The countdown to Christmas continues with our 25 Days of Materials, up next is Coffee PLA.

Tis the season to be jolly, join the Wolfpack in a fun 25 Days of Materials 3D printing countdown to Christmas and learn about 25 different materials and their unique properties! The objects to be 3D printed are part of the Advent Calendar/Christmas Treedesigned by pleppik.  Everyday we will be unveiling a new part of the Advent Calendar and talking about a different special 3D printing material.

Day 8: Mug. 3D Printing with Coffee PLA

Following the Wolfpack’s 25 Days of Materials 3D printing countdown is a Mug 3D printed with Coffee PLA by Proto-pasta. Proto-pasta’s Coffee PLA is the first specialty blend based on Proto-pasta’s High Temp PLA formulation. This seemingly odorless filament releases an refreshing roast coffee scent when being extruded. The filament produces products that are a rich coffee brown color with a natural grain.

Interesting facts about Coffee PLA:

• It’s made from recycled materials and is therefore more environmentally friendly.
• Gives off a pleasant smell when it heats up. It emits the aroma of “a sweet, syrupy latte” as it comes out of the extruder.
• Coffee PLA prints like standard PLA but has a potential Heat Deflection Temperature.

3D Printing with Coffee PLA: Tips and Tricks

• Place a Build Plate Tape for PLA before starting your print on the bed to prevent your part from warping. One pack of Build Plate Tape contains 5 pieces, which will last for several print jobs and it’s medium adhesion allows for easy application and removal to the build plate. No more messing around with strips of tape to coat your bed!
• Set your hot end temperature to 140 °C when 3D printing with Coffee PLA filament.
• No heated bed required.
• Some shrinkage may occur in the cooling process so dimension critical parts may need to be scaled to compensate.

FINISHING TECHNIQUE WHEN 3D PRINTING WITH COFFEE PLA:

For maximum performance, your prints should be heat treated in an oven until you see a change from translucent to opaque. Leaving the supports on your parts is recommended placing them on a non-radiating surface (like glass, ceramic, or composite), and letting them cool in the oven to minimize distortion. Parts can be baked at a lower temperature (though must be above 60 °C for any reaction) for a longer time with less risk of unwanted deformation.

Are you ready to start 3D Printing with Coffee PLA? Great! You can buy some some Coffee PLA filament here http://www.proto-pasta.com/products/aromatic-coffee-high-temp-pla.

MORE MATERIALS TO FOLLOW!

Below is a chart listing the 3D printing filaments we will be discussing over the next 25 Days of Materials.

25 Days of Materials.
Day 1: Nylon.
Day 2: HIPS.
Day 3: Stainless Steel PLA.
Day 4: PC-ABS.
Day 5: PETG.
Day 6: PLA.
Day 7: IGUS Iglidur.

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