Life span of plastic parts? I'm interested in building a printer and in CoreXY motion systems. In most published builds for example the Hypercube Evo the motors and pullies are mounted in printed parts. The parts are under load from the belts and shock loads from rapid direction changes. If these parts are printed from ABS or other ridged filament do they wear out or do they need continual adjustment? Othere than ABS what filaments are suitable and are the carbon fibre blends better? Thanks aamcle https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890518#msg-890518 Sat, 06 Jun 2026 21:23:10 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890652#msg-890652 Re: Life span of plastic parts? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890652#msg-890652
[www.ebay.com]

My tube based mounts are a lot cheaper to make if you have a drill press.]]> the_digital_dentist CoreXY Machines Thu, 29 Sep 2022 09:18:06 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890625#msg-890625 Re: Life span of plastic parts? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890625#msg-890625 OutcastZeroOne CoreXY Machines Tue, 27 Sep 2022 01:42:38 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890617#msg-890617 Re: Life span of plastic parts? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890617#msg-890617 aamcle CoreXY Machines Mon, 26 Sep 2022 11:39:25 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890616#msg-890616 Re: Life span of plastic parts? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890616#msg-890616
Click the link on Ultra MegaMax Dominator in my sig, below to see more of it.]]> the_digital_dentist CoreXY Machines Mon, 26 Sep 2022 11:13:21 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890612#msg-890612 Re: Life span of plastic parts? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890612#msg-890612
I'm thinking of those on Thingiverse.com like the Hypercube Evo?

Atb. Aamcle]]> aamcle CoreXY Machines Mon, 26 Sep 2022 08:36:12 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890611#msg-890611 Re: Life span of plastic parts? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890611#msg-890611 VDX CoreXY Machines Mon, 26 Sep 2022 08:35:16 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890610#msg-890610 Re: Life span of plastic parts? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890610#msg-890610




I finished with some printed plastic covers to keep curious fingers away from the pulley and belt:


]]> the_digital_dentist CoreXY Machines Mon, 26 Sep 2022 08:27:11 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890567#msg-890567 Re: Life span of plastic parts? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890567#msg-890567
I have seen a spec sheet for Nonoilen (from Filamentum) which is good apparently up to about 100°C. But I have not been able to find any real user comments.

ATB.]]> aamcle CoreXY Machines Thu, 22 Sep 2022 16:28:55 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890564#msg-890564 Re: Life span of plastic parts? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890564#msg-890564 rq3 CoreXY Machines Thu, 22 Sep 2022 15:45:03 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890562#msg-890562 Re: Life span of plastic parts? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890562#msg-890562
Bottom line, it comes down to how you plan to use your machine. Open air, PLA might get you by so long as you dont get it near any heat or even leave it in a car. Enclosed ABS or higher temp materials.

I would also like to point out that there is also a bit of a limit with size for CoreXY designs. Its been generally accepted that anything over 350-400mm wide beds CoreXY tends to have issues with due to stretching of belts. Im sure there is a math formula some where but on my 160mmx160mm CoreXY i find my belts to be nearly 4 times the length of the bed width. Even with reinforced belts there will be some stretch. So again, if you plan to enclose and go big, CoreXY may not be the best option, a cross gantry system may be better.]]> OutcastZeroOne CoreXY Machines Thu, 22 Sep 2022 15:06:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890538#msg-890538 Re: Life span of plastic parts? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890538#msg-890538
Quote
dekutree64
PLA cracks ... and softens ..., but otherwise holds up just fine.

Otherwise?

All that, and don't ever transport your printer full of PLA corner braces, motor and pulley mounts in a car on a sunny day and stop for coffee...]]> the_digital_dentist CoreXY Machines Tue, 20 Sep 2022 09:50:10 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890534#msg-890534 Re: Life span of plastic parts? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890534#msg-890534
But I have no idea if it cracks under prolonged load..... but it would be good for fan mounts :)


Atb. Aamcle]]> aamcle CoreXY Machines Tue, 20 Sep 2022 02:39:55 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890530#msg-890530 Re: Life span of plastic parts? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890530#msg-890530
I've also had a PLA Petsfang duct on my old CR-10 for many years, and surprisingly the mount has never loosened despite being screwed to the same piece of metal as the hotend. The extruder motor did soften a PLA direct drive mount though, so I replaced that with Tech-G.]]> dekutree64 CoreXY Machines Mon, 19 Sep 2022 17:36:38 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890522#msg-890522 Re: Life span of plastic parts? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890522#msg-890522
Aamcle]]> aamcle CoreXY Machines Mon, 19 Sep 2022 02:32:26 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890521#msg-890521 Re: Life span of plastic parts? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890521#msg-890521
Whatever you do, don't use PLA for printed parts in your printer!

Here's a printed motor mount that should last:



Notice the mount is very bulky. Plastic isn't metal. If you want plastic to be rigid, you need bulk. I design this type of mount by modeling the motor and the thing it will mount on, placed in proper relation to each other. Then I start with a solid block that connects the two, and cut away enough to allow the drive pulley and belt to fit with a little extra space to allow easy assembly. When I print I use at least 3 perimeters (typically 3 mm thick walls) and 50-60% infill. I also add modifiers in the slicer with infill at 95% where screws or bolts are going to put the plastic in compression.

I see a lot of plastic motor mounts designed to look like bent sheet metal. I wouldn't trust them to hold the motor straight against belt tension, or to last very long. I also see a lot of stacked pulleys stood up on posts screwed into plastic. That's not good, either.
]]> the_digital_dentist CoreXY Machines Sun, 18 Sep 2022 22:47:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890518#msg-890518 Life span of plastic parts? https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?397,890518,890518#msg-890518
In most published builds for example the Hypercube Evo the motors and pullies are mounted in printed parts. The parts are under load from the belts and shock loads from rapid direction changes.

If these parts are printed from ABS or other ridged filament do they wear out or do they need continual adjustment?

Othere than ABS what filaments are suitable and are the carbon fibre blends better?

Thanks aamcle]]> aamcle CoreXY Machines Sun, 18 Sep 2022 17:19:33 -0400