3D printer filament brittle

How To Fix PLA Filament Getting Brittle ?

It’s frustrating how your attempt to print 3d prototype results in having the PLA filaments breaking off at the slightest touch. We know that PLA is widely used in 3D printing, but their tendency to go brittle has frustrated many hobbyists and professionals alike.

A roll of brittle PLA filament results in broken pieces reduces texture strength and causes uneven extrusion during the printing process.

Various theories have explained why the PLA filament keeps breaking apart during print. Users also seek ways to overcome the brittleness of the filament. Before we explore the available options, let’s dig deeper into the potential causes of such incidences.

Why PLA Filaments Get Brittle?

Often, PLA filaments’ complaints getting brittle arise when they are left idle for a few months. But there are also instances when a spool of PLA broke quickly after being used for just a few weeks. The obvious sign of such brittleness is the PLA filament breaking into pieces with the slightest contact.

Both experts and regular users couldn’t agree on the brittleness causes, with each holding on to their respective arguments. However, chances are, there is more than one contributing cause that makes the PLA filament brittle.

For a start, PLA, which stands for poly-lactic acid, is known to be relatively brittle. The property means that it is inherently brittle to a certain extent, particularly compared to materials like ABS. PLA is also known to degenerate rather rapidly, which explains why it eventually snaps off during printing.

The degeneration process of PLA could take months, but some conditions could further aggravate the material’s flexibility. A commonly circulated theory is the moisture adsorption by the filament. When placed in a humid environment, the filament absorbs moisture from the air and alters its physical properties.

Usually, the reel’s outer part starts getting brittle as they expose to moisture. To make things worse, the attempt to straighten a rolled filament applies mechanical stress beyond the tolerance of its altered flexibility. This can explain why the filament keeps breaking off when you tried printing with it.

In some cases, color additives that add to the filament may change its mechanical properties. For example, you may have black filament snapping off quickly while transparent PLA works fine in the same environment. Occasionally, it could be the quality of the filament itself that is the culprit.

Fixing PLA Filaments That Have Gone Brittle

Are there any fixes when the PLA filaments have gone wrong? There is a slight chance of getting the filament into its original form by applying heat to it. The theory that supports this suggestion is that the heat would cause the moisture to evaporate, leaving the PLA in its original structure.

Here are two ways of using heat to dry the PLA filament.

1. Heating PLA Filament Roll

In some instances, heating the entire filament roll may reverse its brittleness. This is assuming that the changes in its physical properties are still reversible.

Place it in an oven for 2 hours and check out if the flexibility has returned. You’ll want to ensure that the temperature does not exceed 50°C when you’re heating the entire roll of filament. You mustn’t exceed the suggested heating temperature as the whole reel may turn soft and rubbery.

Repeat the process if you feel that the brittleness has decreased but yet to reach the ideal level. After heating the roll of filament, you could check if it’s still brittle by bending the filament and see if it breaks off.

If these attempts failed, you could try cutting 2-3 meters of the filament off the roll. In most cases, only a short length of the filament is affected while the remaining is in its original condition.

2. Increase The Nozzle Temperature

If you’re having issues with brittle 3D prints, you could increase the temperature of the nozzle. This action ensures that sufficient heat is applied to evaporate the moisture and soften the PLA filament’s physical form. You’ll want to try a few different temperatures to get the outstanding value that works.

However, You should note that these methods may not be effective if the physical properties of the PLA are altered permanently. If the PLA material has gone through irreversible molecular changes, no amount of heat will fix its brittleness.

You’ll have to replace the brittle PLA filament with a new one if the above suggestions don’t solve the issue.

Prevention Measures In Handling PLA Filaments

When dealing with brittle PLA filaments, prevention is always better than cure. If you’re having regular issues with PLA filaments snapping into pieces, you’ll want to stop leaving the filament on the 3D printer after usage. Instead, ensure that the filament retracts into the reel after printing and is stored in a sealed pouch or container. If possible, place desiccant in the storage to ensure that excessive moisture is removed. This prevents moisture adsorption from weakening the structure of the filament.

Besides that, you could also cover the reel of PLA filament that you’re currently using with a plastic bag and puncture a hole for the filament to be fed to the 3D printer. This method minimizes the chance of moisture being absorbed into the material.

As mentioned, the physical properties of PLA alter by temperature, moisture, and additives. You’ll want to be diligent when ordering supplies of PLA filaments because improper handling may result in brittleness of the material. Try bending a new roll of PLA filament to ensure that it’s in proper condition.

Summary

There’s no quick fix to brittle PLA filament. Heating and drying may not always be successful. It is better to have a habit of storing unused PLA rolls in a dry environment and ensure that you’re getting the material from a reputable supplier.

How to Fix PLA That Gets Brittle & Snaps – Why Does It Happen? – 3D Printerly

The problem of PLA filament snapping isn’t one that goes unnoticed and it does affect many people. But the question remains, why does PLA filament snap in the first place? I’ve wondered this myself, so I decided to look into the causes and offer up some solutions too.

Why does PLA filament get brittle and snap? PLA filament snaps because of three main reasons. Over time, it can absorb moisture which causes it to reduce flexibility, from the mechanical stress of being curled up on a spool, then straightened out with pressure and generally low quality PLA filament.

Many people think it’s solely down to moisture absorption when it comes to PLA, but there are actually a few other reasons so keep reading to get the important details on why your PLA filament gets brittle and snaps in some instances.

If you are interested in seeing some of the best tools and accessories for your 3D printers, you can find them easily by clicking here (Amazon).

The video below shows you how to remove broken filament from your 3D printer’s extruder.

Reasons Why PLA Filament Gets Brittle & Snaps

1. Moisture

What many 3D printer users have done to save their PLA filament from snapping is to store the spool of filament in a big plastic bag which has a valve to suck out the air out of it, essentially in a vacuum-packing fashion.

They also use reusable moisture absorbing packs of silica beads.

If moisture absorption was the problem that made PLA filament brittle and snap, you would find that your filament would break along the parts of PLA which have exposure to the moist air, but it’s only the parts which are straightened that break.

This means that even when your PLA filament is sitting idle, it can contribute to the filament breaking so easily. Even if your filament doesn’t snap, moisture can still cause brittle PLA prints to be made, reducing the overall effectiveness of your models.

We know that there’s more to it than just moisture because some users have had PLA filament snap in very dry environments and ran a few tests to see whether holding the filament straight causes it to snap through the guide tube.

2. Mechanical Stress From Curling

Your spool of PLA filament has constant mechanical stresses of being straight after having been curled around a reel for a long period of time. It’s similar to when you ball up your fist then open your fist, you’ll find your fingers curling up more than its normal natural position.

Over time, the additional stresses applied to the filament can cause it to get brittle and this can be the case with many other filaments that are held on a spool. The ones that lack flexibility can be affected by this in the same way.

Sections of the filament which are held straight have a higher chance of breaking which is what makes it more fragile.

3. Low Quality Filament Brands

Depending on your brand of PLA filament, some will have more flexibility than others depending on the manufacturing processes so this curling stress of your filament may not be seen in some brands, but may be a common occurrence with others.

Fresh PLA filament seems to have a greater amount of flexibility and allows for a little bit of bending with snapping, but over time they just start becoming more prone to snapping.

So when looking at the overall picture, it’s mainly down to quality control issues. Low quality filaments that don’t have the same manufacturing care are going to be more likely to suffer from this issue.

It’s important to keep in mind though, quality filament isn’t always the more expensive one. It’s more so due to the reliability and trustworthiness of the brand of PLA. The best way to find this is to sift through online reviews and find one with consistent praise and high reviews.

I personally find the ERYONE Filament on Amazon to be a great choice and well-loved by thousands of 3D printer users. HATCHBOX is a big name in the filament space, but I’ve seen recent reviews saying that they have been having quality issues recently.

The takeaway here is that all factors working together is the most likely cause of filament becoming brittle and snapping.

When just one of these factors are isolated, you’re less likely to suffer from this issue but when filament has absorbed moisture, been straightened out past its normal curvature and is of low quality, you’re going to experience this a lot more.

So if this is happening to you, follow the solutions outlined in this post and the problem should be solved.

How to Fix PLA Filament Getting Brittle & Snapping

1. Proper Storage

The best way to store your filament is in an airtight container or sealed bag with packs of desiccant (silica bags) to absorb moisture in the air around the container. This way you know that moisture won’t negatively affect your filament and will be ready for use in optimal conditions.

When you take the proper steps to store your filament, you can avoid a lot of the headaches that come with imperfect PLA filament.

A great pack of desiccant with great reviews on Amazon is the Dry & Dry 5 Gram Packs and it’s amazing for humidity control while being very easy to apply. Simply get one of the packs and throw it in the container and let it work its magic.

It can be annoying to have to re-spool your filament each time, but if it’s a hygroscopic filament (meaning it absorbs moisture easily from the air) it’s a necessary step to get the best printing results.

The reason this method works is that dry PLA is more flexible than moisture-filled PLA so it has less chance of breakage and being brittle.

It’s important to also keep your filament out of the way of direct sunlight and not exposed to temperature changes so in a location which is fairly cool, dry and covered preferably.

A vacuum bag is a great option for keeping the filament dry. A good vacuum bag includes a vacuum valve which makes sure to get all oxygen out of the bag using a vacuum cleaner.

These bags have the ability to protect the filament from water, odor, dust, and many other micro-particles.

The standard would be the SUOCO 6-Pack Vacuum Storage Bags from Amazon. You’re getting 6 16″ x 24″ bags along with the hand pump to easily compress your bag around the filament, similar to how it’s done before being shipped to you.

• They are durable & reusable
• Double-zip and triple-seal turbo valve seal – leak-proof technology for maximum air expulsion
• Can be connected to a standard vacuum cleaner for speed – the pump is great to use while travelling.

If you think you’ll be using vacuum bags consistently, the premium option are the VacBird Vacuum Storage Bags with Electric Pump.

The really cool thing here is the powerful electric air pump which makes it much easier and faster to draw air out of the vacuum bags. Operation just takes the push of one button to start/stop.

You can get yourself a perfect sized Storage Container from Amazon. Some people get one large container, while others get a few smaller ones to hold each spool of filament.

It’s a good idea to also use these desiccants to keep your filament dry.

I’d recommend getting the Dry & Dry Premium Silica Gel Packets from Amazon for a great price. They are widely popular and work really well for all your moisture-absorbing needs.

They can significantly reduce the moisture levels in the immediate environment and within the filament, but you’ll need a proper drying solution to take more moisture out of your materials.

This is where specialized filament drying/storage boxes come in.

2. Drying Out Your Filament

A good indicator of filament full of moisture is when it makes a cracking/popping or hissing sound when extruded or creates a rough surface on your prints.

The hygroscopic level of PLA, ABS and other filament can be the difference between how much moisture it will absorb from the air and even more so when in a highly humid environment.

Instead of living with the issue of filament breaking and being full of moisture, you can proactively dry out your filament with a simple method.

A specialized 3D filament box is a great option as it includes a heating and drying mechanism. You just have to set up temperature and heating time and it will dry up your filament properly.

These boxes are designed to resist high temperatures which ensure to dry your filament without damaging it.

Specialized 3D filament boxes of high quality can be found easily on Amazon.

These boxes have openable lids on the upper side, you can open it and place your 3D filament inside the storage box. These boxes could be expensive but the best thing about these boxes is that they not only protect the filament from moisture but can also cure it.

The premium option here that I would recommend has to be the SUNLU Upgraded Filament Dryer Box from Amazon. With the item beside you, say goodbye to wet 3D printing filament.

• Can dry filament and print at the same time
• Easy temperature settings adjustments according to filament type, humidity etc.
• Manually set your drying times (the usual is 3-6 hours)
• Compatible with most 3D printer filament out there
• Ultra quiet so it doesn’t disturb your environment
• Comes with a cool 2-inch LCD monitor to display temperature and time

You can also use your oven to bake the moisture out of the filament.

The ideal way to set the temperature is to set it below the glass transition temperature of the filament.

• For PLA, set the temperature at 104°F – 122°F (40°C – 50°C) and keep it in the oven for 4 to 6 hours.
• For ABS, set the temperature at 149°F – 167°F (65°C to 75°C) and keep it in the oven for 4 to 6 hours.

Some people have even used their printer bed set at a temperature of 180°F (85°C) then cover the filament with a box to retain the heat and it works just fine.

A less invasive, but still effective method of removing moisture from filament is to place the spool into an airtight container with packs of desiccant, rice or salt for a few days.

Many 3D printer users have used this method effectively and it does the job just fine.

After you’ve done this, you want to take advantage of the previous method above of proper filament storage.

3. Reducing Moisture in the Air

This method is great because we know the possible causes, and we take action before it negatively effects us in the first place. You can measure moisture in the air with a few devices to know if this is affecting your filament.

Once you’ve identified higher levels of moisture in the air you can take a simple step to reduce it:

• Get a dehumidifier machine

You have three levels that you can go for depending on the size of your room and how bad your moisture problem is. It doesn’t only translate to filament and printing but environmental health issues in general.

The first level is the Pro Breeze Dehumidifier which is cheap, effective for a small room and has great reviews on Amazon.

The second level is the Homelabs Energy Star Dehumidifier, a bestseller and highly efficient machine that removes moisture, prevents mold and allergens from affecting you and your property. It’s perfect for medium to large rooms and has a lovely modern design.

The third level is the Vremi 4,500 Sq. Ft. Dehumidifier, just an almost perfect device with an extremely high rating of 4.8/5 stars. This is for the professional 3D printer users who have a whole designated workshop space.

Many buyers of this product rave about it’s amazing product experience and it’s ability to remove continuous moisture with ease.

4. Buying Better Quality PLA Filament

As previously mentioned, the quality of filament you get can make a difference on how brittle your filament is and how likely it is to snap while printing.

The manufacturing process may be similar, but there are differences which set some brands apart from others so make sure you have a reputable brand that you regularly purchase from.

It’s always a good idea to try out a few different brands before being loyal to one so search on some highly rated Amazon brands and find your favorite.

After some trial and error with 3D printer filament brands, I’ve decided to choose the ERYONE PLA Filament brand because it’s competitively priced, and goes above and beyond for quality and customer service.

They are also rated highly on Amazon and have a history of great functional use.

It’s always a great feeling to open up your newly purchased PLA filament and see that it’s perfectly wrapped around the spool and gives off bright, vibrant colors.

If you love great quality 3D prints, you’ll love the AMX3D Pro Grade 3D Printer Tool Kit from Amazon. It is a staple set of 3D printing tools that gives you everything you need to remove, clean & finish your 3D prints.

It gives you the ability to:

• Easily clean your 3D prints – 25-piece kit with 13 knife blades and 3 handles, long tweezers, needle nose pliers, and glue stick.
• Simply remove 3D prints – stop damaging your 3D prints by using one of the 3 specialized removal tools.
• Perfectly finish your 3D prints – the 3-piece, 6-tool precision scraper/pick/knife blade combo can get into small crevices to get a great finish.
• Become a 3D printing pro!

Problems, defects, 3D printing errors and solutions

Often during the operation of a 3D printer, problems may arise due to which defects appear on the finished model. Or instead of a neat product, plastic noodles suddenly appear on the table.

In fact, the causes of defects can be conditionally divided into 2 types - these are physical and software.

Physical ones are those that arise due to problems with the mechanics or any other causes that can be eliminated physically. These include problems with printer mechanisms (belt tension, backlash), clogged or deformed nozzle, incorrect table geometry, etc. nine0003

Software - these are defects that occur due to incorrect slicer settings or, less often, errors in the printer firmware. For example, incorrectly selected print speed, retract settings, incorrectly selected temperature for plastic, etc.

Very rarely, the problem may lie in the wrong or “flying” printer firmware (although usually the printer simply will not start then), overheating of some boards during printing, etc. These are rather special cases, so we will not consider them. nine0003

Model peels off or does not stick to the build plate

This is the most common 3D printing problem. Every 3D printer has had a case when the first layer treacherously rolls, clinging to the extruder, or the most offensive - when it tears off a partially printed model from the table. The first layer must stick tightly otherwise nothing will be printed.

Gap between table and nozzle 9 too large0023