Jul 4, 2017 | By Benedict

Californian multi-material 3D printing company Airwolf 3D has conducted a series of improvised strength tests on three of its most popular 3D printing filaments. The tests involved 3D printing hooks made from the three materials, before using each hook to suspend an increasingly heavy load until it breaks.

Airwolf 3D knows that dangling heavy objects from a 3D printed hook isn’t the most scientific way of measuring a material’s strength. It might, however, be the most fun—and that’s exactly what you want from a YouTube-broadcast miniseries on 3D printing filament.

The California-based 3D printing company has carried out these fun-packed tests to demonstrate the strength of three of its strongest 3D printing filaments: Polycarbonate ($98 for 2 lb), Platinum Series ABS ($48), and Nylon Carbonite ($95 for 1.1 lbs).

During the experiment, which Airwolf 3D has called “Hooked on 3D Printing: A Study in Material Strength,” Airwolf employees 3D printed a hook made from each of the three materials, using each of the three hooks to suspend a 150-pound tire filled with weights from a forklift. (The 3D printed hooks were designed and printed by Airwolf 3D Intern Kevin Coulson, a second-year Engineering major at UC-Berkley.)

Obviously, the fun part of these experiments is the moment right before breakage. But the 3D printed hooks apparently needed a fair amount of baggage before that happened. The weights in the already-heavy tire (which include random objects from around the warehouse, as well as gym weights from a nearby exercise center) were gradually increased until the 3D printed hook snapped. The winning material—which Airwolf 3D has not yet disclosed—was the one that lasted the longest before breaking.

The Airwolf 3D team has released a sneak preview of the strength test, and will be broadcasting the full challenge in the near future. Interestingly, Airwolf 3D says the results of the challenge were somewhat surprising. (Presumably in a good sense.)

“It might not be the most precise or scientific method of testing,” Airwolf 3D says, “but it quickly helped us set some benchmarks—and, as you’ll see, it’s a whole lot of fun.”

Airwolf 3D, based in Costa Mesa, produces the Axiom line of desktop 3D printers as well as a number of 3D printing materials. The company says its 3D printers ideally suited for engineers, hobbyists, and students.

In January, Airwolf 3D debuted a high-performance water-soluble support material at CES 2017.

 

 

Posted in 3D Printing Materials

 

 

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