We have all mastered basic PLA and PETG. You have printed enough Benchies to fill a small harbor, and your layer adhesion is dialed in perfectly. Now, you want parts that offer higher tensile strength, unique aesthetics, or conductive properties. You want to try 3D printing with composite filaments. This guide will review the basics!
Learn About Composite Filaments
Composites consist of a base plastic reinforced with a secondary material. Common variations include chopped carbon fiber, glass spheres, wood dust, and metal powders. The suspended particles disrupt the polymer chains, which alters the material’s physical properties. Consequently, you can get prints with unique properties, such as increased stiffness, reduced warping, matte surface finishes, and higher heat deflection temperatures.
Upgrade Your Extrusion System
Most composite filaments are highly abrasive. Pushing carbon fiber or glow-in-the-dark filament through a standard brass nozzle will be too hard on the orifice diameter.
You should probably upgrade your machine’s hotend assembly. Essential upgrades include hardened steel nozzles, all-metal heat breaks, abrasion-resistant extruder gears, and plated copper heater blocks.
Tune Slicer Profiles
You cannot just use a standard profile for these materials. Because the additives limit the flow rate of the molten plastic, you need to adjust your slicer settings. Here are the main ways to modify key parameters:
- increasing the nozzle temperature
- slowing down the print speed
- reducing retraction distance
- adjusting the extrusion multiplier
Furthermore, disabling the part cooling fan might be necessary to maintain layer bonding with materials like Nylon-CF or ABS-GF.
Refine Post-Processing and Annealing
Composite parts often look great right off the build plate, but some applications require post-processing. Now, you should be extra careful when sanding because you are exposing the fibers or particles. Additionally, annealing your parts in an oven can relieve internal stresses, improve dimensional stability, increase temperature resistance, and maximize mechanical strength.
Upgrade Your Rig at 3D Printers Depot
If your current setup struggles with high-temp nozzles or abrasive materials, it might be time for an upgrade. Machines like the QIDI Tech Q1 Pro or the industrial-grade CreatBot F430 are built to handle these demanding tasks out of the box. 3D Printers Depot offers a vast selection of high-performance machines perfect for engineering-grade materials. Visit our shop to buy 3D printers online that can handle everything from carbon fiber to PEEK.