sp-mbs-1497 guide to printing - eastman amphora 3d polymer

Guide to printing Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer

Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer —Guide to printing

Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer—Guide to printing

Contents

3D Printing with Amphora 1 The Amphora advantage 1

General safety 2

Storage and handling 3

Preprint cleaning tips 3

Purging 4

Preparation 4

Settings 5

Type of build plates and adhesion tips 5

Retraction speed/slicing 5

Printing 6

Feeder tension on filament 6

Layer adhesion 6

During print 6

Proper cooling 7

Post-processing 8


3D printing with Amphora

Increased customization, greater efficiency, and unleashed creativity

Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer is a low-odor, styrene-free

choice that is uniquely suited for 3D printing applications.

Amphora empowers consumers to create strong, functional

3D products through desktop printing. It’s also a great

alternative to ABS or PLA in industries such as manufacturing,

health care, technology, education, and retail.

With superior melt strength and dimensional stability,

filament made from Amphora delivers advanced overhang

capabilities to create stronger and more detailed items—

with low odor and low emissions.

Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer focuses on functionality

and features strength, workability, ease of processing, and

aesthetics for 3D printed products.

The Amphora advantage

Amphora provides makers of 3D filaments with a

consistent, high quality product. In addition to high gloss

and superior toughness, Amphora provides improved air

quality and dimensional stability with a material that is

BPA-free and cleared for use in certain applications

regulated by the FDA.

Air quality

• Low odor

• Styrene free

• Generates significantly

fewer ultrafine particulates

than ABS

Dimensional stability

• Tough thermoplastic

material creates stronger,

more detailed parts

• Temperature resistance to

create functional parts

• Great layer bonding for

reliable processing and great

part finish

• Chemical resistance for

long-lasting good looks and

performance

FDA compliance

• Complies with certain

U.S. Food and Drug

Administration (FDA)

regulations for food

contact applications

1


This guide to 3D printing with Amphora provides important

general safety and handling recommendations and tips to

successfully print 3D creations with optimal results. Always

follow the 3D printing instructions from the 3D printer

manufacturer when using a 3D printer. SERIOUS INJURY

MAY OCCUR IF 3D PRINTERS ARE MISUSED OR IF THE

FILAMENT, PRINTER, OR 3D CREATIONS ARE TOUCHED

DURING OPERATION OR HANDLED IMPROPERLY. Users

are solely responsible for the safety of their 3D creations

and compliance with all applicable regulations.

General safety

Safety awareness is very important in 3D printing,

especially with printer use in educational settings and near

children. It is very important that 3D printer users read and

carefully follow the instructions on installation and use

provided by the manufacturer of their 3D printer. Always

handle 3D printers with care. Parts should not be touched

during operation because they can cause serious burns,

and moving parts will have possible pinch points.

Handle with care!

• Heated bed—Do NOT touch when hot.

• Heated nozzle—Do NOT touch when hot.

• Molten plastic—Do NOT touch.

• Any moving parts—Do NOT touch.

Other important safety recommendations: Safety glasses

should be worn during operation, and gloves should be

worn for thermal applications. To avoid mishaps that could

diminish the quality of the print, follow the 3D printer

manufacturer’s instructions and check to make sure there

are no obstructions to the spool/feed before printing.

2


Storage and handling

Proper storage of the spool when not in use will directly

affect the quality of printing and longevity of parts. Keep

spools in a dry place away from direct sunlight. It is

recommended to store the spool in a box or container to

avoid dust collecting on the filament.

When storing a used spool, users will need to make sure

that the filament does not get tangled on the spool. Always

use the available holes in the side of the spool to secure the

end of the filament.

Preprint cleaning tips

Amphora acts like a “sponge” by picking up and bonding

onto what is left over from previous prints. Always follow

the printer manufacturer’s instructions and keep your

printer clean, inside and out. Without proper cleaning/

purging, when fresh Amphora exits the extruder tip, it will

pick up any burned material surrounding the tip from

previous prints and can contaminate the print object.

3


Purging

Purging should continue until the old material is no longer

exiting the nozzle and there is a constant flow of Amphora 3D

polymer without any remains of the previously used material.

Because of high melt strength, Amphora sticks to the nozzle

easily. To remedy this—between print jobs, occasionally

brush the nozzle with a soft steel brush at 260°C to avoid

buildup of carbon residue.

Preparation

Whenever possible, make any necessary modifications to

your printer’s settings prior to rather than during printing.

Have a checklist to keep in mind as you prepare to print.

It is important to understand how to adjust your printer’s

settings to match optimal Amphora printing conditions.

Standard PLA or ABS settings will not produce quality prints

with Amphora.

Following the instructions from the printer manufacturer,

level your printer bed and make sure you calibrate the

printer before use.

4


Settings

Proper settings in variable applications will directly affect

the quality of your print. Optimize results by checking

temperature, build plates, adhesion, slicing, and retraction.

Refer to the corresponding one-pager for specific material

settings.

Type of build plates and adhesion tips For a glass build plate, a thin layer of glue from a glue stick is

recommended. For an aluminum build plate, Kapton™ tape

is recommended for best results. For proper adhesion, it is

important to make sure the build plate is grease-free. Clean

any fingerprints or excess glue with a degreasing agent.

Also making sure you have a perfectly level bed will add to

a successful first-layer adhesion.

Retraction speed/slicingAdjustments may be necessary if retraction speeds are too

high or too low. Retraction settings are very printer

dependent, and some printers do not allow for end-user

adjustments. It is best to experiment with your printer until

you reach optimal retraction settings. When printing

Amphora and your printer allows retraction adjustments,

you should adjust your retraction speed and distance to

maximum values that can be mechanically tolerated.

Run some standard prints designed to detect retraction

problems. Signs of underretraction typically include print

defects such as droplets or strings of material at print

object edges and gaps. An indication of overretraction

would be extruder stepper motor chatter or tapping as the

stepper gear is moved too quickly for the filament to

physically retract and the motor slips and the filament is

literally ground down against the extruder gear. Reducing

frictional resistance in your filament feed system by proper

reel mounting and reducing tight filament coil tension can

help run your printer at higher retraction settings.

5


Printing

Keep in mind important considerations for adhesion,

tension, and cooling.

Feeder tension on filamentKeeping even tension without skips throughout the feed will

avoid problems with melt and possible material degrading.

• Too little tension—results in the feeder gear not

being able to push the filament through properly,

resulting in uneven feed to the extruder.

• Too much tension—causes the feeder gear to

dig out the filament, eroding the filament at the

gear position and eventually stopping feed to the

extruder all together.

• In both cases, material trapped in the extruder

at process temperature can degrade, potentially

causing clogging of the extruder tip and print defects.

• Keep even tension throughout the feed without skips.

Layer adhesion Layer adhesion determines toughness of print. Achieving

a tough print is desirable.

During printStart the print with a skirt to ensure optimal filament flow

through the nozzle. Starting your base layers out right is

crucial—it can result in a failed print later on in the printing

process. The skirt can be removed later with tweezers.

Monitor the first layer to make sure no material sticks to

the nozzle and accumulates. Do not print too fast. Allow

time for the material to effectively stick to the build plate

and first layers. If the first layer is okay, with no buildup or

skips in the layer, the rest of the print should be successful.

6


Proper coolingCheck recommended cooling fan specifications for your

project needs. In general, it is advised that users begin to

engage the cooling fan between the 3rd and 5th layer

at 100% for regular print jobs that require an average

strength and speed. If users need best possible strength,

then the advice is to print with as little cooling as possible.

How little depends on the model geometry, print speed,

layer height, and printing temperature. Always attempt to

run the fan at 100% rate during bridging operations, where

you are attempting to print overhangs or gaps without

physical support. This will greatly improve bridging distance

without undesirable sagging. Done properly, you can bridge

with Amphora up to 8 cm without noticeable sagging.

When finished printing, allow bed to cool to less than 40°C

before attempting to remove the print from the bed.

Allowing the bed to cool will minimize print distortion and

allow easier removal. After cooling, the print will often

release itself with no effort. If the print is still adhered to

the build plate, gently use a spatula to easily free the print.

7


Post-processing

Post-processing is generally unnecessary when printing

with Amphora. If the user deems that post-processing

applications are necessary, certain tools and techniques

may be applied.

In the case of creating a print with complex designs,

support material may be carefully removed using a hobby

knife or other sharp blade.

For sanding a finished print, start with 120/180 grit and

work up to 320 grit or higher. The color of the material

may change and become slightly dull, but much of the

initial gloss can be recovered with continued polishing.

For drilling applications, use a general-type steel drill bit.

8

SP-MBS-1497 7/15

Although the information and recommendations set forth herein are presented in good faith, Eastman Chemical Company and its subsidiaries make no representations or warranties as to the completeness or accuracy thereof. You must make your own determination of its suitability and completeness for your own use, for the protection of the environment, and for the health and safety of your employees and purchasers of your products. Nothing contained herein is to be construed as a recommendation to use any product, process, equipment, or formulation in conflict with any patent, and we make no representations or warranties, express or implied, that the use thereof will not infringe any patent. NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR OF ANY OTHER NATURE ARE MADE HEREUNDER WITH RESPECT TO INFORMATION OR THE PRODUCT TO WHICH INFORMATION REFERS AND NOTHING HEREIN WAIVES ANY OF THE SELLER’S CONDITIONS OF SALE.

Safety Data Sheets providing safety precautions that should be observed when handling and storing our products are available online or by request. You should obtain and review available material safety information before handling our products. If any materials mentioned are not our products, appropriate industrial hygiene and other safety precautions recommended by their manufacturers should be observed.

© 2015 Eastman Chemical Company. Eastman brands referenced herein are trademarks of Eastman Chemical Company or one of its subsidiaries. The ® used on Eastman brands denotes registered trademark status in the U.S.; marks may also be registered internationally. Other companies’ brands referenced herein are trademarks of their respective owners.

Eastman Chemical CompanyCorporate HeadquartersP.O. Box 431Kingsport, TN 37662-5280 U.S.A.

U.S.A. and Canada, 800-EASTMAN (800-327-8626)Other Locations, +(1) 423-229-2000

www.eastman.com/locations

sp-mbs-1497 guide to printing - eastman amphora 3d polymer

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