Hi!
A few weeks ago, I designed a replacement for the sink strainer in my motorhome. Everything turned out perfectly, it worked flawlessly, but after several weeks of use, it has shrunk noticeably.
As expected, there have been temperature changes from hot to cold, constant humidity, and so on.
On a couple of occasions, very hot water from boiling food (probably close to 100 °C) has been poured down, so this may have affected it.
Is there any way to avoid such pronounced changes in size?
It’s printed in PLA — would PETG or another material perhaps withstand this much better?
Any recommendations?
I’m attaching photos to show the changes it has undergone, as well as the link to the part.
https://makerworld.com/en/models/1625685-motorhome-sink-strainer-compatible-with-smev
Thanks!
I would use petg, asa, or abs if you have them. PLA doesn’t hold up well at higher temps.
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I would like it to be easy to print. I was thinking about PETG, but I’ve seen that it can withstand temperatures around 70ºC, which might not be enough.
Which material do you think would be the next best option that combines ease of printing with slightly higher temperature resistance?
Then ASA or ABS would be my choice.
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Looks like you have been annealing the part.
If you really do need to use it at 100°C, you are probably looking at PPS-CF or PPA-CF which have recommended annealing windows above 100°C.
A limit of 80°C would enable many more material (PC, Nylons, maybe even ABS & ASA).
PETG doesn’t really anneal that well, so it may be an option. However, it does have heat deflection temps in the 60’s, barely 15° above PLA, so it may deform without much use.
Of course, you could try to deliberately anneal the part. Try scaling it up by the measured shrinkage, print, anneal at 50-60°C for 6-12h and keep your fingers crossed that it fits (may need to repeat for a better fit).
But I’d really go down that route with a higher temp material like PC.
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Thanks! I will try annealing the part or PC
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You could also anneal PC. Bambu recommends 85 to 100°C for 6 to 12h.
However, in my (limited) experience it is more difficult to print.
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