How to print with DPA-100

What is DPA-100

DPA-100 is a dissolvable polyacrylate support material. A mild alkaline solution is needed to dissolve DPA-100 support material. Unlike PVA our DPA-100 is less sensitive to moisture uptake and offers better shelf-life and print performance over time.

Our DPA-100 support material is engineered to match with a variety of materials which can’t be supported by PVA due to bad adhesion to the build material. DPA-100 shows strong adhesion to PETG, ABS, ASA, PC and PA materials.

This means the DPA-100 is uniquely suited to match our co-polyester filament offering, nGen, colorFabb_XT, colorFabb_HT and PETG. DPA-100 is not recommended for use with PLA as build material due to the relatively high water temperature needed for dissolution.

colorFabb nGen supported by DPA-100 on the Ultimaker S5 – Bicycle Helmet by Neomek

How to Print with DPA-100

General settings

In order to successfully print with DPA-100 make sure your printer and slicer are able to set the below recommended settings.

Parameter DPA-100
Nozzle temperature 230-250C
Platform temperature 90-110C
Print speed 40-80 mm/s
Cooling fan 0% for best adhesion between layers
Standby nozzle temperature ~190C
Platform material PEI/BuildTak/Glass + adhesion promoter

Design by Ken Schulze

Avoid layer delamination – DPA-100

Make sure the printing temperature is high enough so you avoid the support structures from delaminating during the print. For most machines we would recommend  printing temperature of 240-260C, if your printer doesn’t feature a closed build chamber you would likely print at the higher range to avoid delamination of layers during the print.

If you do have a heated chamber, the temperature can be set to 70-90C. Without heated chamber the recommendation is to have the Platform temperature set to 90-110C.

Print a brim!

Use a brim around your model and support structures. If your slicer has the option select the build material to be used for printing the brim. This will help to keep the DPA-100 support structure in place. This is useful for thin and tall support beams to make sure these won’t tip over during the build. It also reduces warping of the DPA-100.

Design by Christopher Tenelsen

Solid support interface layer and 0 offset.

This might not be a surprise for most users, but make sure to enable the interface support layers and make these solid for the best surface quality on the build material. In our testing we also set the support structure offset to 0, to ensure best chance of good adhesion between support material and build material.

 

Which materials does DPA-100 support.

Match Hotend temp Support Bed temp
nGen Yes 250 C 90C
colorFabb_XT Yes 250 C 90C
colorFabb_HT Yes 260 C 110C
PETG Economy Yes 250 C 90C
Generic ABS Yes 250C 100C
Generic ASA Yes 250C 100C

Our DPA-100 support material is engineered to match with a variety of materials which can’t be supported by PVA due to bad adhesion to the build material. DPA-100 shows strong adhesion to PETG, ABS, ASA, PC and PA materials.

Prepare your prints

For a faster dissolving cycle try to remove as much support material before putting the model in the dissolving device. Wear eye protection and gloves when removing support material. If your model has fine detailed features do not try to attempt removing support material, you will risk damaging the model.

It’s good idea to keep note how much support material is removed so you know how much is going to be dissolved. Once the alkaline solution is saturated it can’t dissolve anymore support material and you will need to renew the alkaline solution.

colorFabb_XT to the left and colorFabb PETG Economy to the right. Topology optimized shelf bracket – by toms3dp

How to dissolve DPA-100

In order to dissolve DPA-100 you need a mild alkaline solution which is heated and stirred. At higher temperature DPA-100 will dissolve faster than at lower temperature. The temperature you choose depends on the temperature resistance of your build material. In general 20c below the temperature resistance of your build material is a safe settings. Thicker models would be less likely to deform and can handle temperatures closer to softening temperature. The minimum pH value for the alkaline solution is >10. We recommend using our DPA Detergent for making the alkaline solution.

At colorFabb we experimented with a low cost set-up for dissolving DPA-100. We used a sous-vide stick and a plastic containter with lid. The sous-vide stick will heatup the water to desired temp and circulate water.

 

The process step by step:

  • Fill up your dissolving device with water, use 4 l of water to dissolve 100 g of DPA deterent.
  • Heat the bath to the required temperature and start the recirculation process.
  • You can add your models as soon as the bath has reached the correct temperature and DPA detergent has been dissolved in water.
  • The dissolving process usually takes between an hour and 9 hours, depending on the amount of DPA-100 supportmaterial being dissolved, the geometry of the model and the temperature of the water. It’s a good idea to periodically check the process and if necessary change the position of the model in the device. Make sure the model is submerged for the duration of dissolving DPA-100 support material.
  • When the support material is full dissolved, let the model dry for at least 15 minutes, rotating the model a couple of times to make sure the detergent can drain off.
  • After initial drying, rinse the model thoroughly using warm, running water to remove the remaining detergent and then let dry completely.
  • After completely drying white residue could appear, if so, put the model into a warm (30 – 50 °C) water bath for at least one hour. Add rinsing agent for dish washers to speed up the process.
  • 1 kg of DPA-100 can dissolve at least 1 kg of support material. The more support material is dissolved, the slower the material will be able to dissolve. It’s a good idea to keep track of how many grams of support material has been dissolved so you know when to renew the alkaline solution.
  • Before disposing the solution, it must be neutralized. For this, we recommend 5 – 10 g citric acid per litre of used up solution. When foam formation occurs, the solution has reached a neutral pH area.
  • The detergent, dissolved in water, produces a mild alkaline which usually, together with the dissolved support material, can (in limited quantities) be disposed of via the wastewater. Please check your local regulations. You can acquire our waste profile datasheet by contacting support@colorfabb.com

For complete operating instruction on using DPA Detergent please click here.

Design by ISIFC

How to print with LW-PLA

colorFabb LW-PLA is available in our webshop

How to print with LW-PLA

At colorFabb material development never stops. We’re starting 2019 with a fascinating new material, first of its kind in FFF 3D printing materials.

We’re proud to announce, colorFabb LW-PLA. This filament uses an active foaming technology which is triggered by temperature. At it’s peak the filament will expand nearly 3x it’s volume, meaning users can decrease flow by 65% to obtain lightweight parts, or use the expanding properties to speed up print time by using big layer heights or single extra thick perimeters.

Continue reading

What would you print with LW-PLA?

Update April 3rd 2019: winners have been selected!

Over 130 ideas were submitted in the past two weeks & we have selected 6 winners. We opted for one extra winner due to the high quality of entries and when it came down to the last six we simply could not choose. We will hopefully soon share the awesome things they have been able to print. We have selected winners in the following categories:

  • Drones (50+ entries who submitted drone ideas)
  • Cosplay
  • Laminated composite parts
  • Sound absorbing modules
  • Writing aides
  • Wheelchair parts

The winners have already been contacted and spools will be shipped this week ahead of the public release soon. We cannot wait to see the results! The submission form has been closed. We will announce more information (release date, pre-ordering, pricing, etc.) very soon!

Original post:

At colorFabb material development never stops. We’re starting the 2019 with a fascinating new material, first of its kind in FFF 3D printing materials.

We’re proud to announce colorFabb LW-PLA. This light weight filament uses an active foaming technology which is triggered by temperature. At it’s peak the filament will expand 3x it’s volume, meaning users can decrease flow by 60-65% to obtain light weight parts, or use the expanding properties to speed up print time by using big layer heights or single extra thick perimeters.

Continue reading

Skin tone

With Color on Demand we have already matched hundreds of colors. We have published the RAL references (over 100 already) online which can readily be ordered. But we can match more than only RAL colors. Some customers send us physical references, others send us well-known color references like CMYK, Pantone or other standards which we then try to match as close as possible.. There are many series of colors & varieties and the one we focus on today is the skin tone color:

Design: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2774477/files

With skin tone references 3D printed prosthetics are no longer limited to the basic colors, or subject to extensive post-processing like painting. For today’s print we used the Kwawu 2.0 Prosthetic Hand by Jacquin Buchanan, who is specialized in designing and printing prosthetics. You should definitely check out his website, One Monk Clapping.

We printed this hand on the Makerbot Replicator 2, with a 0.2mm layer height and at a print temperature of 195C.

By using skin tone colors designers and people wearing prosthetics have more options than ever beyond the standard color palette.

 

About Color on Demand

With Color on Demand we re-invented the way makers can choose colors. No longer you are bound to the colors that have been pre-selected by filament manufacturers anymore. Now you can order the color you actually need and want.

We have already matched over 100 RAL colors, which can easily be ordered online. Click here to see our collection. You can order as from one 750 grams spool! If we have not matched your favorite color, request it by using our online form. Starting from a 2kg spool we match the specific color you want, based on RAL, other well-known color references or a physical reference.

With Color on Demand you can say “yes” to that print job which needs a specific color or a look you have been waiting for. Stun your colleagues, family or other makers with your prints. You could already print one-of-a-kind designs, now you can also make them look unique!

Check out more recent Color on Demand prints by clicking here. Make sure you read our color disclaimer. Want to know more about Color on Demand, check our our FAQ page.

nGen_LUX on Ultimaker S5

In December we published that the base material of our widely popular nGen 3D printing filament, Eastman Amphora AM3300, had been added to the Ultimaker Market Place. In the Market Place Ultimaker users can download print profiles for tested filaments. We already added woodFill, Color on Demand PLA and XT-CF20 (more about that here) and were glad to have AM3300 added so the all-round nGen was part of the family as well. Read the full posts below:

Some testing over the Christmas holiday found that the amazing nGen_LUX prints excellent with the AM3300 settings as well! And we could not resist and printed everybody’s favorite scoundrel Han Solo with nGen_LUX Diamond Black on the Ultimaker S5:

Design by Toshi Tne: https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/art/han-solo-bust

nGen_LUX is a unique development based on our best selling co-polyester nGen, made with Eastman Amphora AM3300 3d Polymer. The excellent clarity of the base AM3300 makes this material uniquely suited for the extremely rare pigment used in nGen_LUX. It is our new standard in how a 3D printed object can look. It is the filament for the users who wants to bring something extraordinary their work. It is the filament that needs to give that added value.

At colorFabb we are always looking to meet our customer’s needs and offer filaments with added value. The aesthetics of nGen_LUX allow for a new step in production and prototyping, especially for cosmetics, packaging, interior parts, electronics housings and many more applications.

Choose AM3300 as your prefered print settings for nGen_LUX

The “Lux” not only stands for luxurious – which is definitely the look of the prints – but also refers to the unit of illumination used worldwide. And light is what makes this filament truly special. The material uses diffuse reflection to scatter light in all directions. For the eye it’s nearly impossible to spot layering, even at 0.2mm layerheight. nGen_LUX allows users to print visually appealing models without the need of post processing. nGen_LUX features all the characteristics of our regular nGen: good chemical stability, elevated temperature resistance (85C) and thus allows users to print creations that are functional, durable, efficient and attractive.

nGen_LUX is the first special filament based on nGen and the second one in our range of co-polyesters after XT-CF20, our carbon fibre enforced filament based on colorFabb_XT.

Quick facts

Material: colorFabb nGen_LUX

Diameter Tolerance: ± 0.05 mm

Density: 1.2 g•cm-3

Glass Transition Temperature: 85C

Printing with the right settings is easier than ever. Download Cura 3.6 and select the right material profiles to start printing right away. The colorFabb materials have been extensively tested by both colorFabb and Ultimaker, ensuring the best possible experience and results. Now this is something you have been looking for.

Click here to go directly to our webshop.

Palette 2 Pro

Late last year we got the Palette 2 Pro on loan as a test unit and printed not only our own logo, but also the Multi-Color Mosaic Keychain by Mosaic Manufacturing as a test:

Design: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3245701/files

We printed on the Stacker S4 with a 0,6mm nozzle and printed this key chain in 3h 7min. It has 19 color changes (splices). As for the colors, we used 4 colors that were matched in our Color on Demand program:

Palette 2 (pre-order)

The Palette 2 Pro was loaned to us generously by the Mosaic team and does its job extremely well. Although not cheap it will definitely solve a lot of problems for users, especially ones with a single nozzle printer. Check out their website!

With Color on Demand we re-invented the way makers can choose colors. No longer you are bound to the colors that have been pre-selected by filament manufacturers anymore. Now you can order the color you actually need and want.

We have already matched over 100 RAL colors, which can easily be ordered online. Click here to see our collection. You can order as from one 750 grams spool! If we have not matched your favorite color, request it by using our online form. Starting from a 2kg spool we match the specific color you want, based on RAL, other well-known color references or a physical reference.

With Color on Demand you can say “yes” to that print job which needs a specific color or a look you have been waiting for. Stun your colleagues, family or other makers with your prints. You could already print one-of-a-kind designs, now you can also make them look unique!

Check out more recent Color on Demand prints by clicking here. Make sure you read our color disclaimer. Want to know more about Color on Demand, check our our FAQ page.

Our Color on Demand experience room, still under construction, with all the RAL colors we matched… so far.

2018 Recap

Another year has passed and we’re gearing up for a (let’s be honest) well-deserved holiday break. Before we head home, let’s look back at the past year with a short recap.

 

5 years of colorFabb

We started the year with our fifth anniversary, which seems so long ago already. Take a trip down Memory Lane and read our blogs about our birthday here.

 

 

New material releases

No new year without new materials. And we released quite a bit. From aesthetical to functional, we’ve added quite a bit to our portfolio.

 

nGen_LUX

Our most luxurious filament so far. A unique development based on our best-selling nGen. Make your prints stand out! Full release notes here.

ngen Transparent

Adding no less than six amazing transparent colors to our nGen line-up! Read more here.

PLA Semi-Matte Black and White

Our first semi-matte filament (black) was released in March and an instant hit. Check out the original blog.
… followed in December with Semi-Matte White (after popular demand). More here.

Color on Demand

If one development defined the year here at colorFabb, it was Color on Demand. Custom color design has already allowed hundreds of customers to print with the color they actually need.

Custom color filaments, made to order. We offer the largest portfolio of PLA colors in the world. Learn more about our unique service.
Designs by Dizingof. Original post.
Pen design by Batch.Works. Original post.
Parasites by Buro Ruig. Original post.

PA Neat

Following PA-CF Low Warp, we continued our developments with PA Neat, a highly functional nylon for engineering parts. Read our original release notes here.

Ultimaker Market Place

Several of our filaments were selected to be added to the Ultimaker Market Place. You can now easily select Color on Demand PLA, woodFill, XT-CF20 and nGen from the list of pre-set profiles. More here and here.

 

And more…

Of course there was much more news in the past year.

  • We started working with Ninjatek who is our new distributor in North America and we are theirs in Europe
  • We were nominated for the Lodewijk van der Grintenprijs (but sadly did not win)
  • We saw some great use of Stacker 3D printers at companies like Mifa and Optima
  • We visited Tinkertoys and learned why they choose colorFabb PLA/PHA as their go-to filament
  • We learned about the awesome Project Unicorn and their use of our filaments
  • We did not start drone deliveries (and it was quite surprising how many people thought we would).

Stay up to date with our latest News and Featured Prints.

The entire colorFabb team wishes you happy holidays, a merry Christmas and a great 2019!

Christmas Tree

With Christmas around the corner it’s only apt we follow suit with the rest of the world and print a Christmas tree. We chose the design by idig3D for our Christmas print. For the material we chose nGen Green Transparent.

Design: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1913982

Earlier this year we released no less than six transparent nGen colors:



nGen is of course our go-to filament and available in many colors. It is a true all-round material suitable for most day to day 3D printing activities. At the core of its reliability is the special chemical make-up of the Eastman Amphora™ AM3300 3D polymer, which results in a good melt stability. From pellet to filament to 3D print, nGen retains its material properties very well, meaning more stable results with less waste of time and material.

The Christmas tree was printed on the Ultimaker S5 with a 0.8 AA core nozzle and with a 0.4mm layer height. Nozzle temperature was 240C and the bed temp at 80C. We used the spiral vase mode.

nGen works extremely well on the Ultimaker printers. Find out more on the standard settings we recommend here. But one could make life even easier. Only yesterday we posted that nGen (under it’s raw material name AM3300) has been added to the Ultimaker Market Place, making printing with the right settings even easier!

Learn more about printing nGen on the Ultimaker 3 and S5 here.

nGen AM3300 in Ultimaker Market Place

Not long after we announced that XT-CF20 was added to the Ultimaker Market Place in Cura 3.6 in addition to Color on Demand PLA and woodFill we are happy to tell you that nGen now also is a part of the Market Place. Sort of…

Twin RC waterjet by Ewolve

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2752198

The Ultimaker Market Place makes it easier for users of the Ultimaker 3 and S5 to use pre-set profiles for third party filaments which have been tested by both the filaments manufacturers and Ultimaker themselves to achieve the best possible user experience.

Important: To choose the optimal nGen settings in the Market Place head to the Eastman entries and choose AM3300, the base material for nGen.

Three years ago, by the end of 2015, we released a new all-round material called nGen, next Generation, based on Eastman Amphora AM3300. We believed then (and still do) that this filament was a next step for 3D printing materials. It was our goal to bring a filament to the market that has functional properties, looks astonishingly good and prints like a dream.

Printed with nGen Red on the Ultimaker S5 with 0.15mm layer height.

nGen has been a hit ever since. This is not without reason. It is true all-round material suitable for most day to day 3D printing activities. Its chemical make up ensures a very consistent quality. An advantage over PLA is its elevated temperature resistance: 80 degrees instead of 45 degrees, so even in hotter climates (or a hot summer day) the material holds up extremely well. Below is a comparison chart of several of the Amphora based filaments compared to commodity materials like ABS and PLA.

You can read more on our dedicated landing page or our blog about co-polyesters.

nGen is an amazing material which enables users to create parts with gorgeous detail and the benefit of long term stability. Don’t just take our word for it. Below are some of the reviews that our users posted in our webshop:

“Its just the perfect Filament for me!”

“Printing as easy as PLA, but with better material properties.”

“nGen is very predictable and strong.”

“nGen is always my “go to” filament. It just prints beautifully. It’s strong, handles heat well, reliable, and just looks great.”

“… prints like butter 🙂 and the finish is absolutely perfect.”

“The material has good print bed adhesion, low warping and low shrinkage. Easy to print.”

Beyond our initial goals to create a filament that prints well and holds up to every day 3D printing tasks we have since found out more properties of the filament, giving it a great advantage. For instance, we recently came across a business case where a printed object made with nGen has been under water in the ocean for 16 months! And it did not loose its functional properties!

And you can get highly detailed prints as well:

_dsc0029_smaller
Model balustrade. Original post: https://learn.colorfabb.com/detailed-balustrade/

Although nGen is a true star in our portfolio, it doesn’t feel too good to perform a supporting role from time to time. Literally. In combination with colorFabb_XT nGen filament can also be used as a breakaway support. Complex designs like the drill case below do need support material and we found that nGen did a great job in that department.

Drill case. Original post: https://learn.colorfabb.com/drill-case/

Another great material it works extremely well with is our nGen_FLEX:

Pliers (click image for the gif to play). Original post: https://learn.colorfabb.com/pliers
Coupler (click image for the gif to play). Original post: https://learn.colorfabb.com/coupler/

It is not only materials nGen plays well with. It also performs extremely well on a wide range of printers. And with the addition of AM3300 to the Ultimaker Market Place in Cura 3.6, printing with nGen is easier than ever.