Guest Fri May 08, 2020 6:42 am
PLA should hold up fine. As long as a good wall thickness is used there should not be a problem of water seeping through microscopic cracks in the print. I think the thing to watch out for most is direct sunlight, as mentioned. PLA will start to warp at 50-ish degrees or so (for example in a car on a sunny day). Especially parts that have en open profile without bracing, Like a “U” or “C”.
Alternatively one can use PETG, which I believe handles heat better but might be less rigid, like a plastic bottle. For things that need to take some force ABS is probably the way to go, unless one has won the lottery and have the possibility to print Carbon fiber materials. Actually, come to think about it, there is Carbon fiber infused PLA for even stronger prints.
3D printing has its limitations, which one can overcome with some smart thinking and some good designs, and it definitely has its place in the hobby. Will it make other processes obsolete, I doubt it. It is a powerful tool that is for sure. Anything from small parts to jigs for other manufacturing processes to entire subs.
BR
» Flight controllers as sub levelers
» Bournville 2023
» Raspberry Pi Pico + ePaper display hat
» WW2 mini sub build
» Help with 1:48 scale WW2 German U boat
» Problem with Futaba FX-30 and 40 MHz module
» Resurgam, Nordenfelts II & IV - George Garrett's works.
» Letter to BMFA to request the sharing of the 35MHz frequency for model subs in the UK.