31
votes
Accepted
Designing clips that won't break
It looks like those clips are thin and need to bend pretty far to let the vial out. Try to make the clips thicker, but with a smaller clip to retain the vial so that it doesn't have to bend as much.
...
- 426
15
votes
Accepted
Does the layer thickness have any effect of the strength of the 3D printed object?
3D Matter has published an excellent article on the subject. They find that thicker layers result in a stronger part, with 0.3mm layers giving a part that is around 24% stronger than the same part ...
- 14.8k
14
votes
Accepted
Improving durability of a printed propeller
As Kezat noted, your part has very low infill, but infill is not what provides most of the part strength anyway. From what I can see of the broken part, it looks like you only have 1 or at most 2 ...
12
votes
Designing clips that won't break
I agree with the previous assessments -- printing vertically for that part of the clip will definitely alleviate the layer adhesion being your weak point.
You might also consider splitting that clip ...
- 131
8
votes
Designing clips that won't break
Considering that you wish to print the clip in the vertical orientation but without supports, I would suggest that you create a suitable taper of the clip from the bottom. The taper would provide ...
- 11.3k
8
votes
Accepted
Can I 3D print a wall assembly and expect it to be load-bearing?
You could print a decorative layer that attaches to the WPC board.
It would be faster and cheaper, and there'd be no doubt about its strength.
- 218
7
votes
Designing clips that won't break
Come on. Wider clips will just survive a bit longer.
The real cause is the orientation (plane) of printing.
Continues filament layer will always be more durable than few layers sticked together.
So ...
- 3,456
7
votes
Improving durability of a printed propeller
You need WAY more infill or make it solid. Normal props like this are 100% solid for a reason.
To add to that, in my experience with 3D printing the the infill percent is only part of the story for ...
- 363
7
votes
Improving durability of a printed propeller
I'm offering a different kind of answer, please do not print your propeller blades. I've seen accidents happen (in my past international model aircraft building and flying hobby) with even the bought ...
- 34.5k
6
votes
Accepted
How do you assure that you print layers that bond correctly?
I think the reason why the large cylinder is breaking much easier than the smokestack would is because of leverage. If you print the same cylinder at a much smaller scale it might be more difficult to ...
5
votes
Designing clips that won't break
The Short
Just print vertically
Reduce the clip size to bring them closer to the centerline
Try a vapor treatment or epoxy to increase strength
The Long
Ultimately, printing the object vertically (...
- 6,284
5
votes
DIY tensile strength testing
For these kind of tests you could rely on the ASTM standards. They define test procedures and test specimen sizes for different types of tests. Or you can derive a specimen yourself based on these ...
- 34.5k
5
votes
Improving durability of a printed propeller
A nitro engine rotates much faster than an electric one, 30k rpm vs 10k rpm top.
Also, it has much more vibrations (the engine gives torque in sharp pulses, not a continuous power generation). There's ...
- 4,133
4
votes
Accepted
What should I think about if I want to design something modular?
All printers are designed with an idea of WYSIWYG for sure. Depending on:
printer - type/quality/settings/configuration/assembly precission
filament - type/quality/shrinkage
user skills - manual/...
- 3,456
4
votes
How to determine shell thickness for parts?
As alluded to in 0scar's answer, it is important to stick to multiples of your nozzle width for thin shells. If you try to print a 1mm wall with a 0.4mm nozzle, you give the slicer a bit of a ...
- 3,792
4
votes
How to determine shell thickness for parts?
This totally depends on what you think is acceptable for your print, and what the usage of the print is: is it a structural/functional part or just for aesthetic purposes. There is no general rule of ...
- 34.5k
4
votes
Why does my PLA filament keep snapping?
PLA seems to become brittle with age. Micro-fractures develop on the surface, and they will grow if filament is taken off the spool and held straight. This behaviour does not seem to be linked to ...
- 3,090
4
votes
Accepted
FDM layer bonding strength
I have not been able to find a simple model for FDM part strength. FDM parts are pretty complicated as they have a LOT more things that affect their strength than just layer adhesion. Since any "...
- 2,452
4
votes
Is it safe to print a rotor insert for a centrifuge using a makerbot?
It's difficult to determine if the buckets are fully enclosed, but I suspect that they are. The enclosure into which the inserts are placed will provide some structural support.
3D printed objects ...
- 11.3k
4
votes
Accepted
3D Printed Lead Screw
Expanding on some previous comments which are probably enough to warrant an answer:
What Trish said is completely right. Leadscrews are readily available parts and any dimensional errors in the ...
4
votes
Can I 3D print a wall assembly and expect it to be load-bearing?
Calculations such as you want are not possible in my opinion except in such general terms as to be useless. Differences in layer height, layer adhesion, print quality and what heat you printed the ...
- 1,335
3
votes
Designing clips that won't break
Printing the model vertically should certainly be considered, as that will alleviate your issue by a whole lot. If altering the design by adding a taper to your model isn't what you are looking for, ...
- 3,987
3
votes
What is a good way to estimate the impact on material strength different printing methods will have?
This is a good question, which hadn't received enough researchers' attention. People regularly print different objects, some of them with strength requirements and the need for a method of strength ...
- 355
3
votes
What is a good way to estimate the impact on material strength different printing methods will have?
It's hard to tell without actually testing the part. There are many ways you can 3D print a part, even on the same machine, that can yield different results.
Here are some tips to help uphold ...
- 6,284
3
votes
What slicer settings would produce the strongest part?
If your real question is what would be the strongest then I say - the solid would be the strongest - no doubt.
But if the question is:
what be the strongest in comparison to weight or
what is the ...
- 3,456
3
votes
Accepted
Typical plastic strength at 1500 RPM
Really the only thing that would matter for this project is the amount of torque the motor has available and subsequently how heavy your setup is that is connected to the motor. A part that size may ...
- 6,284
3
votes
What should I think about if I want to design something modular?
A book you would benefit from reading is "Functional Design for 3D Printing...Designing 3D Printed things for everyday use - 2nd Edition" by Clifford Smyth.
It deals with FDM printing only. It ...
- 241
3
votes
How do you assure that you print layers that bond correctly?
No matter what you do, the adhesion between layers will never be as strong as the adhesion in the direction of layer application. It's analogous to a wooden baseball bat (for those old enough to ...
- 3,013
3
votes
Is it safe to print a rotor insert for a centrifuge using a makerbot?
It is my understanding that you are looking to print the insert not the gimble bucket. The gimble bucket portion would be difficult and have high risk. Fdm 3d printing looks like it would be a good ...
- 163
3
votes
Why does my PLA filament keep snapping?
When water gets absorbed into the filament, it causes some of the long chain polymers to break. This is a permanent reaction that cannot be fixed by baking the filament, which typically results in the ...
- 2,360
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible