Quick post. So Sunday night I had time to take out the supply of PLA (Polylactic acid, a clear biodegradable plastic that won’t warp like ABS) and give it a shot. I didn’t have any of the temperatures down right (temperature was 235C, extruder speed was 210), so it didn’t come out great, but here was my first attempt:
Might get to work on it again later tonight after everyone falls asleep – we’ll see.
Looks way too hot. I use 180-190C for PLA. Unlike ABS the viscosity of PLA falls off fast with temperature and it becomes syrupy.
Yeah so when I try anything near 180 it sometimes stops the extruder from extruding. I’m using a thermistor so who knows what temperature it really is, what with their imprecision and the multiple types of thermistors that have shipped. The main problem in the above print was the printing speed, which had defaulted to 210. I changed it to 255, and received solid prints (see later blog post). I tried 240C, 235C, and 225C, with 225C yielding the best results. I was going to try 205 and had the extruder jam up again, so I cleared it out (by setting the temp way up to like 240-245 and extruding for a while), then settled on 225C. I’m sure in later prints I’ll experiment more.
Thanks!
Things got even more confusing when I replaced the thermistor table in the extruder controller firmware – now I have no idea what temperature anything is. I’ve tried using an infrared thermometer but I can’t get a good reading on the nozzle at all, and the device itself says it can be like 5 degrees C off anyway.
With the new temperature table, I’ve gone as “cold” as 185C, which is what I’ve printed the last several pieces with, but that’s with the ultimachine.com PLA which is based on NatureWorks PLA 4042D. MakerBot’s store is now selling a different version of PLA (4032D) works at a higher temperature – I just ordered some for comparison.
With it extruding close to syrup, I’m able to make some pieces ok, but others, not as well. Perimeters still build fine, but the sparse infill sometimes lays down plastic which doesn’t lie flat but instead contours to the strands below it, which probably will affect the strength of the piece.. I certainy want it cooler so it’s a bit more solid, but not so much that it clogs up the barrel.
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