Alternative to ABS for outdoor use?

[wirlybird]

I am making some parts to clamp one pole to another where the pole sizes are different and I need a leveling system. I am making these in ABS but having the usual warping issues since the parts are large and thick. PLA is out since it won’t handle the heat!

The part needs to handle direct sunlight (heat) and cold weather. I don’t care about fading etc. just structural integrity. Weight on the parts won’t be significant but they will be bolted together around a pole so there will be some compression.

I don’t expect the parts to last forever but would rather not replace them every other month!!!

[AndreasDesmedt]

You should look at the new Colorfabb Ngen material. From what I hear it prints easy and is UV-resistant. Also way more heat resistant then PLA.

[MSdesignCo]

Hi There,

HTPLA from Proto-Pasta (or others) is worth taking a look at, it’ll take the heat much better than regular PLA.

Also PETG might work as an alternative to ABS.

[shahramrobotics]

Before you go and spend money to try every single spool of filament , try to find what exactly the problem is. For outdoor use, specially sunny days, I think you need to have a filament that is IR resistance and more reflective. In raw sunlight (without cloud, filter, glass, etc in between) the amount of IR is way higher than UV and heat generated by those cannot be compared. I recommend you to first buy one 100w IR LED and one 100w UV LED to test on sample filaments like 5cm long and see how they perform under that much energy.

I’m curious to know what would happen if you apply sun cream to PLA before the filament goes into the nozzle and see if it helps when you put that object under the sun, maybe you could tell us

[Enza3D]

Following up on this, the demand of resistance to cold is a big demand on plastic. High heat PLA can withstand high temperature fine, but there are very few plastics that withstand cold well. The vast majority of thermoplastics used by 3D printers become very brittle (and easily broken) when it’s cold.

PC (polycarbonate) might work well, but it’s a pain to print with and I don’t know how it handles cold.

[wirlybird]

I am not sure how it will react in cold and it will get cold, well below freezing at times! The parts shouldn’t have a lot of stress so they may be ok. It will be interesting.

Heat is the real issue I think. These will be on a 2.25" steel pipe and adapting to a 1.25" metal antenna mast type pipe and will have direct sunlight most of the day and ambient temps that can easily be over 100f. I think the PLA will melt!! ABS may hold up for a while, it will be a good experiment.

I am just interested in other options to give a try.

[Regulus3D]

Colorfabb NGEN (PLA like but tougher), and ColorFabb XT (ABS like, but tougher) are both UV resistant, with XT also being water resistant as well

[wirlybird]

I’ve looked at Colorfabb and it is pricey here in the states. I may try one day though to see how it goes.

[Enza3D]

Have you checked out the prices on Matterhackers? As a whole, ColorFabb is more expensive, but they have very nice quality! If you buy from Materhackers, the shipping is free as well.

[Enza3D]

You should definitely check out ProtoPasta’s High Heat PLA if you’re planning on experimenting. Once you heat treat it (put it in a kitchen oven for an hour or so at 230degF), it should be fine for temperatures up to 248degF. I’ve put boiling water on prints made with it and they didn’t really deform, only softened slightly. You can also treat any plastic with UV resistant spray to help with the sun issue.

[wirlybird]

May have but I don’t recall. I’ll look again.

[wirlybird]

Interesting, I’ll check into it.

[Perry_1]

Look at MakerGeeks Raptor dishwasher safe PLA. You anneal it in an oven or boiling water.

Strong stuff, and wont warp in heat.

It is also one of the better priced options in the US.

[wirlybird]

Thanks, I forgot about that stuff. Been meaning to try it. Now may be a good time.

[Hoffa]

Nylon might be the way to go, though I have no personal experience with the material. - I do hear it is a bit difficult to dial in, but it shouldn’t warp and is stronger than the other stuff I see mentioned. Again, I don’t have proper information on how it stands up to cold, but I do know it is resistant to ambient moisture, which is an important factor.

Then there’s the new CPE+ material from Ultimaker (don’t know if other’s make it) that is both hard (without being brittle) and temperature resistant.

[jfield]

What about PETG? I’ve printed some outdoor parts, although I can’t tell you yet how they will weather as I haven’t had them long enough. PETG is used for bottled water, it should be pretty weather resistant.

[Regulus3D]

ASA - as supplied by RigidInk is UV tolerant (Not tried it yet, but will look into it, once I have gone through my stash of sample filaments from the TCT show !

[wirlybird]

I am considering it. May order some soon but have to look into how it prints more.

[wirlybird]

I need to look into it more. Seems some have said it is a bit fussy to print but ABS is being a pain for larger stuff.

[wirlybird]

Looking into this a bit and finding mixed reviews on printing. Main thing is warping. I can’t seem to get a feel for how it really is doing since comments I am finding are all over the place on this.

I am tempted to try it but at $50+ a roll it is up there.

If lifting off the bed and warping are less or more controllable than ABS then that is a start especially when making brackets or parts that need to fit or bolt together.