Caustic Soda Bath for Removing Supoorts

[Benjamin Figura]

Good morning, 

I'm wondering if anybody has any experience with using the caustic soda bath to remove PLA support material.  I work in a lab and we have an ultrasonic bath, we'd like to try and use this method if it works well enough.  For background, the items we are trying to print are fairly complex in shape and do not have a flat base to begin printing from.  No matter how we try to orient the model we will inevitably have a LOT of supports.  We have considered splitting the model in half and printing the two halves, but would love to be able to print a complete model in ABS and just dissolve the PLA supports away.   

[Peter Gregory]

I haven't heard of anyone using this method....yet.
Check out a previous post in this forum for 3D stew.
It describes removing PLA supports from ABS using a crock pot and water.

[kidNeutrino]

I believe I saw someone printing VAder's Tie Fighter model in that split manner. Try looking in the 3D Print Failures group on Flickr. I just joined it last week, same as here, and both are great repositories for sharing experience.  http://www.flickr.com/groups/3d-print-failures/

[Benjamin Figura]

Wow!  Great find!  Though now we are realizing that this is going to be harder than is seems for the simple fact that we only have the single print head.  We were under the impression we could purchase an additional print head at a later time if needed, but Cubify is saying they don't offer that right now.  Anybody know a third party route for adding an additional print head?

[Treemagnet]

it would be nice to have 3rd party software so we don't have to use there expensive cartridges beside version 1.04 

[raren...@gmail.com]

Hi Benjamin,

Do you still need help with the Caustic Soda method?

I work at a company where we recently purchased a cubex duo and we have abs and pla parts as well.

We purchased a small ultrasonic cleaner from Harbor Freight for just under $90. It's nothing incredible and can't run constantly(8 minute cycles only) but it gets the job done on a tight budget.

As for the caustic soda, we purchased crystalized Sodium Hydroxide... aka... high powered drain cleaner from Home Depot or Lowes. We have had good results with the dissolving of the PLA but it blackens over time and we have had to clean our parts afterwards. The reaction is also exothermic, so when you do the 50-50 ratio of Sodium Hydroxide to Water there is no need to preheat the water. If you do, the temperature may become too high and you could warp your parts.

Let me know if you have any questions.

ALSO: Wear gloves, goggles/respirator, and cover your arms. The chemicals are nasty enough as is, and when added to water, the steam and vapors can be dangerous in tight spaces. Do this process in a well ventilated area or outside if you can.

-Richard