Polylactic Acid, mostly known as PLA, is a tremendous first material for beginners to use during 3D printing since it is easy to print, inexpensive, and produces parts that can be used across various industries and applications. So, how is this filament made? Why is it widely known to be environment safe? Below is how the filament is made.
Note that what makes PLA filament exceptional is its environment-safe components or the raw materials used; corn starch and sugarcane. So how is the process done? Well, the extraction of plant starch is done through wet milling. After this, the extracted starch is heated and mixed with other chemicals and enzymes to produce a type of sugar known as D-glucose. Later, the dextrose is fermented, releasing a lactic acid monomer that polylactic Acid is made of.
So, to produce a PLA material from lactic Acid, you can condense the lactic Acid into lactide, then use a polymerization process, or use a condensation process with the lactic Acid directly. Once the PLA is processed, the plastic is granulated and sold as raw materials.
Later in the production of PLA filament, the manufacturers mix the PLA pellets with other substances to enhance its properties, such as heat resistance, strength, or different colors. Then the mixture is taken to a special filament extruder which melts the grain and cools it in a stringed form at a precise diameter of 1.75 mm; then the stringed plastic is wrapped on a spool like 1kg PLA filament and then distributed around the world for 3D printing. Though PLA is used in most applications apart from filament manufacturing, the process is quite similar; the only difference is the precise form which varies depending on the intended end product.
Now that you know how the best PLA filament is being produced, it's now time to go shopping and start 3D printing. Think of a project you can begin assuming you already have a 3D printer; if not, visit Snapmaker and grab one. You might as well consider these two pro tips when getting started with PLA filament;
v You can use a fan to cool the 3D-printed parts from all directions. Or you can also go for printers fitted with cooling fans for easier printing.
v Second, to create a strong bond between each layer when printing with PLA filament, you can increase the number of perimeter outlines.
Comments