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I often print functional parts that need to be usable under some stress, so I am always looking for better materials.

I most often print in PLA because it is a hard material with excellent strenght properties.

Often, I find that parts printed in PLA are stronger than the same parts printed in ABS.

However, PLA is not very temperature resistant and it will break suddenly under stress.

Nylon is also a good material to print with because it is very tough. However, Nylon is softer and not available in as many colors.

Therefore, I am following new developments and have come across both IN-PLA and PLA-HS.

Both are to have the same easy printing characteristics of standard PLA like no warp, very little shrinkage but also have higher tensile strength, more flexibility and higher temperature resistance.

Does anyone have any experience with these materials yet.

It they will live up to my expectations, it would (for me) make ABS practically obsolete.

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Try out XT CF20 it’s a material that’s similar to PET (the stuff that bottles are made from), but it also has 20% carbon fibres included, which make the material twice as stiff as PLA. XT CF20 is sold by Colorfabb and due to 3dhubs you’ll have a small discount on Colorfabb materials, so check it out. Make sure to frequently check your nozzle and if possible switch to stainless steel ones for carbon materials. The carbon fibres scratch.on the inside of the nozzles and will wear out brass nozzles quite quickly. Cheers, Marius Breuer

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@Silvester - I Love nylon and you can stain (dye) it after and before printing with simple acid based clothes stains.

If you need dimensional stability then dye the nylon before you print as dying is at boiling temp and does slacken the print slightly.

Well worth experimenting with.

James

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