3D Printing Materials
Your options for the plastic to use in your 3D printer
Bits From Bytes RapMan and 3DTouch 3D printers build models in a range of colours with either PLA or ABS plastic.
PLA
Printing:
PLA or to use it's full name, Poly Lactic Acid is probably the best material to get started with when you first start 3D printing. With the help of the 3D printer's onboard fan it will cool and set very quickly. This means that you can avoid warping and achieve a range of shapes than would be difficult with other materials.
Finishing:.
After 3D printing you can finish your model by sanding and spraying with automotive spray filler. You can also paint directly onto PLA with acrylic paints.
Environment:
PLA is kinder to the environment that other plastics as it is derived from corn starch and not fossil fuels. It is also biodegrade in an active compost heap.
Colours:
Solid: black, white, purple, yellow, blue and green
Translucent: clear, red, blue and green.
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ABS
Printing:
ABS, or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene is popular in industry, being used for products such as car bumpers and LEGO® due to its toughness and strength. ABS is probably the second easiest material to 3D print with, but care must be taken when printing larger objects as it can suffer warping as the 3D model cools.
Finishing:
ABS can be finished by sanding, spraying with automotive spray filler and using Methyl Ethyl Ketone as a solvent. You can also paint directly onto ABS with acrylic paints.
Environment:
ABS is produced from fossil fuels and is not biodegradable.
Colours:
Solid: white, black, red, blue, green and yellow
A next generation of 3D printing
Bits From Bytes can now reveal that the the BFB 3000 3D printer has evolved with the launch of the 3DTouch 3D printer. With up to three extruders and a touch screen, the 3DTouch brings the latest affordable 3D printing technology to your fingertips.
How does 3D printing work?
3D printing with a Bits from Bytes 3DTouch is a process of building up layers of either PLA or ABS plastic. The model is formed from the molten plastic using the data from your CAD drawing.
Converting CAD models to 3D print data
Use Axon 2, Bits From Bytes own free software on your PC to convert your 3D design built in CAD software to drive the 3D printer.
Which CAD package for 3D printing?
Whatever your chosen CAD package; from Google Sketchup to Alibre, Solidworks to Inventor you can 3D print your models with the Bits From Bytes 3DTouch.
Print materials
The Bits From Bytes 3DTouch 3D printer offers 3D printing with either ABS or PLA. But which one to choose? Both produce functional and druable parts with endless uses.
From Reprap project to 3DTouch
Bits From Bytes 3D printers have evolved quickly from the Reprap project at Bath University just a few years ago. First came the Bits From Bytes Rapman, then the BFB 3000 3D printer and now, offering multi colour 3D printing, the 3DTouch.