ProtoPasta é uma empresa situada nos Estados Unidos da América, de produção de filamentos para impressão 3D de alta qualidade.
Caracterizada pelos rolos feitos em cartão, esta marca é mundialmente famosa por ser especializada em materiais como PLA e ABS modificados com outros materiais, como o PLA Magnético; o PLA Condutivo; PLA de fibra de carbono; HTPLA de cobre, latão ou bronze; ou o ABS-PC.

Introducing Bronze-Filled Metal Composite HTPLA .

Using real bronze powder, we've created a premium heat treatable metal PLA filament for 3D prints that finish just like real metal!

Our bronze composite filament is as versatile as it is beautiful, printing like plastic, but finishing like real metal for beautiful, durable parts from most standard 3D printers.

With so many finishing options, the sky is the limit!

Scroll down or click the link below for more product specific details, finishing options, and application ideas for Bronze-Filled Metal Composite HTPLA.

Brick or cast bronze? Brush, polish, or patina and enjoy!

Introducing Bronze-Filled Metal Composite HTPLA. Using real bronze powder, we've created a premium heat treatable metal PLA filament for 3D prints that finish just like real metal! Our bronze composite filament is as versatile as it is beautiful, printing like plastic, but finishing like real metal for beautiful, durable parts from most standard 3D printers.

FINISHING TECHNIQUES

Whether you want your prints to be polished with the same bright mirror finish of shiny bronze coins or a naturally rustic finish with an acquired patina reminiscent of an aged bronze sculpture, the possibilities are endless with this specialty metal PLA filament. With so many finishing options, the sky is the limit! Here are just a few common finishing techniques for metal composite filaments you might want to try:

Heat treat your HTPLA print to survive harsher environments like the hot sun or a warm polishing wheel (more details below)
Wire Brush to expose metal for future oxidation or a bright, satin finish
Rock tumble with steel shot for darker, but smooth, shiny look
Paint part (black for example) to fill recesses with a contrasting color
Polish with a rotary tool, cotton buff, and polishing compound for a bright, mirror finish on high spots (darkens low spots)
Polish with paper for a clean, smooth, and bright finish with less darkening
Patina (oxidize) exposed metal naturally or accelerate with a 50/50 vinegar/hydrogen peroxide mixture saturated with salt. Place in sealed plastic bag to retain moisture. Heat further accelerates reaction.

Try these techniques separately or combine! Change the order or try something new. If you discover a new technique, make something beautiful, or discover something unexpected, share it! When you've got that perfect, WOW finish, consider preserving it with a clear coat or brush applicable water-based, food-safe, and dishwasher safe coating like Modge Podge. Practice your finishing a on a test piece like Protognome (download here).

Now the only question is, "What will you make?"

HEAT TREATING & APPLICATIONS

Heat treating beforehand to firm up HTPLA helps parts hold shape up to near melting (175C). Protect your investment in warm environments or push limits of application by exploring copper's thermal conductivity. There is not enough copper to be electrically conductive, sintered, or plated, but there is a noticeable difference in weight and heat transfer.

Some application ideas include:

Faux brick or stone
Fixtures or hardware
Knobs or buttons
Heat sinks or exchangers
Fine art & sculpture
Emblems, signage, or trophies
Jewelry, like pendants or bracelets
Cosplay, game pieces, or figurines

MATERIAL DATA

Base resin: HTPLA - Heat Treatable PLA
Additive: Real Bronze Powder
Particle size: less than 250 micron (0.25mm)
Odor: low or no
Density: Approx. 2.30 g/cc
Length (50g): 97m (1.75mm) and 36m (2.85mm)
Heat treating: 110C (225F) for 10 min or as required for desired result
Total loss of stiffness (before heat treat): 50-60C (Tg)
Total loss of stiffness (after heat treat): 150-175C (melting)
Dimension change (before heat treat): 0% X/Y/Z
Dimension change (after heat treat): 1.5% shrink X/Y and 1% growth Z typical but please calculate and confirm for your specific print and process

PRINTER SETTINGS

Speed: 10-20 mm/s 1st layer, 20-80 mm/s rest of part
Nozzle Set-point: 185-215C (hottest on 1st layer for best adhesion)
Nozzle Actual: maintain set-point, reduce speed if less than
Nozzle Type: Standard or wear resistant for extended use
Nozzle Diameter: 0.6mm or larger preferred, 0.4mm okay with 0.25mm minimum for experts
Layer thickness: 0.15-0.20mm recommended for a balance of quality, reliability, and productivity
Bed Temperature: Room-60C (over 60C can worsen warp)
Bed Preparation: Elmers purple disappearing glue stick or your other favorite PLA surface preparation

This material has been flow optimized and has less moisture uptake than standard PLAs, however composites are still sometimes more tricky to print depending on hardware and software settings. The main challenge is to keep mass flow up (larger nozzle + fast speed) and in a single direction (minimal retraction) to avoid heat soak. More on that topic here.

Getting Started with Proto-pasta PLAs including HTPLA

We've created this page to bring you a premium PLA and HTPLA printing experience that rivals our premium material. Follow below to improve your 3D printing experience. In other words, here's your shortcut to awesomeness with pasta. If at the end of this document you have questions or need assistance, please contact us at [email protected].

Filament Handling

Loose coils can be very tricky to manage. Going cowboy on your spool handling can quickly end up in a frustrating, tangled mess. Keep your loose coils wrangled with a spool holder like masterspool for a more trouble-free experience. Find out more about loose coil handling in Keith's blog post.

And for spooled filament, never let go of the loose end. When not in the printer extruder, tuck it away in the cardboard spool's corrugation! Also, avoid sharp bends and excessive force when loading filament into your printer.

Print settings

At Proto-pasta, we make high quality filament. We aspire to make exceptional results easy, but a positive result is very much dependent on your hardware, set-up, adjustments, and process parameters. Matching hardware with process and material for a positive experience is not always straight-forward, but you can start by pairing the following settings with your printer for a good starting point, then tune or troubleshoot as required.

Example settings for typical printer

Nozzle size = 0.4 mm (Standard to most printers & balances detail with productivity.)
Extrusion width = 0.45 mm (Typically larger than nozzle size. If using a larger nozzle diameter, be sure to set the extrusion width larger than that nozzle diameter.)
Layer thickness = 0.15 mm (For a balance of speed, quality & reliability.)
Speed(s) = 15-45 mm/s (Respecting mechanical and volume flow limits. Stay within the recommended speed range but apply slower speeds to the walls and faster speeds to the infill.)
Volume flow rate(s) = 1-3 cu mm/s (The result of above speed range, width, and layer thickness. Respect hardware and geometry limitations.)
Typical temperature = 215 C +/- 10 C (Matching material, hardware, and volume flow rate.)

Volume flow rate together with temperature dictates how melted the material is. This is hardware & condition dependent based on hot end, nozzle & extruder type, material & manufacturer as well as layer fan type, position & settings. Extrusion width, layer thickness & speed changes affect volume flow which may change required/desired temperature.

Additional settings of note

“Grid” infill type at 20-30% - “connect infill lines” unchecked (off).
Minimum 3 shells & 4 top/bottom layers for good surface quality.
Layer fan set to cool enough for build rate, but not so aggressive as to fail process by over-cooling nozzle and heater block.

Validation and fine-tuning

Single wall box to tune temperature and extrusion-related settings.
Protognome to validate results.

Post your prints & tag us @Proto_pasta on Twitter and Instagram. Need more help? Consider typical pitfalls and fixes below.

Typical pitfalls

Exceeding hardware capabilities.
Mismatch of flow rate and temperature.
Excessive nozzle cooling from layer fan yielding lower heater block and/or nozzle temperatures than set point.
Hardware shortcomings such as MK3 heat break, poor nozzle diameter, or other hangups.
Poor assembly or adjustment of components.
Excessive retraction distance or number of retractions.
Inaccurate flow with missing cross-sections or wall thickness not matching extrusion width software setting.

Typical Fixes

Heat break replacement with OEM, straight-through design and defect-free, smooth bore.
Proper assembly of components without plastic oozing gaps & with thermal grease.
Lightly oiling filament, but careful, a little goes a long way.
Reducing layer fan speed and/or isolating from heater block and nozzle.
Installing heater block sock to isolate heater block & nozzle from layer fan.
Increasing temperature to flow past internal hang-ups.
Reduce speed and/or choose a single speed for a single volume flow
Consider drive gear tension adjustment, bowden tube coupling/replacement, and spool mounting

We visited Joel and ended up with a helpful video on the subject:

Para uma correcta manutenção da sua impressora 3D, recomendamos sempre que trocar de material de filamento 3D, a efectuar uma purga com filamento especial de limpeza.
Desta forma garante que não ficam vestígios de material nas paredes do nozzle, evitando o acumular de crosta que é criado sempre que efectua trocas de material.
Com este produto evita problema como "clogs" e "jams" e fará com que o seu nozzle mantenha-se sempre limpo, durando muito mais tempo.
Poderá encontrar a partir de 1.49€ no seguinte LINK

Este material é altamente abrasivo. Recomendamos a utilização de Nozzles de aço endurecido.

Poderá encontrar no seguinte LINK

Para obter maior aderência à superfície da sua impressora 3D recomendamos a aplicar 3DLAC na base da plataforma.

Poderá encontrar no seguinte LINK

Este material é altamente higroscópico, absorvendo rapidamente a humidade do ar passados poucos minutos após aberto, impossibilitando desta forma a correcta impressão 3D do mesmo. O resultado das impressões 3D de materiais com humidade tendem a ser frágeis e de acabamento irregular ou em certos casos, torna-se simplesmente impossíveis de imprimir.
Deverá de usar soluções de caixas fechadas com dessecante como sílica ou caixas próprias secadoras de filamento.
Poderá encontrar no seguinte LINK

Download:
Technical and Safety Data Sheet

50g- Rolo
PLA Bronze-filled ( Metal Composite ) - Cor
1.75mm (+-0.05mm) - Espessura / Tolerância de diâmetro
Fácil - Facilidade de Impressão

Introducing Bronze-Filled Metal Composite HTPLA .

Using real bronze powder, we've created a premium heat treatable metal PLA filament for 3D prints that finish just like real metal!

Our bronze composite filament is as versatile as it is beautiful, printing like plastic, but finishing like real metal for beautiful, durable parts from most standard 3D printers.

With so many finishing options, the sky is the limit!

Scroll down or click the link below for more product specific details, finishing options, and application ideas for Bronze-Filled Metal Composite HTPLA.