The cheapest is among the strongest: PLA comparison test part 2
15.7.2020
I'm testing seven PLA filaments in a multi-part series of articles. Today I want to know how much weight I can hang on hooks specially printed for this test.
In contrast to other filaments, PLA can withstand a high tensile force. This is shown in a test by CNC Kitchen. But is PLA the same as PLA? I want to know exactly. That's why I print hooks with the seven test filaments in this test series and attach my weight waistcoat to them.
Preparations
To ensure that all filaments have the same conditions, I print them with the same settings. I use the PLA with carbon fibres from Proto-pasta. I had the biggest problems with this filament for the first part. I had to experiment for a long time until I produced reasonably usable prints. Here are the most important settings in Cura in English:
- Layer Height: 0.15 millimetres
- Wall Thickness: 1.5 millimetres
- Top/bottom thickness: 0.75 millimetres
- Infill Density / Pattern: 10 per cent / Cubic
I always use the printing temperature that I determined in the first test. I print three hooks per filament and also use all three for the test. This allows me to eliminate any errors during printing. I approach the weight limit of the individual filaments in one-and-a-half-kilogramme increments - that's how much a sand pack of the weight waistcoat weighs. If I keep taking the weight waistcoat on and off, the material is stressed. It is possible that the hook would have to withstand even more weight. That's why I do the test three times with the same filament. This brings me closer to the maximum weight and, ideally, I can load all three hooks with the same maximum weight. I start with twelve kilograms of sand in the waistcoat.
The results
There is no clear winner. Three filaments manage 22.5 kilograms.
Here are all the results:
| Rank | Filament | Achieved weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Purefil Filament | 22.5 kg |
| 1. | Makerbot | 22.5 kg |
| 1. | Dutch Filaments | 22.5 kg |
| 4. | XYZprinting | 21 kg |
| 4. | ColorFabb PLA/PHA | 21 kg |
| 6. | Best Value Filament | 18 kg |
| 7. | Proto-pasta PLA with carbon fibre | 15 kg |
As I expected, the PLA with carbon fibres is the least durable. This is because the carbon fibres make the material stiffer than conventional PLA. I am disappointed with the PLA/PHA mixture. I expected it to be the most durable and the bio-polyester PHA should make the filament tougher and less brittle. Nevertheless, it is only good enough for fourth place. The Purefil filament convinced me the most in this test. The cheapest material shares first place with the more expensive filaments from Makerbot and Dutch Filaments.
This was the second part of the multi-part PLA comparison. Next time I'll take a look at the effects of temperature. What other tests would you like to see? Or do you have any suggestions for the test method? Write it in the comments column.
Kevin Hofer
Senior Editor
kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.chFrom big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.
