Materials & 3D Printing
I print parts meant to be used, not just looked at. That means picking the right material for the job, drying it, and printing it in a heated chamber.
The setup
| Printer | Creality K2 Plus, enclosed CoreXY |
|---|---|
| Build volume | 350 × 350 × 350 mm, so large parts print in one piece with no glued seams |
| Chamber | Actively heated, up to 60 °C, for ABS, ASA, PC and carbon-fiber nylons |
| Hotend | Micro Swiss FlowTech hotend upgrade, all-metal, high flow, up to 350 °C |
| Nozzles | Hardened steel CHT nozzles (0.6 mm on hand), for carbon- and glass-fiber filaments |
Levels of part
Prototype
Fit checks, form studies, early versions. PLA, PLA-CF or PETG. Key dimensions checked with calipers and a photo before shipping.
Functional
Parts that see real use: heat, sun, impact, or flex. PETG, ABS, ASA (UV-stable, good outdoors), PC, TPU, or carbon-fiber grades (PA-CF, PET-CF, PETG-CF) printed as-is, chosen for the job. Includes a print-orientation and strength review and a short report on critical dimensions.
Coming soon
Annealed end-use parts
Heat-treated (annealed) carbon-fiber nylon and PET-CF parts for fixtures, tooling, and brackets that have to stay stiff and hold shape when warm. I'm finishing test coupons and shrink measurements first, so this isn't available to order yet. Want to hear when it is? Mention it in a quote request.
Materials at a glance
| Material | Good for |
|---|---|
| PLA | Fixtures, jigs, prototypes at room temperature |
| HT-PLA | Prototypes and brackets that need a little more heat margin than PLA |
| PETG | Tough clips, guards, enclosures |
| ABS | Housings, automotive interior parts (good to about 85 °C as printed) |
| ASA | Outdoor brackets and mounts (UV-stable, good to about 100 °C as printed) |
| PC | Tough covers and heat-adjacent housings |
| Nylon (PA6/CoPA, PA12) | Gears, bushings, snap fits, living hinges |
| PA-CF (PA6-CF, PAHT-CF, PA12-CF) | Production jigs and fixtures, end-of-arm tooling, stiff brackets |
| PA-GF | Impact-loaded or electrically non-conductive fixtures |
| PET-CF | Stiff, dimensionally stable fixtures |
| PETG-CF / PLA-CF | Stiff covers, mounts, display fixtures |
| TPU 95A | Gaskets, bumpers, feet, grips |
Temperatures and heat ratings are typical datasheet values for test bars, not guarantees for your part. I'll name the exact brand and cite its datasheet on your quote.
What I won't make
- Safety-critical or life-critical parts: anything where failure could hurt someone, vehicle brake, steering, suspension or seatbelt parts, flight-critical drone or aircraft structure, lifting and rigging gear, PPE
- Regulated firearm or weapon parts: frames, receivers, suppressor parts, or other NFA items
- Food-contact, medical, or implant parts
- Certified or traceable parts (no material certs, ISO/AS9100 traceability, UL flammability ratings, or "OEM-equivalent" guarantees)
- Copies of copyrighted or trademarked designs without the rights
- Pressure vessels, or parts that would run continuously above the material's rated heat limit
Tolerances
Typical FDM tolerance is stated on every quote (usually ±0.3 mm typical on small features; this may tighten after test prints). If a feature needs to be tighter, I'll tell you up front and suggest reaming, inserts, or a machined part instead.