I'm hesitant to buy PLA. I know lots of folks are fans of it but how biodegradable is it? If I make something for outdoor use in my garden will it break down before the years up? If I make something for sale will it fall apart in a short time? I'm down with "save the environment" but not if I can't offer a reasonable product. Does it only degrade if wet? What's the deal?
On Mon, Jun 4, 2012 at 11:30 AM, Cymon <joealar...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm hesitant to buy PLA. I know lots of folks are fans of it but how
> biodegradable is it? If I make something for outdoor use in my garden will
> it break down before the years up? If I make something for sale will it
> fall apart in a short time? I'm down with "save the environment" but not if
> I can't offer a reasonable product. Does it only degrade if wet? What's the
> deal?
you need an industrial hot compost (90c+) for it to degrade properly. Below
60c it acts just like other plastics, so don't chuck it in your backyard
compost and expect it to break down within 5 years
Not sure how good it is for outdoor uses in terms of material property
changes due to UV and weather, but it certainly won't biodegrade from
exposure to elements.
Don't hesitate - buy some to try it out. It's awesome. I carry two PLA bottle openers on my keychain (one old poor quality one and a newer perfect one to remind myself of the improvement). That's not dissolving anytime soon. As was said, you need a special environment to get it to biodegrade.
I had the same concern before I tried it. Totally unwarranted concern. Now, printing with PLA is a very different experience, but I far prefer it.
..Jeff
Sent from my iPhone
On Jun 3, 2012, at 9:30 PM, Cymon <joealar...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm hesitant to buy PLA. I know lots of folks are fans of it but how biodegradable is it? If I make something for outdoor use in my garden will it break down before the years up? If I make something for sale will it fall apart in a short time? I'm down with "save the environment" but not if I can't offer a reasonable product. Does it only degrade if wet? What's the deal?
> -- > Go visit thingiverse at http://thingiverse.com and stay tuned to the blog at http://blog.thingiverse.com.
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "thingiverse" group.
> To post to this group, send email to thingiverse@googlegroups.com
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> thingiverse+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/thingiverse?hl=en
My previous employer brought
Spudware<http://inhabitat.com/spudware-cutlery-made-from-potatoes/>into
the market in 2007 - We moved a compost pile last week that had
some of the earliest compostable cutlery in there, PLA and Spudware - The
starch product had degraded over the 4 years but the PLA had not. This was
not a well kept compost pile, so I doubt there was much ambient action in
terms of a composting environment. There were lots and lots of worms, so
maybe they ate the Spudware as that really shouldn't have degraded without
the high heat microbial environment either.
But even if you don't compost your PLA, it's made from a renewable resource
rather than fossil fuels so you're still ahead vs. ABS (from an
environmental perspective). From a capabilities standpoint, just don't use
PLA in high heat applications.
On Sun, Jun 3, 2012 at 6:49 PM, Jeff Keegan <jkee...@keegan.org> wrote:
> Don't hesitate - buy some to try it out. It's awesome. I carry two PLA
> bottle openers on my keychain (one old poor quality one and a newer perfect
> one to remind myself of the improvement). That's not dissolving anytime
> soon. As was said, you need a special environment to get it to biodegrade.
> I had the same concern before I tried it. Totally unwarranted concern.
> Now, printing with PLA is a very different experience, but I far prefer it.
> ..Jeff
> Sent from my iPhone
> On Jun 3, 2012, at 9:30 PM, Cymon <joealar...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm hesitant to buy PLA. I know lots of folks are fans of it but how
> biodegradable is it? If I make something for outdoor use in my garden will
> it break down before the years up? If I make something for sale will it
> fall apart in a short time? I'm down with "save the environment" but not if
> I can't offer a reasonable product. Does it only degrade if wet? What's the
> deal?
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "thingiverse" group.
> To post to this group, send email to thingiverse@googlegroups.com
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> thingiverse+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/thingiverse?hl=en
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "thingiverse" group.
> To post to this group, send email to thingiverse@googlegroups.com
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> thingiverse+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/thingiverse?hl=en
I made some pieces to go in my dishwasher. After about 30-45 days of constant use in a hot water and drying heat environment, they became brittle and would break apart easily. They also appeared to have shrunk a little. Probably surface erosion. You can see the parts here: <http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:13067>
On 6/3/2012 9:30 PM, Cymon wrote:
> I'm hesitant to buy PLA. I know lots of folks are fans of it but how > biodegradable is it? If I make something for outdoor use in my garden > will it break down before the years up? If I make something for sale > will it fall apart in a short time? I'm down with "save the > environment" but not if I can't offer a reasonable product. Does it > only degrade if wet? What's the deal?
--
Ron Thompson
On the Beautiful Florida Space Coast, right beside the Kennedy Space Center, USA
Wow. Okay. Which brings me to my next question, why isn't Makerbot shipping PLA with all their new Replicators? Why am I fussing with heat and temperature if PLA will work happily in my garage. I mean I know that ABS is a little more flexable, but what's the advantage of ABS.
Unless they're just trying to clear out their stock.
On Monday, June 4, 2012 6:13:17 AM UTC-6, Ron Thompson (ronthomp) wrote:
> I made some pieces to go in my dishwasher. After about 30-45 days of > constant use in a hot water and drying heat environment, they became > brittle and would break apart easily. They also appeared to have shrunk > a little. Probably surface erosion. You can see the parts here: > <http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:13067>
> On 6/3/2012 9:30 PM, Cymon wrote: > > I'm hesitant to buy PLA. I know lots of folks are fans of it but how > > biodegradable is it? If I make something for outdoor use in my garden > > will it break down before the years up? If I make something for sale > > will it fall apart in a short time? I'm down with "save the > > environment" but not if I can't offer a reasonable product. Does it > > only degrade if wet? What's the deal?
> --
> Ron Thompson > On the Beautiful Florida Space Coast, right beside the Kennedy Space > Center, USA
Although MBI is finally shipping an extruder that handles PLA well, their roots are in ABS and their printers have always been designed with that in mind. There are also still many applications for which ABS is better, and changing their default settings would introduce a lot of uncertainty among users (especially with the new non-kit printers that users will expect to be plug-and-play).
On Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at 1:00 PM, Cymon wrote:
> Wow. Okay. Which brings me to my next question, why isn't Makerbot shipping PLA with all their new Replicators? Why am I fussing with heat and temperature if PLA will work happily in my garage. I mean I know that ABS is a little more flexable, but what's the advantage of ABS.
> Unless they're just trying to clear out their stock.
> On Monday, June 4, 2012 6:13:17 AM UTC-6, Ron Thompson (ronthomp) wrote:
> > I made some pieces to go in my dishwasher. After about 30-45 days of > > constant use in a hot water and drying heat environment, they became > > brittle and would break apart easily. They also appeared to have shrunk > > a little. Probably surface erosion. You can see the parts here: > > <http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:13067>
> > On 6/3/2012 9:30 PM, Cymon wrote: > > > I'm hesitant to buy PLA. I know lots of folks are fans of it but how > > > biodegradable is it? If I make something for outdoor use in my garden > > > will it break down before the years up? If I make something for sale > > > will it fall apart in a short time? I'm down with "save the > > > environment" but not if I can't offer a reasonable product. Does it > > > only degrade if wet? What's the deal?
> > --
> > Ron Thompson > > On the Beautiful Florida Space Coast, right beside the Kennedy Space Center, USA
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "thingiverse" group.
> To post to this group, send email to thingiverse@googlegroups.com (mailto:thingiverse@googlegroups.com)
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> thingiverse+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com (mailto:thingiverse+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com)
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/thingiverse?hl=en
When I asked MBI about it a few months ago, they felt like ABS was easier to print, and thus gave better first time user experience, and that people who who we're into it can buy and print PLA. Looking at their store, MBI barely sells PLA, but PLA from third parties works nicely in the Replicator.
Sent from my iPad
On Jun 5, 2012, at 4:06 PM, Whosawhatsis <whosawhat...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Although MBI is finally shipping an extruder that handles PLA well, their roots are in ABS and their printers have always been designed with that in mind. There are also still many applications for which ABS is better, and changing their default settings would introduce a lot of uncertainty among users (especially with the new non-kit printers that users will expect to be plug-and-play).
> On Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at 1:00 PM, Cymon wrote:
>> Wow. Okay. Which brings me to my next question, why isn't Makerbot shipping PLA with all their new Replicators? Why am I fussing with heat and temperature if PLA will work happily in my garage. I mean I know that ABS is a little more flexable, but what's the advantage of ABS.
>> Unless they're just trying to clear out their stock.
>> On Monday, June 4, 2012 6:13:17 AM UTC-6, Ron Thompson (ronthomp) wrote:
>>> I made some pieces to go in my dishwasher. After about 30-45 days of >>> constant use in a hot water and drying heat environment, they became >>> brittle and would break apart easily. They also appeared to have shrunk >>> a little. Probably surface erosion. You can see the parts here: >>> <http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:13067>
>>> On 6/3/2012 9:30 PM, Cymon wrote: >>> > I'm hesitant to buy PLA. I know lots of folks are fans of it but how >>> > biodegradable is it? If I make something for outdoor use in my garden >>> > will it break down before the years up? If I make something for sale >>> > will it fall apart in a short time? I'm down with "save the >>> > environment" but not if I can't offer a reasonable product. Does it >>> > only degrade if wet? What's the deal?
>>> --
>>> Ron Thompson >>> On the Beautiful Florida Space Coast, right beside the Kennedy Space Center, USA
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
>> Groups "thingiverse" group.
>> To post to this group, send email to thingiverse@googlegroups.com
>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
>> thingiverse+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
>> For more options, visit this group at
>> http://groups.google.com/group/thingiverse?hl=en
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "thingiverse" group.
> To post to this group, send email to thingiverse@googlegroups.com
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> thingiverse+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/thingiverse?hl=en
I have a hard time printing PLA with my reprap - I just never got as
consistent results with it
I like ABS because it's a bit more flexible and melts at a higher
temperature - my gears are even made of it and they've held up fine so far
for like 8 months now
On Tue, Jun 5, 2012 at 4:30 PM, Laird Popkin <lai...@gmail.com> wrote:
> When I asked MBI about it a few months ago, they felt like ABS was easier
> to print, and thus gave better first time user experience, and that people
> who who we're into it can buy and print PLA. Looking at their store, MBI
> barely sells PLA, but PLA from third parties works nicely in the Replicator.
> Sent from my iPad
> On Jun 5, 2012, at 4:06 PM, Whosawhatsis <whosawhat...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Although MBI is finally shipping an extruder that handles PLA well, their
> roots are in ABS and their printers have always been designed with that in
> mind. There are also still many applications for which ABS is better, and
> changing their default settings would introduce a lot of uncertainty among
> users (especially with the new non-kit printers that users will expect to
> be plug-and-play).
> On Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at 1:00 PM, Cymon wrote:
> Wow. Okay. Which brings me to my next question, why isn't Makerbot
> shipping PLA with all their new Replicators? Why am I fussing with heat and
> temperature if PLA will work happily in my garage. I mean I know that ABS
> is a little more flexable, but what's the advantage of ABS.
> Unless they're just trying to clear out their stock.
> On Monday, June 4, 2012 6:13:17 AM UTC-6, Ron Thompson (ronthomp) wrote:
> I made some pieces to go in my dishwasher. After about 30-45 days of
> constant use in a hot water and drying heat environment, they became
> brittle and would break apart easily. They also appeared to have shrunk
> a little. Probably surface erosion. You can see the parts here:
> <http://www.thingiverse.com/**thing:13067<http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:13067>>
> On 6/3/2012 9:30 PM, Cymon wrote:
> > I'm hesitant to buy PLA. I know lots of folks are fans of it but how
> > biodegradable is it? If I make something for outdoor use in my garden
> > will it break down before the years up? If I make something for sale
> > will it fall apart in a short time? I'm down with "save the
> > environment" but not if I can't offer a reasonable product. Does it
> > only degrade if wet? What's the deal?
> --
> Ron Thompson
> On the Beautiful Florida Space Coast, right beside the Kennedy Space
> Center, USA
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "thingiverse" group.
> To post to this group, send email to thingiverse@googlegroups.com
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> thingiverse+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/thingiverse?hl=en
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "thingiverse" group.
> To post to this group, send email to thingiverse@googlegroups.com
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> thingiverse+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/thingiverse?hl=en
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "thingiverse" group.
> To post to this group, send email to thingiverse@googlegroups.com
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> thingiverse+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/thingiverse?hl=en
About a month ago, I printed out three garden planters in PLA. I water
my plants on the daily (they're carnivorous plants) and the planters
are in great shape. Using a replicator, my heat settings were about
around 110c (extruder) and 90c (HBP). They're as solid as my other ABS
makerbotted planters. There isn't much different in sturdiness, feel
exactly the same. The main problems I came across was leaky and
inconsistent filament layering but adjusting the heat settings really
does the trick. I think a spool of PLA a bit less then ABS, no need
for hesitation. Let us know how it turns out!
-Noah
On Jun 3, 9:30 pm, Cymon <joealar...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm hesitant to buy PLA. I know lots of folks are fans of it but how
> biodegradable is it? If I make something for outdoor use in my garden will
> it break down before the years up? If I make something for sale will it
> fall apart in a short time? I'm down with "save the environment" but not if
> I can't offer a reasonable product. Does it only degrade if wet? What's the
> deal?
I just started using PLA after about a month of using ABS with my new
Replicator. I was hesitant at first because of reports of clogging,
but so far no hard clogs, and I like the shine better. I am having
trouble with it "soft" clogging near the end of large prints, though.
I read somewhere maybe my default temp "(230C) is too high, even
though Makerbot recommends it.
I like PLA!
> I just started using PLA after about a month of using ABS with my new
> Replicator. I was hesitant at first because of reports of clogging,
> but so far no hard clogs, and I like the shine better. I am having
> trouble with it "soft" clogging near the end of large prints, though.
> I read somewhere maybe my default temp "(230C) is too high, even
> though Makerbot recommends it.
> I like PLA!
--
Ron Thompson
On the Beautiful Florida Space Coast, right beside the Kennedy Space Center, USA
Plug and play?! Ha! I spent a week before I finally got it to print, thanks to you guys on google groups. If it weren't for the great community at google groups, I'd probably have to ship the makerbot replicator back for a refund. It took me forever to put together. I thought that the replicator is not a kit and is ready made? Nope... some assembly required. I literally broke a nail attaching the rubber hoses to the wooden box.
Then, I thought that all I had to download some files off the web and it will print. Nope. I actually have to cook the stl files into gcode using replicatorg, then re-cook the files into s3g files, then put it on an sd card, and then... it printed half an item before it froze and had a clogged nozzle. Then, I had to go on google groups and post for some help, then re-try the print. Then, i noticed that the spool holder did not fit the non-makerbot plastic spool i bought, so i had to draw a spool holder on a cad program and then print it out to use before i made my first print. phew!
Maybe to a techno genius it may be plug and play, but to the average joe, the makerbot is definitely not plug and play. The makerbot kinda reminds me of my first computer, the apple I. They both came in a wooden box and some assembly was required.
Makerbot replicator is great and i love it, but it is definitely not plug and play.
On Tuesday, June 5, 2012 3:06:09 PM UTC-5, Whosawhatsis wrote:
> Although MBI is finally shipping an extruder that handles PLA well, their > roots are in ABS and their printers have always been designed with that in > mind. There are also still many applications for which ABS is better, and > changing their default settings would introduce a lot of uncertainty among > users (especially with the new non-kit printers that users will expect to > be plug-and-play).
> On Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at 1:00 PM, Cymon wrote:
> Wow. Okay. Which brings me to my next question, why isn't Makerbot > shipping PLA with all their new Replicators? Why am I fussing with heat and > temperature if PLA will work happily in my garage. I mean I know that ABS > is a little more flexable, but what's the advantage of ABS.
> Unless they're just trying to clear out their stock.
> On Monday, June 4, 2012 6:13:17 AM UTC-6, Ron Thompson (ronthomp) wrote:
> I made some pieces to go in my dishwasher. After about 30-45 days of > constant use in a hot water and drying heat environment, they became > brittle and would break apart easily. They also appeared to have shrunk > a little. Probably surface erosion. You can see the parts here: > <http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:13067>
> On 6/3/2012 9:30 PM, Cymon wrote: > > I'm hesitant to buy PLA. I know lots of folks are fans of it but how > > biodegradable is it? If I make something for outdoor use in my garden > > will it break down before the years up? If I make something for sale > > will it fall apart in a short time? I'm down with "save the > > environment" but not if I can't offer a reasonable product. Does it > > only degrade if wet? What's the deal?
> --
> Ron Thompson > On the Beautiful Florida Space Coast, right beside the Kennedy Space > Center, USA
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "thingiverse" group. > To post to this group, send email to thingiverse@googlegroups.com > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > thingiverse+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/thingiverse?hl=en
My Replicator was up and running in minutes, so i didn't thing assembly was hard, but I agree overall - while the Replicator is much easier than the earlier models, home 3D printing requires a 'DIY' attitude, and isn't for the non-technical designer who doesn't want to deal with details of materials, temperatures, layer height, etc. There's a reason that the Replicator cost 1/50th as much as an industrial 3D printer - they made a lot of tradeoffs to reduce price.
Sent from my iPad
On Jul 7, 2012, at 8:15 PM, Elbot <tomasre...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Plug and play?! Ha! I spent a week before I finally got it to print, thanks to you guys on google groups. If it weren't for the great community at google groups, I'd probably have to ship the makerbot replicator back for a refund. It took me forever to put together. I thought that the replicator is not a kit and is ready made? Nope... some assembly required. I literally broke a nail attaching the rubber hoses to the wooden box.
> Then, I thought that all I had to download some files off the web and it will print. Nope. I actually have to cook the stl files into gcode using replicatorg, then re-cook the files into s3g files, then put it on an sd card, and then... it printed half an item before it froze and had a clogged nozzle. Then, I had to go on google groups and post for some help, then re-try the print. Then, i noticed that the spool holder did not fit the non-makerbot plastic spool i bought, so i had to draw a spool holder on a cad program and then print it out to use before i made my first print. phew!
> Maybe to a techno genius it may be plug and play, but to the average joe, the makerbot is definitely not plug and play. The makerbot kinda reminds me of my first computer, the apple I. They both came in a wooden box and some assembly was required.
> Makerbot replicator is great and i love it, but it is definitely not plug and play.
