Plastics when concerning High-temp electronics-

[Kevyn_Jordan]

Hey guys, I’m pretty new to the world of 3D printing, but I am long familiar with electronics and circuitry. I recently designed a power bank that runs on a vast amount of 18650 type batteries, with a built in DC > AC 110v power inverter. I have a couple questions, however, before ordering my prototype print. It’s a bit pricey, so I want to get it as close to perfect as I can in as few tries as possible. First, will standard PLA general use plastic properly withstand the operating temperatures (150-200F)?

[karlzhao314]

Hi Kevyn, sounds like a cool project!

PLA will not. It has a glass transition temperature of between 60C and 70C, which works out to be 140-158F. I’ve often have it be soft and rubbery right off the bed when it’s barely even warm to the touch. You should instead go for ABS, which often has a glass transition temperature of above 100C, or 212F (depending on brand).

-Karl Zhao