3D printing, which is a technology for producing three-dimensional objects based on computer models, is growing at an impressive rate. With the introduction of a variety of printing materials, consumers can enjoy more efficient, durable and more resistant to extreme conditions prints. In this article, we will focus on comparing two materials: PLA Graphene Strong and PETG Graphene Strong in the context of use in wheels for an automatic lawn mower that is subjected to weather conditions.
PLA Graphene Strong – Graphene Strength
PLA Graphene Strong is a material that was created by combining traditional PLA (polylactide) with graphene. This combination makes PLA Graphene Strong an ideal candidate for prints for applications requiring exceptional strength and resistance to extreme conditions.
PETG Graphene Strong – Strength and Flexibility
PETG Graphene Strong is another popular material used in 3D printing. It is a thermoplastic polymer that exhibits exceptional mechanical strength and flexibility at the same time. Its resistance to damage and durability make it a frequent choice for usable prints, such as mechanical parts or details that are operated outdoors.
Experiment: Wheels for an automatic lawnmower
In order to compare the durability of PLA Graphene Strong and PETG Graphene Strong, we conducted an experiment on two wheels that we mounted in an automatic lawn mower. The device was placed outside from the beginning of March until today, so it was subjected to intense weathering, such as minus temperatures, wind, rain and intense sunlight.
Results: Resistance to weathering
After prolonged exposure to harsh weather conditions, both wheels retained their form and functionality. For both materials, no visible damage or cracks were observed on the surfaces. Both PLA Graphene Strong and PETG Graphene Strong showed excellent resistance to changing weather conditions.
Summary: Durability under all conditions.
The experiment clearly showed that both PLA Graphene Strong and PETG Graphene Strong are materials that perform well in harsh weather conditions. The robotic lawnmower wheels printed from them proved not only durable, but also resistant to external factors such as rain, wind, sunlight and frost.
It is worth noting that the differences between the two materials are not significant in terms of durability during outdoor operation. PLA Graphene Strong may exhibit slightly higher stiffness, while PETG Graphene Strong has slightly higher flexibility. The final choice between these materials may depend on individual preferences and the requirements of a specific application.
In conclusion, 3D printing has become a powerful tool in the production of parts subjected to harsh weather conditions. Materials such as PLA Graphene Strong and PETG Graphene Strong provide users with durable, efficient and reliable prints that maintain their quality even in extreme conditions.
We invite you to order our filaments today:
https://prografen.com/en/kategoria-produktu/graphene-based-filament/
Wheel model downloaded from:
https://www.printables.com/pl/model/177210-wheel-worx-landroid-m500plus-wr165e
Today we announced the launch of our filament in the United States at Rapid 2023.
Our filament will be available in the US market at the end of May 2023! Be ready to place your order.
COMPETITION REGULATIONS: “Technical Use of 3D Printing”.
1 Organizer
The organiser of the competition “Technical use of 3D Printing ” is Advanced Graphene Products ul. Antoniego Wysockiego 4, 66-002 Zielona Góra : NIP: 929 184 7897 , REGON: 081062890 (“Organiser”).
The prizes in the Competition are provided by Advanced Graphene Products ul. Antoniego Wysockiego 4, 66-002 Zielona Góra : NIP: 929 184 7897 , REGON: 081062890.
The Competition is in no way endorsed, sponsored, organised or associated with Instagram and Facebook. Instagram and Facebook are not responsible for the Contest and all questions, comments and complaints should be addressed to the Organiser and not to Instagram and Facebook. The Organiser undertakes jointly and severally to indemnify Instagram and Facebook against any Contest Entrant who makes a claim against Instagram or Facebook relating to this Contest.
2 Duration of the Competition and the Competition Committee
The Competition starts on 17.02.2023 and lasts until 24.02.2023
Participants are rewarded with photos of their technical prints made using the FDM method with the use of filaments, together with the Prografen profile tag which will be published during this period. The public announcement of the results shall take place by 27.02.2023 at the latest.
In order to ensure the proper organisation of the Competition, the proper course of the Competition and the selection of the participants – including the Winners – the Organiser appoints a Competition Committee. Any doubts concerning the rules of the Competition, interpretation and provisions of these Regulations shall be resolved by the Organiser. The Committee will consist of 3 persons selected by the Organiser. 3.
3 Conditions and rules of participation in the Competition
The Competition is open to any natural person (hereinafter: Participant), who:
1.1. is of full legal age and has full legal capacity
1.2. is not affiliated with the Organiser in any personal, capital or organisational capacity
1.3. he/she has read the Rules of the Competition and accepts the provisions thereof,
1.4. he/she has completed the Competition Task.
2.The lack of fulfilment of any of the conditions specified in par. 1 points 1.1-1.4 constitutes grounds for exclusion of the Entrant from the Competition, and in the event of a later discovery of these circumstances, including after the date of prize distribution, the right to claim its return.
Participation is conditional on acceptance of these Rules, and participation in the Competition and providing data for the purposes of the Competition is voluntary.
It is not permitted to create a fictitious account in order to participate in the Contest, or to use the data and accounts of third parties. The data on your personal Instagram and Facebook profile must be accurate. 4.
4 Competition rules and process
The Contest will be conducted exclusively online, on Instagram and Fecebook on the Organizer’s profile at https://www.instagram.com/prografen/
https://www.facebook.com/Prografen
The Competition Task consists of:
2.1 Adding a photo showing the technical use of 3D printing on your profile.
2.2 To label Prografen account at the added photo on your profile (Instagram or Facebook).
The entries/comments related to the subject matter of the Contest are eligible for the Contest, they do not contain content that breaks the law, violates good manners and the dignity of others, and those for which the Entrant proves his/her copyrights.
In order to ensure the proper course of the Competition, the Organiser will select the 3 most interesting entries and award them respectively:
1stplace – 3x1kg of selected, stock available Prografen filament
2nd place – 2x1kg of a selected, stock available Prografen® felt.
3rd place – 1x1kg of selected, stock available Prografen® felt.
Administrators of Prografen’s profile are obliged to remove comments/posts that violate these Terms and Conditions.
The winner of the Competition will be notified via Instagram or Facebook up to a maximum of 7 ( seven) working days after the end of the Competition.
5 Prizes in the Competition
The prizes in the Contest “Technical use of 3D printing” by Advanced Graphene Products, are a total of 6kg of Prografen brand filament.
The winner will be informed of the prize via a private message on Instagram or Facebook sent from the official Prografen. In order to receive the prize pack containing the felt, the winner must send a private message back by 10.03.2023, including the winner’s name, email address and postal address (street, house number, postal code, town).
In the event that incorrect data is provided or the obligations of §5., para. 2 within 7 working days, the Winner loses the right to the Prize.
The Organiser reserves the right not to make a selection of comments.
The correct completion of the Competition Task is tantamount to the Participant’s acceptance of the provisions of the Regulations without the necessity of making separate statements in this regard, and is tantamount to the Participant making the following statements and obligations: The Competition Task is a manifestation of the Participant’s individual and original creation, the Participant has all rights to the submitted work and these are not limited or encumbered in any way in favour of third parties. The use of the Contest Task by Advanced Graphene Productsz in accordance with the Contest Rules will not jeopardise, infringe or violate anyone’s rights, property, or secrets protected by law. The Entrant accepts that the Competition Task may be used to advertise the Advanced Graphene Products brand in any media and medium (to the extent of the licence referred to below). The Entrant grants the Organiser a non-exclusive licence to use the Competition Task in connection with the Competition. The licence is granted without territorial limitation, for a period of 5 years from the posting of the Competition Task on Instagram or Facebook, in respect of the author’s rights to use the Competition Task in connection with the Competition. The licence is granted in the fields of marketing of public exhibition, reproduction, display, broadcasting, re-broadcasting, making available in a chosen place and time (on the Internet), use of the Competition Task in a promotional or advertising character and permission to create and exploit elaborations of the Competition Task, combining it with other goods. The Organiser has the right to grant sub-licences. The Entrant undertakes not to exercise his/her personal copyright against the Organiser in relation to the Competition Task. The Organiser may call upon the winner to conclude an appropriate agreement in writing to transfer the rights to the Competition Task. The Organiser reserves the right to remove and not include in the Competition Tasks: 1. inconsistent with the Instagram and Facebook regulations, 2. not meeting the criteria specified in the Regulations or submitted contrary to the rules of the Regulations, 3. containing content inconsistent with good morals, immoral, offensive or violating applicable laws; 4. violating the rights, in particular copyright, or personal rights of third parties, including the unlawful use of images of third parties; 5. containing logos protected by copyright
The right to the Prize cannot be transferred to other persons. It is also not possible to obtain payment of the equivalent of the Prize. In the event of the Winner resigning from the Prize, the Organiser has the right to transfer it to another Participant taking part in the Competition
6 Personal data of the Contestants
The administrator of the personal data of the Contestants is Advanced Graphene Products ul. Antoniego Wysockiego 4, 66-002 Zielona Góra : NIP: 929 184 7897 , REGON: 081062890.Personal data is processed in the scope of the name of the profile on Instagram and Facebook, name and surname, e-mail address and correspondence address, only for purposes related to the subject matter of the Contest, i.e. for the purposes related to the given Participant’s right to obtain the Prize, the issuance of the Prize, the announcement of the results of the Competition, the processing of any complaints and accounting and tax reporting – in accordance with the provisions of the Act of 29 August 1997 on the protection of personal data in force in the Republic of Poland (consolidated text Journal of Laws of 2002, number 101, item 926, as amended), and from 25 May 2018. in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data and repealing Directive 95/46/EC. The data will be deleted after the end of the complaint opportunity period. The Personal Data Administrator has entrusted the processing of personal data to the Organiser on the basis of a personal data processing entrustment agreement only for the purposes related to the execution of this Competition (obtaining the Prize, issuing the Prize, announcing the results of the Competition, dealing with possible complaints and accounting and tax reporting) and for the time necessary for the execution of the aforementioned purposes. Participation in the Competition is voluntary, while the provision of personal data by the Participant is voluntary but necessary to participate in the Competition. The person whose personal data is processed in connection with the Competition has the right at any time to access the content of his/her personal data, to rectify, delete or restrict the processing, as well as the right to object to the processing, the right to request the transfer of his/her data, and the right to withdraw his/her consent at any time.
7 Final provisions
1.The Rules of the Competition are available at: https://prografen.com/2023/02/17/regulamin-konkursu-techniczne-wykorzystanie-druku-3d/
An abbreviated description of the rules of the Contest may be found on Instagram and Facebook and the Organiser’s websites. All such content is for information purposes only. Only the provisions of these Rules and the applicable legal regulations shall have legal force. The Organiser has the right to change the Rules of the Contest, but the changes to the Rules shall not infringe the acquired rights of the Participants. In the event that any of the provisions of these Regulations are changed or invalidated by a decision of a competent authority or court, the remaining provisions of these Regulations shall remain in force and bind the Organiser and the Participant.
Any complaints and objections concerning the course of the Competition may be submitted by the Participants in writing by registered mail to the registered address of the Organiser within 7 (seven) days from the date of the end of the Competition at the latest. The Participant will be informed by registered letter (unless the Participant agrees to be notified only by e-mail), within 7 (seven) days, how the complaint will be considered. Any other objections, questions, comments or complaints regarding the competition may be directed by e-mail to the Organiser’s e-mail address: orders@prografen.com . The Organiser must respond to them within 5 (five) working days.
The LOOQ company from Świebodzin, which deals with custom 3D printing, decided to supply its printing house with Prografen filaments.
We asked Mr. Łukasz Hańdziuk, the owner of the company, why the choice fell on the Prografen brand.
“Currently, the filament market in Poland and in the world is very diverse and finding a good quality product at the right price can be problematic.
Already during the first tests of the Prografen PLA and PETG products with graphene, I noticed that the black color of the printout was very deep. I decided then that it would be worth trying something new on the market and after many tests and printouts I know that it was a very good decision.
Filament with graphene allows you to obtain a matte print surface at lower temperatures, while raising the hotend temperature allows you to obtain a gloss on the printed surface.
An important feature for me is also the repeatability of color, which I obtain when using Prografen products.
Printing microcomputer cases using graphene filaments is simple and repeatable
The range of colors offered by Prografen also allows me to carry out various orders: from Christmas decorations, through housings for microcomputers, to movable toys for children.
For me, Prografen is the optimal product thanks to which we know that every printout will be successful.
Preservation of the filament diameter, vacuum packaging of the product, ecological packaging: these are just some of the many advantages that Prografen has to offer.”
You can contact Mr. Łukasz at lukasz@handziuk.pl
We would like to thank Mr. Łukasz for his trust and we also encourage you to take advantage of our offer.
Our specialists are available at the following addresses:
m.kucharski@agp-corp.com
orders@prografen.com
Prografen store: https://prografen.com/sklep/
P.S.
In the upcoming holiday season, it is worth paying attention to an interesting project at:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1913982
Using the vase mode and an average print speed of 50mm/s, the product will be ready in about 2 hours and is sure to make a nice addition to your home or office decor.
I had the pleasure of testing PLA with graphene additive from Prografen and, even at the beginning, I must admit that it’s been a long time since 3D printing using PLA gave me so much pleasure. However, let me discuss it one step at a time.
Packaging
The box in which the reel with the material was packed is interesting and minimalist but, at the same time, the design has the potential to attract attention and stand out from similar products on the market. It is worth noting that it is made of recycled cardboard. The same applies to the reel on which the filament is wound, and I must admit that this was one of the positive surprises. The material used makes the reel appear a little lighter than traditional plastic reels, which results in a more efficient feeding of the material. At first, I was a little worried that during the work that the cardboard would start to wear out and sprinkle the PLA with cardboard particles. Still, I didn’t observe anything like that during printing so, for me, this is one of the advantages as it makes it easier to be recycled later.
The first printout done with the tested PLA was a temperature tower, which is good practice and should be done with any material, even from the same manufacturer, to minimise any negative experiences at a later stage. The temperature tower showed that, optimally, the material should be processed at 210°C to 220°C; however, initial tests at 210°C to 215°C either failed for various reasons (layers did not stick together, failed or poor bonding to the work surface, etc.) or the final printouts were not satisfactory in terms of model reproduction quality. When I started printing at 220°C, the problems mentioned earlier ceased to occur, which is directly related to one of the properties of graphene (i.e., good heat conductivity). Because graphene dissipates heat to the outside much faster, it solidifies much faster – which requires a higher temperature on the nozzle. Subsequent printouts of the most popular ‘Benchy’ test piece seem to confirm my observations.
Once the parameters were adjusted, printouts came out very clean. The layers joined perfectly without any signs of overlapping, creating smooth even surfaces and no ‘threading’. The material also allows for an outstanding representation of the details of the model and does not ‘lose’ dimensions or shapes (thanks to minimal shrinkage).
After Benchy printing, it was time to test the more difficult models, the so called ‘print-in-place’, where parts are movable and should remain so after printing and removing the model from the work surface. In these cases, no problems were found either. In fact, I have the impression that thanks to the conductivity of graphene, the more difficult parts (with smaller tolerances) did not fuse and did not merge into one solid. Also, it is worth noting that as far as I can observe, in the conditions of home 3D printing, PLA Graphene from Prografen has very good mechanical properties and abrasion resistance – so even after quite intensive Dragon Egg’s screwing and unscrewing, there was no deformation on the threads and the deposit formed as a result of friction between the surfaces was minimal.
Encouraged by previous successes and just out of spite – after all, something has to go wrong – I decided to see how this material would cope with the ‘Tower of Pi’ without filling. The geometry of this model makes it generally impossible to be printed properly on FDM printers due to overhangs without first adjusting and making supports so, after 11 hours of printing, I expected to find a lot of waste material. To my surprise, the model was printed well and, despite some parts being obviously not replicated or damaged, my impression of this material had become even more positive. To further test how it would cope with a large number of thin walls close together, I decided to print the ‘Tower of Pi’ again, but this time with infill. I have to say that although I expected threading, it was definitely less significant than what I had prepared for.
In my opinion, it is a great product that is likely to win many fans, and I enjoyed printing with it.
Marcin J. Kalinowski | Heydash Workshop
It is a composite material containing graphene flakes nano-additive. The additive makes the filament more robust and durable than PLA base material.
PLA and PET-G filaments are enriched with graphene flakes, which significantly improve such mechanical properties of the base materials as the elasticity or tensile modulus.
This material is a superior alternative to ABS, offering superior mechanical properties (similar to ABS) and the printability features of PLA. What is important, it does not emit any unpleasant odours while printing and offers the possibility of effective printing with any type of printer.
This filament is successfully used in the telecommunications, healthcare, automotive, aviation and aerospace industries. In everyday printing, it can be successfully used to print prototypes, construction elements, toys and items used daily.
Due to its properties, ABS has become very popular in various industries – it is used for the production of all kinds of casings, buttons, handles and others. It is durable, resistant and offers a good price to quality ratio. ABS features superior hardness, impact and abrasion resistance as well as high-temperature tolerance. It is not, however, UV resistant and becomes fragile after prolonged exposure to sunlight.
ABS can potentially cause problems during the 3D printing process as it has a significant shrinkage rate. It requires a high temperature for processing or a heated workbench.
PLA is the most popular material for 3D printing. PLA is called “green plastic”. It is made from natural ingredients such as corn starch and sugarcane, making it a biodegradable and safe material. It does not emit harmful vapours during the process. It is a good choice for beginners and those who want to effortlessly obtain a large print with good dimensional accuracy. Unfortunately, it also has disadvantages – lower strength compared to ABS and limited elasticity.
Polyglycolic acid (PGA) is a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer. PGA filament is excellent for structural prints. It is perfect for prototypes and prints that need a strong and durable structure.
3D printing (three-dimensional printing) is an innovative production technology that allows you to create three-dimensional objects that reproduce digital models. 3D printing is performed using filament (a plastic cord) in a special 3D printer.
The printer applies layers incrementally according to an uploaded digital design. To print in 3D technology, you need a digital 3D model of the object you want to create. You can design it in 3D modelling software (e.g., CAD – computer-aided design) or using a 3D scanner that scans the object you want to print. The digital file precisely instructs the printer on how to create a particular 3D object. This is done by dividing the object into layers and defining the dimensions of each layer. Spatial 3D printing as a modern technology finds its application in many fields.
Various industries have implemented 3D printing techniques because they significantly increase production efficiency and decrease costs. 3D printing in mass production is a cheaper alternative to any other manufacturing process. It is also the fastest option for building prototypes.
What can you create using 3D printing?
Graphene is an allotrope of carbon, or, in other words, a flat structure of carbon atoms arranged in the form of a hexagonal lattice (like a honeycomb). This material is about 200 times harder than steel. This material is about 200 times harder than steel. At the same time, it has a much lower density – the mass of one square metre of graphene is only 0.763mg. The thickness of a graphene layer is equal to the thickness of one atom of carbon. The material’s properties are impressive. Graphene is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. It is almost completely transparent. It is very lightweight and flexible. It may be stretched by up to 20% with respect to its length. It is impermeable to any chemical substances. any chemical substances. Research has shown that graphene also has antiseptic properties – it prevents the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Its structure and properties make it the most robust material in the world. Its unique properties make its application potential almost unlimited.
There are two main types of graphene: graphene flakes and single-crystal graphene sheets. Both of these are successfully manufactured by Advanced Graphene Products.
This graphene type is obtained from graphite precursor as a result of chemical synthesis or mechanical treatment that involves breaking down the graphite structure into individual graphene flakes. Graphene flakes occur in the form of dry powder, various types of liquid dispersions and pastes. It is used as an additive in paints, varnishes and composites – thus effectively improving the properties of the final product.
It is a large-area quasi-monocrystalline graphene sheet produced by metallurgical growth on liquid metal. The growth technology is patented and implemented for mass production by Advanced Graphene Products. The product features increased durability and a reduced number of defects. The size of single grains in the layer reaches up to 1mm, and the structure of graphene is continuous, as the growth process minimises the formation of the so-called ‘overlapping’. overlappingu. In practice, it means that long graphene ribbons can be obtained in the production process, which can be transferred to any material. Graphene manufactured with HSMG® technology also has semiconductor properties. The possible applications of this type of graphene are currently being explored in the aerospace sector, construction, electronics and sports equipment and in various kinds of sensors.
To date, several companies have attempted to produce graphene-based filament. However, due to the very limited availability of graphene and its high price, none of them managed to implement this product on a macro scale. As a global graphene producer, we have the ability to produce graphene-based filament on a mass scale. Our formulation is standardised, so we guarantee the highest and repeatable quality. PROGRAFEN PLA and PET-G filaments enriched with graphene flakes demonstrate significantly better mechanical properties than traditional plastics. Graphene-based filaments provide very high values both in terms of elasticity and tensile modulus. Graphene-based filament will prove useful whenever you need a resistant and durable – and at the same time – elastic and ductile material.