Durable Filament?

Hi guys!

I have basically just been printing with PLA, while getting used to the printer. All the parts I have built for our manufacturing facility just don't withstand the environment, basically just keep breaking or wearing out.

The main parts that I build and have to keep rebuilding are End Effectors for our Material Handling Robot. I don't really mind them breaking because it is saving the Robot in the process but I am having to replace them too often. Originally the End Effectors were made of Aluminum which, over time, has wore a larger groove and will not handle the wire anymore.

The Robot is paired with an AIM Wire Bending Machine, which allows us to build some pretty intricate parts. But the End Effectors take a beating from time to time depending on Wire Straightness and so forth.

For example, we are grabbing the wire from the AIM Machine and then repositioning to achieve another bend which would not be possible without the Robot, unless you get the new Synchro Machine by AIM then anything is possible, but that's out of the question. When the wire feeds from the AIM Machine through 2 eye loops in a handle, the possibility for error is huge and, if it misses the eye loops, the wire will rip the handle out of the End Effectors in turn snapping them. I have tried printing these with 75% infill, 6 Top/Bottom Layers, and 5 Outer Shells and still breaks like nothing.

I attached a couple images. One is the End Effector itself, which the Robot uses 4 identical pcs. The others are images of the parts we are building.

I also build Tool Holders for various stations, which a lot of welding/grinding/etc take place. And a bunch of random parts/tools for our CNC Mill and Plasma Table. We do have a Powder Coating System, which would require a lot of heat resistance, but I have not needed to build anything for that, yet anyways.

I want to build more stuff for our shop, like storage bins and organization stuff, but PLA is just not cutting it. Any ideas on a more durable filament. Temp is not a huge issue but is apparent. For the most part, Impact and Wear Resistance is what I need.

Thanks!

 

"The end PLA part "feels" hard, but it's also very brittle." - Quoted from that link BOTH of you posted lol!

This is the problem I am coming across. Will the Taulman filaments require a hardened nozzle as well?

Yep, when the PLA ones are in production for an extended period of time, which does not happen very often since they typically break before, the wire will eventually wear a larger groove in the End Effectors which reduces the clamping force making them useless. Oh and did I mention we just hired a new operator....FNG.

 

Will the Alloy 910 conduct electricity and/or withstand 400 degrees Fahrenheit?

 

The high temp and electrostatic was for a different application which I thought would be interesting for our Powder Coating System. But that's not going to happen.

 

Okay I will look into that but the high temp need is not my first priority. Just looking ahead but I don't see a use currently.

 

Looks like I am going to order a couple types of taulman and maybe a colofabb xt, ht, or ngen to try out. What would you recommend as a good cheap general filament for testing/prototyping before a final print? I am thinking PLA, since I have had good luck even printing the Robo brand, but not sure which brand everyone likes/prefers? Plus all the taulman stuff is either clear or black and what fun is that!

 

Do you guys buy direct, amazon, or some other store?