PETG success

[pawsnizzy]

Hi All,
Just a little bit of info. that I have recently discovered. I have been using a 3D printer with PLA for a long time now, and am happy that I've got it to print well. However, I have a roll of black PETG that I cannot get to print without ridiculous stringing, and as I want some temperature tolerant bits, I decided to have another go, starting from the very beginning. PETG temperature tower was bl*ody awful, but decided for some reason, to try the PLA+ temperature tower - I was surprised that this showed that 205 °C to be the best temperature! Several prints later showed this temp. was the business!
Ordered a couple more rolls and found the ideals for these were 205 and 215 respectively - Rather chuffed and I have since found that there is only ONE reference that I could find anywhere on the web, that a significantly lower temp. may be the answer

Really pleased

Dave

 

[Screwdriver]

I print exclusively with PETG. Never even tried any other material. I get consistently good results at 240-250°C

I do find that varies by a few degrees depending on the specific supplier though it's normally close enough not to even worry.

I am surprised your temperatures are so low. What speeds are you running at? There are so many variables (which is why I stick with PETG!) such as flow ratio, retraction settings even your printers volumetric speed which will affect stringing.

How sure are you you're not compensating for a problem elsewhere by running your filament so cold?

 

[tflnemesis]

I run my petg 240-250C as well anything below 220 and I get layer adhesion issues. Is more stringy than PLA but I have dialed that out mostly, temp towers, string tests, torture tests etc etc, spent a month on it, was tripping over old tests for months...

 

[m_c]

PETG can be a pain to print without stringing.

However I wonder if your nozzle temperature calibration is off, as that does seem rather low?
I wouldn't worry too much about it provided the finished item is strong enough, but it's something to be aware off

 

[pawsnizzy]

PETG can be a pain to print without stringing.

However I wonder if your nozzle temperature calibration is off, as that does seem rather low?
I wouldn't worry too much about it provided the finished item is strong enough, but it's something to be aware off

I wondered that too m_c, but it's within a degree or two with 2 different 3950 thermistors and a calibrated type k t/c

 

[Ruffian]

Found 200 for pla, 243 for petg gave good results.
Did have to slow the travel speed slightly more with the petg as was getting stringing but never dialled in zhop retraction.

 

[Anguz]

biggest problem i have with petg, is forgetting to clean the bed after pla.. it always lifts mid print
for that reason alone, once i have used the last bit of pla i wont be buying any more
i print petg at 242 with bed of 70

 

[ajlelectronics]

I wondered that too m_c, but it's within a degree or two with 2 different 3950 thermistors and a calibrated type k t/c

It is perfectly possible to print at low temperatures. However, you may well find that it takes little effort to pull it apart, because the layers are sitting on top of each other rather than fusing.

 

[fractured]

I want to start printing PETG so this is interesting. I have had my printer since the new year but have not really used it yet, probably about a spool worth of PLA.

However I want to get some PETG on order and get printing using that.

I have a Prusa i3 Mk3s with a smooth and textured sheet, but I believe the textured is better for PETG.

I will use the standard Prusa settings to begin with, so fingers crossed

This thread has just reminded me to get a spool on order... !

 

[daedalusminos]

I want to start printing PETG so this is interesting. I have had my printer since the new year but have not really used it yet, probably about a spool worth of PLA.

However I want to get some PETG on order and get printing using that.

I have a Prusa i3 Mk3s with a smooth and textured sheet, but I believe the textured is better for PETG.

I will use the standard Prusa settings to begin with, so fingers crossed

This thread has just reminded me to get a spool on order... !

Yes use the textured for PETG, also you can minimise stringing and generally improve the surface quality by preventing the extruder from crossing perimiters. The later versions of Prusa slicer have greatly improved this feature - OK, where you have an isolated feature it will have to cross the perimeter, but otherwise it will move within the perimeter albeit with slightly increased print times..

 

[Screwdriver]

I want to start printing PETG so this is interesting. I have had my printer since the new year but have not really used it yet, probably about a spool worth of PLA.

However I want to get some PETG on order and get printing using that.

I have a Prusa i3 Mk3s with a smooth and textured sheet, but I believe the textured is better for PETG.

I will use the standard Prusa settings to begin with, so fingers crossed

This thread has just reminded me to get a spool on order... !

Well that's an excellent printer and if you print in low volumes, I'd definitely recommend buying Prusament filament. It is noticeably better than anything else I've tried. Pricey but I picked up a reel on special offer. It's always a pleasure to print with it. Smooth as hot butter.

I've never had a Prusa myself but I'd bet my bottom dollar their settings will be tailored for your specific machine and spot on. There's a ton of stuff most of us never get to see. An almost infinite number of behind the scenes settings so having the right settings from the get go is a massive bonus. Almost too easy...

As for PETG, the biggest issue you face is probably for it to stick too well to the bed (all things being equal).

 

[knighty]

I've only ever printed in ABS... back in the day when I go my first printer there wasn't much choice, pretty much just PLA or ABS

I've never bothered looking at any other materials thinking that ABS was the strongest.. but a quick google says PETG is stronger :-o


any recommendations for brands?

bought some ABS on amazon a while back and it's junk, I'm only using it for test prints

bought some from www.3dfilaprint.com because I had some (YEARS old) stuff already and it ran fine in the new printer

 

[fractured]

As for PETG, the biggest issue you face is probably for it to stick too well to the bed (all things being equal).

it has the removable steel bed so hopefully that will help getting things off.

 

[Screwdriver]

There seemed to be some shortage of black PETG recently, couldn't get any for love nor money. I bought LOADS but the orders kept getting cancelled subsequently. Sun seems to be ok but tbh, I've not come across anything I need to be wary of, once you're dialled in, they all print.

The only stand out product for me has been Prusament, and that stood out merely because it was so good. Damn expensive in smaller quantities though because of the shipping.

 

[pawsnizzy]

I've only ever printed in ABS... back in the day when I go my first printer there wasn't much choice, pretty much just PLA or ABS

I've never bothered looking at any other materials thinking that ABS was the strongest.. but a quick google says PETG is stronger :-o


any recommendations for brands?

bought some ABS on amazon a while back and it's junk, I'm only using it for test prints

bought some from www.3dfilaprint.com because I had some (YEARS old) stuff already and it ran fine in the new printer

I've been using eSun, Eryone and Geeetech

 

[tflnemesis]

I have been pretty much printing PETG exclusively for the past couple of years, good prints, nice and strong. I use watered down PVA glue for all types of plastic for bed adhesion and it has never let me down.
I try not to print more than one model at a time as it is impossible to avoid stringing. I have dialled as much of it out as possible but can't get rid of it completely.
the only thing I find worse for stringing is TPU which can be a sod to clean up. My odd PLA prints are almost always really good but i only tend to use PLA for glow in the dark stuff as I have not found a good PETG glow in the dark filament and its quite expensive vs PLA.
As for brands of PETG I usually buy the cheapest off amazon in the colour I want, out of probably 150 reels I have had 3 that printed badly. Either very old or not sealed properly so it goes brittle. I have only ever had one reel of petg that wasn't worth the effort of faffing around and ended up binning it. I have had plenty of PLA that would print badly or not at all maybe 5% of all the PLA I have used, too brittle to survive the extruder etc.
The only issue I have with PETG is it can be difficult to glue together and the glue bond never seems very strong no matter what I use.

 

[pawsnizzy]

I've been using eSun, Eryone and Geeetech

Also had perfect adhesion using a (Comgrow) textured PEI sheet - got to be at 80 deg though, 70 and it doesn't stick

 

[Anguz]

everything seems to stick fine on my ender glass bed... have been wondering about the flexible magnetc beds though... anyone use them ??
should be a bit lighter?

 

[Screwdriver]

everything seems to stick fine on my ender glass bed... have been wondering about the flexible magnetc beds though... anyone use them ??
should be a bit lighter?

Same here. Glass bed on Ender, no problems.

Now I have the X1 with steel sheet it's amazing. Super easy to remove once the plate cools. I pop it off and stick it on a flat surface. 2 minute later it comes off easily.

The problem you have is that it is not the steel sheet which is magnetic, it's the bed so you'll be using clips and taking them on and off all the time will be a chore. I suppose you could insert some magnets into the aluminium bed but with the somewhat precarious bed levelling setup on an Ender, you'll need to reset your bed level all the time...

 

[pawsnizzy]

everything seems to stick fine on my ender glass bed... have been wondering about the flexible magnetc beds though... anyone use them ??
should be a bit lighter?

The Comgrow I'm using is magnetic. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09TW23M8P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1