Best TPE for 3D printing? PLA? Or ABS?
Blow molding technology can manufacture hollow products with large volume, light weight and complex curved surface structure, and is widely used in mass production of plastic products. Blow molding is basically a method of blowing a moldable hollow material (called a tube) into a target shape, which can be controlled by hand forming or pre-designed molds. In addition, the inflation rate is very fast, and unless a mold is used, shaping a specific shape requires high skill and experience of the operator.
In recent years, artists have experimented with digital tools for custom blow-molded products. However, the limited exploration of controlling shape change limits its personalization and democratization.
Based on the shape change principle of previous work, the team of Professor Wang Guanyun of Zhejiang University proposed a new PneuFab blow molding technology, aiming to overcome related problems and realize a democratized manufacturing process. Realized by FDM 3D printing custom structures and time-triggered methods, ordinary users can design and create hollow volume shape variations by blowing simple FDM 3D printed thermoplastic structures.
Novel and low-cost hybrid manufacturing process
PneuFab is a novel and low-cost hybrid manufacturing workflow that exploits the properties of gas pressure and flexible materials to 3D print structures in which various electronic components and sensors are embedded. Compared with traditional manufacturing processes, PneuFab can greatly reduce costs and time, while also achieving higher flexibility and precision. Airbags can be customized, and PneuFab can design different airbag structures for different application scenarios to meet different needs.
Since the inflatable structures are built in-house, they do not have any impact on the appearance of the product in order to meet the customer's requirements in terms of appearance. This is an excellent solution, and by using 3D printing and inflatable structures, PneuFab has created blow molded parts that are highly customizable, strong and aesthetically pleasing.
3D printed inflatable structures with both aesthetic and mechanical properties
PneuFab's new inflatable structure is produced using the Raise3D E2 3D printer, which can help designers achieve higher manufacturing efficiency and production quality on some blow-molded products. The advantage of the Raise3D E2 printer lies in its high printing accuracy and stable printing performance. It can accurately print high-quality models, and can ensure that the surface of the printed sample is smooth and delicate. As a flexible production mode based on 3D printing, E2 can also easily realize complex structures that cannot be processed by traditional processes, which allows designers to design products freely while ensuring high-quality production, making it an ideal choice for production. Ideal tool for complex structures.
During its production process, the default nozzle diameter of Raise3D E2 is 0.4mm to manufacture the designed thermoplastic blank, which can be replaced with 0.2, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0mm. According to the printing size and accuracy requirements, choose the appropriate nozzle, and the replacement is convenient. Use the ideaMaker slicing software commonly used by E2 to generate print files. Since the digital models of all samples are thin-walled and hollow, in order to ensure the airtightness of the printed parts, the extrusion rate is set to 95%, the filling rate is set to 100%, and the rest are the default printing parameters to avoid potential gaps and leaks. gas, especially when printing larger objects that need to be filled.
When selecting materials, the Zhejiang University research team investigated commonly used and readily available thermoplastic elastomers for FDM 3D printing: PLA and ABS. Since the two thermoplastics have different glass transition temperatures, preparation for printing will vary. This is because the temperature range in which a substance undergoes a thermodynamic transition needs to be considered.
In the case of PLA, the glass transition temperature ranges between 60–100°C and for ABS between 105–200°C. This determines the parameters set in the microtome and how long it takes to heat the 3D printer up to the desired temperature. At the same time, the variables of the manufacturing process, including the print platform and printhead, must be set correctly.
ABS requires a higher print bed temperature, around 80-110°C, while PLA is typically 60°C. As far as the extruder is concerned, PLA also requires lower temperatures, specifically around 180-230°C, while ABS requires 210-250°C.
After considering the influence of glass transition temperature, the researchers finally decided to choose PLA as the printing material. PLA (polylactic acid) is a non-toxic, bio-based thermoplastic polymer material with excellent biodegradability. Raise3D Premium PLA Filament is available in a variety of colors and has an excellent surface finish. It will keep its shape and rarely warp when printing, sometimes it can be used without heating the bottom plate, it is the first choice for printing high-precision printing parts and aesthetic detail models, more suitable for injection, stretching, extrusion, blow molding, 3D Printing and other price craft.
The emergence of PneuFab blow molding technology has enriched the design space of blow molding, allowing designers to more flexibly use digital technology to manufacture workpieces with complex geometric shapes and adjustable stiffness. In this digital age, the development of digital craftsmanship has made it possible to democratize craft technology, and has also promoted the rapid development of industrial and creative fields to a greater extent.
