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Flexible PLA

Discussion in 'Troubleshooting' started by tesseract, Jun 29, 2013.

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  1. tesseract

    tesseract Moderator
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    I am sure by this time many of have seen tth video of the guy who claims that by putting normal printed PLA into carb cleaner for a few minutes it will become as flexible as the Nylon we have seen.

    Well I bit the bullet this morning and went to my autoparts store and got some carb cleaner and I took a small piece of printed PLA(one of my tangle pieces) filled a 2 oz jar about a third of the way and I dropped the piece in put the metal cap on the jar now I am waiting. All of this is at room temp but today it is gonna be a high room temp over 102 outside today.

    I am looking for a few things

    How much damage can be done if left in too long?

    How long does it stay in whatever condition it comes out of the liquid?

    What condition is it in when it comes out?

    Is it flexible?

    This first piece went in 24 minutes ago and I am going to wait 1 hour
    I will keep you updated.
     
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  2. tesseract

    tesseract Moderator
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    Update 1: 1 hour too long. Piece is definitely flexible but literally separated into strands all of which are flexible they tend to return to their unbent shape if you bend them so it is not like putty. Next piece 30 minutes.

    I am keeping the piece in an unsealed jar to let evaporation occur to see if flexibility remains there is a slight chemical smell but nothing more than what I have been exposed to before I am sure
     
  3. Harry

    Harry Team ROBO 3D
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    Let u s know how it goes Jeff.
     
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  4. polylac

    polylac New Member

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  5. Harry

    Harry Team ROBO 3D
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    PLA/PHA is also kinda flexible and soft, but pretty expensive.

    Checkout ColorFabb.
     
  6. polylac

    polylac New Member

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    that's true, but not that flexible, more somewhat between bendlay and abs (if you take a look at the picture with the different bendet filaments)
     
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