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3D Printing with Copperfill: Tips and Tricks

Posted on by Airwolf 3D
15
Dec

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

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 Tree designed by pleppik. Everyday we will be unveiling a new part of the Advent Calendar and talking about a different special 3D printing material.

Day 15: Bell. 3D Printing with Copperfill

3D Printed Bell with CopperfillFollowing the Wolfpack’s 25 Days of Materials 3D printing countdown is a Bell 3D printed with Copperfill.  Copperfill offers a rustic brown finish and is approximately 3 times heavier than traditional PLA/PHA polymers, so it will create objects with a bit of heft to them.

 

Interesting facts about Copperfill:

  • When sanded and polished to a smooth finish, your object will shine and shimmer
    like real copper.
  • It prints with an attractive reddish glow.3D Printed Copperfill Earrings
  • Works on both non-heated and heated platforms.
  • The weight of Copperfill is something special, about 3x heavier then regular PLA filament.
  • Perfect for an authentic rustic finish and ideal if you are printing items like jewelry or other artistic pieces.

3D PRINTING WITH COPPERFILL: TIPS AND TRICKS

  • Place Build Plate Tape for PLA on the bed to prevent Build Plate Tape for PLAyour part from warping. One pack of Build Plate Tape contains 5 pieces, which will each last for several print jobs. 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 210C.
  • We recommend setting your bed temperature at 60C.
  • Copperfill will heat up easier in your hot-end and it will cool down faster when leaving the nozzle, which means good performance on overhanging parts.

FINISHING TECHNIQUES WHEN 3D PRINTING WITH COPPERFILL

After polishing, prints look like they were cast in metal. Here’s some tips on achieving really shiny results:

  • Use coarse steel wool to polish the surface of the print. Apply a bit of pressure but don’t polish a specific spot for too long, it can get hot and will soften the material.
  • After using the steel wool, the print should look shimmering and smooth with no visible print lines.
  • To get a darker, almost shadow like look with a certain print, apply a very thin layer of black spray paint, and then immediately wipe it off with cloth. The paint will stay in the nooks and crannies of the details that you desire to enhance.
  • As a final step, use a copper polish to get your 3D printed part to really shine and stand out.

Are you ready to start 3D Printing with Copperfill? Awesome! You can buy some Copperfill filament from MatterHackers https://www.matterhackers.com/store/3d-printer-filament/colorfabb-copperfill-metal-filament-1.75mm-075-kg.

MORE MATERIALS TO FOLLOW!

Below is a chart to list a few of the 3D printing filaments that we will be discussing over the next 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.
Day 8: Coffee PLA.
Day 9: LAYBRICK.
Day 10: Bridge Nylon.
Day 11: LayWOO-D3.
Day 12: ALLOY 910.
Day 13: NinjaFlex TPE.
Day 14: Aromatic Pine PLA.

Melting Points for 3D Printing Materials

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