Additive manufacturing, that is, the production of parts and products by CNC 3D printer parts, is increasingly present in the industry. It is possible to employ 3D printing in various sectors. The use of additive manufacturing, for example, is already widely common in product development, tooling and maintenance sectors.

The importance of choosing CNC 3D printer parts

The choice of material for your project is extremely important, considering that different materials result in different finishes and functionalities. There are more flexible 3D materials and more rigid ones, which resist heat or not, among other specificities.

Choosing the perfect material for your project will depend a lot on the features it will perform. CNC 3D printer parts that are exposed to high temperatures cannot be made from materials with low heat resistance, for example. So stay with us and see the main 3D materials and what their uses and specifics are.

The main CNC 3D printer parts

To help you choose the correct material that will be common in your project, we made a list with the main 3D materials. The list is divided according to the characteristics most sought after by the industry in the construction of parts:

Wear resistance

This is the ability of a material to withstand direct and repetitive contact with other materials throughout its use without suffering major wear. A much appreciated feature in the construction of moving parts, such as gears, for example. In industry, these materials are often common in mechanical engineering, especially in parts for sectors such as tooling and maintenance.

CNC 3D printer parts made of wear-resistant materials are more durable, which reduces the chance that parts will have problems due to wear. The TPU is a material widely common in the construction of the parts expose to wear of a part. In addition, this material has the characteristic of being softer, which helps in reducing wear thereof.

UV resistance

This is a crucial characteristic for the construction of pieces that will be exposed directly to the sun for prolonged periods. UV resistance is the material’s ability not to lose its properties due to exposure to ultraviolet rays.

The use of UV-resistant 3D materials is common in outdoor CNC 3D printer parts, as this feature prevents the material from fading or creating surface cracks. The most common materials for this purpose are ASA and PETG, as they have good resistance to UV rays.

Strength and rigidity

Resistance is related to the tension that a part is able to withstand without breaking. Stiffness, on the other hand, refers to how much it deforms when pulled or bent. Typically, materials with great rigidity have great strength.

Generally, both strength and rigidity are characteristics popular in industries. It is these characteristics that ensure that the product or part will support sufficient load for its good function. The automobile industry uses these materials in the construction of accessories on its production line. Similarly, examples of these materials are carbon fiber composite filaments.

Impact resistance

Impact resistance is the combination of the hardness and strength of CNC 3D printer parts, ie how easily a material breaks due to the force of an impact. Along with rigidity and strength, this is one of the most important mechanical characteristics. We consider that withstanding the impact well can be useful or necessary for many products.

The use of these materials is common in production line tools and accessories, in manufacturing and in other sectors. Moreover, these parts withstand the impact of their applications. The important 3D materials for these situations are TPU and Nylon, with ABS being resistant to only reasonable impacts.

Heat resistance

Some CNC 3D printer parts are resistant to exposure to high temperatures, without altering their properties. They have better thermal stress performance compared to other materials. This type of material is commonly common in the manufacturing, automobile and aeronautical industries, for the construction of parts that reach high temperatures during use.

There are some aspects to be taken into account when choosing heat resistant 3D materials. The melting temperature and the thermal deflection temperature of the material are some of them. They indicate whether the material will be able to withstand the conditions of its future use. Among the materials that are heat resistant, we can mention Nylon, TRITAN and ABS.

Chemical resistance

Depending on the use of the CNC 3D printer parts or product, chemical resistance will be an indispensable feature. Chemical resistance is the ability of a material to withstand contact with abrasive chemicals without losing its properties.

They are great for parts that are constantly exposed to chemical materials. They are widely common in the automobile industry, especially in the construction of parts that come into direct contact with oils and other possibly abrasive substances. 3D materials offer different strengths and your choice will depend on the purpose and substance to which it will be exposed.

Fire retardants

Fire retardant 3D materials have a thermal stability that prevents them from burning and producing fire easily. Highly important for parts those could eventually produce combustion are CNC 3D printer parts. The importance of using these materials is precisely to avoid fire hazards in environments that are prone to ignition.

Its use highly requires in the production of electronics, ensuring that the products meet safety requirements. One example is plastic coatings for wires and cables.

CNC Machining Features and CNC 3D printer parts

Before we talk about which part manufacturing mode is most convenient for your project. Let’s briefly and didactic explain exactly what CNC machining is and how it differs from CNC 3D printer parts. Many people do not know exactly the particularities, advantages and disadvantages between CNC machining and 3D printing.

This is extremely important for the proper choice of the modality of production of parts for different projects. So, check out more information on the subject below and learn how to make the best choice for your demands!

Conclusion

As you can see from the overview of the main CNC 3D printer parts presented in this post, there are many options and each one of them caters to a specific type of production. Choosing the right material is the key to a product with a good finish and capable of fulfilling the desired functions.