New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive

New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive Hi! We have been developing novel polymers for the Reprap machines (we have a solid doodle, prusa MG2, and Makerbot). The polymers have the following goal: 1) Make parts heavier / more rigid by weighing them down with metal particles. They are still fully insulators, but they do conduct heat better. 2) Make rubbery materials - these are great for potentially making flexible / translucent materials, or items that might need padding (headphones) or better cling to surfaces (tires) 3) Make waxy materials - this may be useful for lower cost and loss-wax casting of metals 4) Conductive polymers - self-explanitory 5) Semi conductive polymers - basically, to allow you to conduct microamps to send signals to switches OR to print varying resistance values (from about 1000-1e8 ohms). There may be value in creating large scale junctions (say one is P type and one is N type) but we don't know enough to understand this yet. We are thinking about scaling them up, if anyone else would care for these materials? Would anyone like to be a beta tester for the items (1-4) ? Thanks! https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,156719#msg-156719 Fri, 17 Jul 2026 13:06:57 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,396335#msg-396335 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,396335#msg-396335 If weight is all you need, then you can simply add a couple internal holes and fill them with some of those irksome spare pennies. They're about 2.5 times denser than ABS!]]> filipbys General Mon, 18 Aug 2014 09:45:36 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,394542#msg-394542 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,394542#msg-394542 tjb1 General Wed, 13 Aug 2014 13:10:45 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,394503#msg-394503 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,394503#msg-394503 oklok General Wed, 13 Aug 2014 11:53:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,394270#msg-394270 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,394270#msg-394270 csamsi General Tue, 12 Aug 2014 20:41:12 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,181525#msg-181525 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,181525#msg-181525
Thanks,

Scott]]> ScottN General Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:12:22 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,181513#msg-181513 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,181513#msg-181513 http://3dprinterfilaments.com/rubber_%20like_filaments]]> Wackojacko General Sat, 02 Feb 2013 18:07:06 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,175964#msg-175964 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,175964#msg-175964 Have Blue General Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:57:50 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,175392#msg-175392 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,175392#msg-175392 keeganhennis General Mon, 07 Jan 2013 11:52:35 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,171137#msg-171137 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,171137#msg-171137
Granule extruders:
[reprapdelft.files.wordpress.com]

I have to add, our filament quality is looking better right now than they had in 2010, but so is everyone else who made a lyman-type filament extruder

My review of the few attempts to make a mini granule extruder reveal the following inhibiting features:

The extruders do not have enough force and speed
The extruders get clogged at the top with pellets that clump and stick together, stopping the motion of new pellets from going through
The extruders work once but can not be started again on heat -up due to clogging within the top entrance of the nozzle (different clog than above).
In addition, they are too BIG to make a compact reprap, but this isn't a deal breaker like the above.
In addition, weight was never mentioned as a limiting feature

...Fascinating.]]> Simba General Wed, 12 Dec 2012 22:29:06 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,171096#msg-171096 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,171096#msg-171096 Simba General Wed, 12 Dec 2012 16:45:52 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,171062#msg-171062 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,171062#msg-171062
You'd have to avoid overheating the Kevlar during processing, however, because Kevlar will sort of decompose at high temps.]]> Sniper4395 General Wed, 12 Dec 2012 13:56:52 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,171030#msg-171030 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,171030#msg-171030 Simba General Wed, 12 Dec 2012 11:03:17 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,170901#msg-170901 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,170901#msg-170901 coerce get raw PLA resin from two suppliers. I will be using this as the workhorse for my upcoming Auger-printer (Tentatively named the Industries3D Augr).

GH401 is a chinese equivalent (or knock off) and Cereplast in USA which is also competitor to Natureworks. Both are natural, virgin, creamy-translucent-white pellets. Based on this I have to assume "white" PLA is actually filled with TALC, Zn Oxide, or Ti Oxide, and come to think of it it has the graininess of white filler. If this filler is slippery (like Talc) it would explain the extreme difference in properties between white and black PLA. Sorry if this is re-discovery for anyone here, but its a learning process for me : ).

I have NO idea why PLA resin can not be purchased raw online, amazon, ebay, injection molding suppliers, etc. It must be something that can't keep up with demand is my guess. Anyway, if anyone is interested, a group buy could get PLA down to $8/lb for raw pellets in 250lb increments (shipped). Isn't that amazing - at 2.2kg, it is almost similar in price to rolled PLA filament! (http://makemendel.com/pla/natural-pla-filament). PLA from china is half price but takes 60 days to receive in port, and who knows about quality. Perhaps this means all PLA filament is from china...]]> Simba General Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:36:37 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,170649#msg-170649 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,170649#msg-170649
Why hasn't anyone done class acetal (homopolymer similar to Delrin but less temperature sensitive).?
Why hasn't anyone done a soft material?

At present we are tying to push for making filaments of delrin and shore A 90 rubber. For Delrin, the material will be recommended for printing outside or in a garage because the potential long term health hazards of formaldehyde offgassing are not something we want to risk liability for (allbeit, ABS does the same thing, people are used to it)]]> Simba General Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:58:10 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,170634#msg-170634 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,170634#msg-170634 Have Blue General Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:52:46 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,170112#msg-170112 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,170112#msg-170112
The moulding form can be fabbed directly or made from a printed primer ...]]> VDX General Fri, 07 Dec 2012 02:57:34 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,170087#msg-170087 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,170087#msg-170087 johnwiseman General Thu, 06 Dec 2012 22:12:39 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,170082#msg-170082 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,170082#msg-170082 -------------------------------------------------------
> I do find that polymers such as metal-filled,
> fiber-filled, truly conductive, and magnetic are
> still missing. However, I think there is a bigger
> win here for reprap. The holy grail of the
> carriage mounted granule extruder, which I've
> finally come close to solving. This new extruder
> will allow the following materials (at its best,
> optimized):

YES! Reinforced (glass-, carbon-, and/or mineral-filled) polymers are most definitely needed! Even Stratasys doesn't have anything like this. Glass-filled polycarbonate/ABS, yummy!

And I fully agree - the holy grail really is a granule based extruder. In case anyone doesn't see the advantages:
* Cheaper to operate (you can purchase raw resin for much less than the cost of just extruding it into filament)
* Ability to custom formulate resins (want a 20%/80% PC/ABS blend? 1 scoop PC, 4 scoops ABS)
* Better retention of material properties (remember, extrusion of resin into filament means that we're already printing with non-virgin material)
* No patent encumbrances that I'm aware of
* Ability to use extremely soft resins that can't be reliably fed as filament
* ...and probably a few other bonuses that I'm missing...]]> Have Blue General Thu, 06 Dec 2012 21:43:32 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,169024#msg-169024 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,169024#msg-169024 Simba General Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:03:15 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,169022#msg-169022 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,169022#msg-169022 Sniper4395 General Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:56:56 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,169008#msg-169008 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,169008#msg-169008 Simba General Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:49:05 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,168998#msg-168998 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,168998#msg-168998 Sniper4395 General Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:00:39 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,168992#msg-168992 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,168992#msg-168992
It is unlikely that a Shore A 50 filament or below will extrude under 5 mm diameter. Its just too squishy. If it is fiber filled or loaded with some kind of additive, it may be more likely to work. However, filament around Shore A 80 has been proven many times over now and could work, I'm just suspect as to its utility.

At present, I've shifted my work away from designing new filaments towards an even loftier goal. Currently, the field has begun to fill up with nice new filaments. I will try to summarize them when I have time here. These include

Taulman Nylon (Self proclaimed best quality for reprap and heats around 245)
High shore value existing 3-4 mm TPE's, and Proprietary unidentified polymer E20 for Dimension systems.
"Soft PLA"
Wood filled filament.
Static shielding (so called "conductive") ABS
ABS, PLA, PP, PE, PVA, PC, PVC

I do find that polymers such as metal-filled, fiber-filled, truly conductive, and magnetic are still missing. However, I think there is a bigger win here for reprap. The holy grail of the carriage mounted granule extruder, which I've finally come close to solving. This new extruder will allow the following materials (at its best, optimized):

Rubber of ANY consistency or shore value
Light cure polymer
Wax
Sand
Metal or plastic powder
Nylon
Delrin
And all the prior existing filaments. IMO, this is a MUCH bigger win and much more worth the time. Reprap WILL move to auger extruders, and already is, as I've been told on the DL from the engineers at more than one reprap and one non-reprap printer companies.]]> Simba General Fri, 30 Nov 2012 12:17:32 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,168838#msg-168838 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,168838#msg-168838
Have you looked overseas for sourcing the Kraton? Digging through Alibaba and the like turn up resin prices that are far less than purchasing through a domestic distributor.]]> Have Blue General Thu, 29 Nov 2012 10:55:57 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,168792#msg-168792 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,168792#msg-168792 www2.dupont.com]. There aren't many alternatives.

Imo, printing shore A 82 isn't impressive. Its probably even easier to push that "soft pla." Its hard to say with any certainty, and while not all materials are created equal there seem to be dozens of alternatives. My only reason for switch would be cost. Kraton G is easily going to cost users $12/lb + just for raw pellets, let alone processing, packaging, and forming. Little room for people to appreciate a markup there.]]> Simba General Thu, 29 Nov 2012 03:25:10 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,168716#msg-168716 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,168716#msg-168716 -------------------------------------------------------
> Of course, neither am I, but as is always the case
> with rep-rappers I would like to - and promise to
> - release the plans, sources, and methodology once
> there is a final 'product'.

Thanks, Simba - that's fantastic! I'm limited to running 1.75mm filament, and my machine requires a fairly high flow rate due to the long heating chamber. Hence my interest in specific material parameters.

Have you looked at polyester based elastomers rather than SBS by any chance? That's what Stratasys E20 elastomer filament was based on years ago, but I was never able to determine which specific resin they used. I believe it was based on Jan Helge Bøhn's research at Virginia Tech, but he never responded to my inquiries on the material:
[www-rp.me.vt.edu]
[utwired.engr.utexas.edu]]]> Have Blue General Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:19:36 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,168190#msg-168190 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,168190#msg-168190
Would luv to test it. keep us all posted (:P)]]> 3eality General Mon, 26 Nov 2012 02:36:27 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,168188#msg-168188 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,168188#msg-168188

Quote
dzach
A Simple, Low-Cost Conductive Composite Material for 3D Printing of Electronic Sensors

I like it! I wonder if it can be electroplated...]]> MattMoses General Mon, 26 Nov 2012 01:50:24 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,168131#msg-168131 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,168131#msg-168131
A Simple, Low-Cost Conductive Composite Material for 3D Printing of Electronic Sensors.

Quote
from the paper
This advance in low-cost 3D printing with offer a new paradigm in the 3D printing field with printed sensors and electronics embedded inside 3D printed objects in a single build process without requiring complex or expensive materials incorporating additives such as carbon nanotubes.

]]> dzach General Sun, 25 Nov 2012 18:55:03 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,167866#msg-167866 Re: New Filaments - Heavy Weight, Rubbery, Conductive, Semi-conductive https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,156719,167866#msg-167866 namebraw General Sat, 24 Nov 2012 03:54:58 -0500