SOLVED First attempts printing with orange PLA fails after 2 or 3 layers.

[nzo 16]

I was a little apprehensive from what I've heard about printing with orange PLA. The model is a Thingiverse LegoRobot. Sure enough, after 2 or 3 layers the print started to go wonky. All the other PLA filaments I've printed with so far have come out really nicely. The settings I used for other colors were faster overall. So I slowed them down for the orange PLA as per the settings pic below.

UM2+ Temp = 210C/60C.

Bed levelled twice.

Bed adhesion: Geert's salt water method.

Nozzle atomic cleaned twice.

The orange PLA in the pre-print phase was extruded very sluggishly, about half the speed of other colors but the stream was nice and thick.

Please have a look. I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks!

Edited November 18, 2017 by Guest

[kmanstudios 941]

I have printed translucent orange and Dutch orange from Colorfabb and never had an issue with it.

What brand are you using?

I can say that using towers and leaving the diameters the same defeats the purpose of the towers. I usually leave the tower diameter at 3mm and reduce the minimum diameter to 1mm....sometimes even less. Not part of the question, just noticing the settings.

Edited November 18, 2017 by Guest

[nzo 16]

What brand are you using? Not part of the question, just noticing the settings.

It's being sold as Wanhao Premium quality. Chinese. Who knows what lurks in the filament composition.

You never need to worry about commenting on what you notice. I'm here to learn. Thanks kman.

Edited November 18, 2017 by Guest

[kmanstudios 941]

If possible, try some Colorfabb or Polymaker.

And, give the PLA/PHA hybrids a good look. They are really nice to print with.

[ultiarjan 1,125]

Never used it as I'm in Europe, but I used to heard good things about the NZ "diamondage" fillament. Seems they are now Imagin... may be worthwhile to try as you're in NZ.

https://www.imaginplastics.co.nz/shop/3D+Printing+Filament/x_cat/00362.html

[nzo 16]

Thank you kman and ultiarjan! The forum just ate my reply to you - don't ya just hate that.

[nzo 16]

I found the culprit (I think). I discovered the following about this orange filament:

 

• It is very brittle - snaps easily
  
• Diameter is about 3.03 to 3.04mm
  
• Very tight in bowden tube...friction prevented passage through extruder
  
• Lubed b-tube with a drop of light machine oil
  
• Inability to slide easily created a PLA 'blob' in front of the nozzle
  
• Extrudes with what look like moisture bubbles
  

 

Now it's printing the robot

[kmanstudios 941]

I  found the culprit (I think).  I discovered the following about this orange filament:

 

• It is very brittle - snaps easily

• Diameter is about 3.03 to 3.04mm

• Very tight in bowden tube...friction prevented passage through extruder

• Lubed b-tube with a drop of light machine oil

• Inability to slide easily created a PLA 'blob' in front of the nozzle

• Extrudes with what look like moisture bubbles

 

Now it's printing the robot

 

Yeah, a lot of those Chinese filaments that are listed as 3.00 mm are not really that well regulated and diameter can vary quite a bit in a roll. 2.85 is the ideal as far as I can tell from research.

I am glad you found a solution, but are you considering a higher quality filament?

[nzo 16]

kman...these 3mm spools sell for $NZ28.00 from the supplier, plus freight and rural delivery @ $12.00 per roll/rolls. Out of about 10 spools bought from them, the orange PLA is the only one that has given me problems. OTOH, the place I bought my UM2+ from has better filaments starting at $55.00 up to $110.00 a spool + freight. Maybe sometime I might buy from them what I can't find elsewhere.

In hindsight I think it was probably friction in the bowden tube that caused the problem. The filament was well sealed and had a desiccant packet in the spool hub. The slight bit of spitting on the brim may be due to the residual oil in the bowden tube. That doesn't explain the brittleness.

Edited November 19, 2017 by Guest

[kmanstudios 941]

Roger that about being on a budget. It is one of the reasons I make a list of things I want to accomplish and then when I get the spare money, I purchase supplies.

For instance, I am just now trying metal fill filament and I have had the nozzles and filament for about 5-6 weeks now.

But other than those rare spurts in liquidity, I have to budget as well.

[nzo 16]

Very cool kman. I guess you need special nozzles for that type of filament.