In today’s rapid development of 3D printing technology, companies or organisations making 3D printing materials is nothing new, but it is rare for individuals to make their own 3D printing materials. This is because homemade 3D printing materials require not only certain professional knowledge, but also certain skills, experience and equipment.So how can individuals make their own 3D printing materials? Which 3D printing materials are suitable for homemade? Next, I will introduce the whole process of homemade 3D printing materials:
Step 1: To prepare the raw materials:
Depending on the type of material you want to make, prepare the appropriate raw materials. Currently, the 3D printing materials suitable for individuals to make their own are PLA, PETG, ABS, and PET, TPU and so on.
Step 2: Prepare tools and equipment:
You will need a 3D printer and some necessary tools such as a sharpening knife, a homemade heater, a homemade extruder, and so on.
You will need a 3D printer and some necessary tools such as a sanding knife, iron, oven , etc.
Step 3: The production process:
The basic principle of individual homemade 3D printing materials are all through chemical reaction or physical processing to transform raw materials into particles or wires suitable for 3D printing. Here below are the basic steps of homemade 3D printing materials based on chemical reaction and the basic steps of homemade 3D printing materials based on physical processing, respectively:
①Homemade process of 3D printing materials based on chemical reaction (take PLA as an example):
*Prepare raw materials: corn starch, lactic acid, etc.
*Saccharify corn starch to obtain glucose.
*Ferment glucose using microorganisms to produce lactic acid.
*Polymerisation of lactic acid to form PLA particles.
*Drying and screening the PLA particles to make them suitable for 3D printing.
②Physical processing based 3D printing material homemade process (ABS as an example):
*Preparation: Recycle scrap suitable for making ABS materials, etc.
*First, the recycled scrap is cleaned, labels and other impurities are removed.
*Then its cut into small pieces or made into strips.
*Then the ABS blocks or ribbons are added to a homemade heating device and heated to 220°C-260°C to melt them.
*Finally, it is extruded into filaments by homemade extrusion equipment, and the extruded filaments also need to be cooled and stretched.
③Self-made other 3D printing materials
In addition to PLA and ABS, you can also try to make other types of 3D printing materials, such as PET, PETG, etc. The homemade methods of different materials may vary, but the production principle is to transform the raw materials into materials suitable for 3D printing through chemical reactions or physical processing. Therefore, before choosing a homemade 3D printing material, you should first determine the properties of the raw material, then determine the production principle based on the properties of the raw material, and finally determine the basic production steps.
Notes on homemade 3D printing
① Temperature control:
Different materials require different heating temperatures, too high or too low will affect the print quality.
② Learning and mastering of professional knowledge
Homemade 3D printing materials need to require certain professional knowledge and skills. This is not easy for beginners. It is recommended that before attempting to make homemade 3D printing materials, you should have sufficient learning and understanding to master the necessary 3D printing knowledge and technology, as well as material-related knowledge.
④Safety
In the process of making homemade 3D printing materials, it is important to pay attention to safety. Some raw materials may be toxic or flammable, so wear appropriate protective equipment such as gloves, masks, goggles, etc. when operating. Also, make sure the working environment is well ventilated to avoid accidents. In addition, the performance of homemade materials may not be as stable as commercially available materials, and adequate testing and verification are required.
Homemade 3D printing materials, a self-sufficient and innovative manufacturing model, not only gives new life to discarded items, but also enables more people to participate in the process of green manufacturing. At the same time, through practice, users can gain an in-depth understanding of the essence of 3D printing technology and develop their own skills and styles through continuous experimentation and improvement.
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