this post was submitted on 08 Sep 2023
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I made a 3d printable eReader case for my wife. Wanted to test what would happen if we water logged them and left them in the sun to dry.

Two of the cases are made from PLA while the other is made from PETG. They are all held together by thread and leather.

The test here is to see if moving from PLA to PETG was the right move since the last time I did this, the case turned into a banana.

My eventual plan once I've finished with my testing is to sell these cases and make their designs available for others to print.

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[–] empireOfLove@lemmy.one 25 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (20 children)

Yes, PLA creeps ridiculously fast in hot conditions it is unsuitable for use in any environment over 35C tbh.

PETG is better but will still warp/fade over time if it's exposed to the sun, and likely need replacing.

You need to be printing in ABS or ideally ASA if you want all-weather resistant cases. Which means now your printer needs an enclosure and ventilation...

[–] Rodeo@lemmy.ca 12 points 2 years ago (7 children)

I printed a sprinkler to stick on the end of my watering can out of PLA.

Its been outside in all weather, including direct sunlight, for three years now. And water runs through it almost every day for 8 months of the year. It's a little faded, but that's it.

IMO the things people say about PLA regarding exposure are vastly over stated.

[–] radau@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 2 years ago

I don't think your particular case would have any creep as it's not mechanically leveraged in any real way.

If you were to print something like a cupholder for a stroller or bike where it's holding something up with some weight while in the heat is where you would notice it especially with repeated impact. Most likely wouldn't outright fail but under constant load you would notice it starting to bend a little. That said you can absolutely over engineer it to prevent that rather than switching materials which can be a huge pain depending on the printer.

I did my hydroponic tower in PETG but it honestly would've been ok in PLA since it's just a static fixture. I've had a PLA badge on my car for 3 years in 110+ summers and similar to you I've only noticed fading on the raised white lettering.

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