offering 3mm diameter material?” id=”citem_de9e-0620″ parent=”collapse_0968-9921″]
We are currently offering what most of our clients want and that is the 1.75mm diameter product. We have tested and produced 3mm product but so far we have not had much call for it. We have even been asked for 6mm product and have had small runs for one of our clients need.
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