What kind of 3D-Printing material works best for prints that are going to be outside? I tested some miniatures in various materials before, and found that for small figures on display, the type of material didn’t really matter. But what about 3D-prints that will be under strain, in addition to dealing with the elements? In this experiment, I test 6 different 3D-printing materials by seeing how well each one will hold up small fishing weights while exposed to sun, rain, and temperature changes. There was a marked difference in the performance of the different 3D-prints!
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Setting up the 3D-Printing Experiment
To put the experiment together, I first designed some simple “fishing rods”: 6 inch (15.25 cm) long rods with a hole in one end. I printed these in 6 different materials: Resin, ASA, ABS, PETG, PLA+ and PLA. I also designed and 3D-printed a long mounting block to hold the rods in place. Using some fishing line, I attached 4 ounce (112 gram) weights to each rod. Next, I clamped the mounting block to a fence board outside where everything would get plenty of sun. Then I sat back and let the elements get to work!
From left to right the rods are: PLA, PLA+, PETG, ABS, ASA, and Resin.
Initial Results
It was a bit overcast for the first couple days of the experiment, and there wasn’t much going on. You can see a little bit of drooping from the PLA, PLA+ and Resin rods, but it’s very slight.
On Day Number 5, we had our first nice day of sunshine and warmer temperatures. Things started happening!
By the end of the first week, it was very clear which materials were not up to both supporting weight and dealing with sunshine.
Final Results
While the first week yielded the most dramatic results, the PETG, PLA+ and PLA continued to wilt over the next couple weeks. The ASA and ABS rods remained sturdy and straight after a full 30 days outside. During that time we experienced both sunny days and rainy ones, cold overnight temperatures and several warm days.
Further Testing of 3D-Printing Materials
After some initial slow bending, the Resin rod seemed to stabilize–I wonder if it hadn’t been completely cured at the beginning of the experiment and hardened up after more sun exposure? I would also like to run the test again during the height of summer. Perhaps a run-off between ASA and ABS–adding more weights to see which one folds first?
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