3D Printing Need Help with 3D Printed Model Rocket (PLA)

[thzero]

Turned out alright! ASA has been holding up great to the heat. The original version couldnt handle the ejection pressure and broke in half, but after some reinforcement its been going well.

Cool... on my 54mm birds with PETG I've only used .8mm walls and with electronic ejection charges haven't had any issues. But I am curious to try ASA as its better heat resistance, but also bit less dense too thus should be slightly lighter weight. Stronger, but not as flexible so trade offs

 

[Archphoto]

Just flew a mostly printed rocket today with a completely printed PLA+ engine mount tube, which worked great... once. This was a 29mm F15 engine, and the heat did indeed warp the mount tube to the point that the second engine would only pressure fit in about 50%. Maybe if I left the old tube in until it cooled it would have been ok? Live and learn, I'll be using cardboard liners from now on!

 

[thzero]

Just flew a mostly printed rocket today with a completely printed PLA+ engine mount tube, which worked great... once. This was a 29mm F15 engine, and the heat did indeed warp the mount tube to the point that the second engine would only pressure fit in about 50%. Maybe if I left the old tube in until it cooled it would have been ok? Live and learn, I'll be using cardboard liners from now on!

Use PETG or ASA. And yes liners are required. Or other disposable system.

 

[Archphoto]

Use PETG or ASA. And yes liners are required. Or other disposable system.

Valuable lessons learned in the field!

 

[RocketMan3D]

Why? PETG is just as easy to print as PLA once the settings are dialed in. It may take more tuning than PLA but once you got it going it can do well. I've printed many kgs of PETG, more than PLA at this point.


PLA will work in a car in the sun, so yes. Typically in my experience, Estes motors get hot enough that I need to let them cool down before I can yank them out so I would expect they would easily warp PLA. It depends how much mass is around the motor though. If you add enough material, it won't warp because the thermal mass is great enough.

Yep, the engine casings do get hot. I've recovered some rockets quickly enough that the casing was still warm. PLA should work fine though, just let the motor cool down before you take it out.