Idea said:
sl33py said:
A couple unrelated questions - filament. I see you use PETG - for the motor mount. Pro's and Cons vs Nylon? I'm trying to find the ideal material for gears especially and have some Nylon 910 i want to try. Other suggestions from your experience? I've seen the PLA plus, Poly Carb, and Nylons as some of the strongest options - with some challenges due to shrinkage and warping...
Heal up quick!
PLA plus and Polycarb I not yet tested. Nylon 910 is OK to print pulley (alexa recommending Nylon 910)
It appears that Polycarb, however, has the best technical parameters
but I do not know how to check in practice (I do not know how it is resistant to abrasion).
I may help a bit here
I've worked with Taulman Bridge which is really close to 910, 910 being able to bear more tensile strength and being a bit stiffer but not by huge margin. After that I've tried PETG. Here are my conclusions after tests :
+Nylon offers less grip contact and keeps good integrity, so for applications like pulleys which require a tight spot between low friction and good shape, it is very good. Not too far from solid Teflon as far as friction goes.
+If you need a tiny bit of elasticity for mechanical resistance, this is your favorite choice. It can prove to accomodate both stiffness and softness in a same design, which if determined directly by your 3D model.
-Nylon does not offer linear structure when printed in filament format. It may be torn between layers under heavy abrasion or heavy impact.
-Funny smell occurs under printing and storage is a pain because it attracts wet in the air. You need to cook it to get the former characteristics of the filaments.
-Nylon proves to be expensive. I've kept all my broken or used proto parts to put them into recyclable machine later, so I get my spools back because I've already spent hundreds.
-Limited color choices actually available.
+PETG has bit more friction but is also A LOT stiffer so all that friction goes to nothing. It is hard enough, a bit of smoothening and you get a perfect piece for mechanical purposes.
+You don't meet any shrinkage issues or anything. What you see printing is what you get.
+Structural linearity is impressive ! You are basically getting almost same strength between layers and over the filament itself, so unless you utterly break the part you won't tear it.
+You will bend the part before you success to break it, yet it is VERY stiff so you will have a hard time to bend it.
+No funny smell at all.
+Less expensive.
+More color choice.
-There is basically very little to no elasticity with PETG, so even if it is tough against breaking, once you cross the line it's over.
After going at both parts with hammers, screwdrivers, throwing them etc and stomping them, clamping them, this is what I learnt of it. Personnally I prefer PETG as it offers far more advantages over the Nylon, but it depends on what you want. Nylon can't be replaced in certain uses at it is the best. But for a whole lot of mechanical uses, PETG shines even more. Depends on what you seek!
