A new generation of Luminy PLA-based filaments is now available that enables lighter parts to be printed with better resistance to high heat. Launched by colorFabb, the Light Weight (LW) PLA High-Temperature 3D print filament was jointly developed by TotalEnergies Corbion and colorFabb.
The new product will satisfy the needs of enthusiasts of Remote Control (RC) planes, who can use the filament to design and produce 3D planes that will withstand high sun temperatures.
“Good collaboration with customers is essential to develop new applications that fulfill market demand. Understanding product goals and requirements is essential to come to solutions that solve practical challenges”, said Vladislav Jašo, Application Specialist at TotalEnergies Corbion. “The openness and exchange of information were crucial to deliver results” he added.
To develop the formulation, colorFabb incorporated Luminy PLA technology to enhance the temperature resistance offered by their existing lightweight PLA 3D printing filament.
TotalEnergies Corbion Research and Development laboratories were able to optimise the new formulation to achieve high heat resistance, yet maintaining excellent 3D printability and low weight. While heat exposure still needs to be controlled, the planes do not deform quickly as the original LW-PLA.
“The new formulation exceeded our expectation during the real-world test. Within minutes the original LW-PLA printed parts started to deform, literally in front of our eyes, but the new formulation kept its shape well over time.” said Gijs Houdijk, Head of Additive Manufacturing at colorFabb. “The team of experts at TotalEnergies Corbion knew exactly what we needed and were able to speed up our R&D effort.”
The new filament is easy to use and has a much better carbon footprint the other alternatives. Non-toxic, it is the right choice for 3D printing – safe and environmentally friendly - the companies said.