The Virtual Foundry Red PRO Series TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) - 2.85mm (1lb)
The Virtual Foundry's Basalt Moon Dust Filamet™ is a unique 3D printing filament and pellet, composed of 60-62% basalt, designed to replicate the moon's surface. Compatible with any Fused Filament Fabrication 3D printer, it requires minimal equipment for easy printing. Less hygroscopic than PLA, it offers advanced properties and becomes 100% basalt when sintered, with minimal warping. Ideal for lunar construction research and similar applications.
- High compatibility with FFF 3D printers.
- Easy printing, minimal equipment required.
- Transforms into 100% basalt post-sintering, minimal warping.
| Price: | $50.00 (with add-ons) |
|---|---|
| Availability: | Pre-order Notify Me |
| Est. In Stock: Mar 23rd | |
| Order Now: | Ships when In Stock Free U.S. Shipping |
The Virtual Foundry Basalt Moon Dust Filamet
Explore the Lunar Frontier
Introducing Basalt Moon Dust Filamet™, a revolutionary filament that brings the essence of the moon's surface to your 3D printing projects. Available in both 1.75mm filament and pellet form, this product boasts a composition of 60.0 - 62.0% basalt, offering high compatibility with any open-architecture Fused Filament Fabrication 3D printer and even 3D printing pens. It's incredibly easy to print with, requiring only basic equipment like a 0.6mm hardened steel nozzle and a Filawarmer, while maintaining advanced properties such as reduced hygroscopicity compared to regular PLA. Notably, once fired in a sintering furnace, it transforms into 100% basalt with minimal warping during printing.
Key Features of the PRODUCT:
- High Compatibility: Works with any open-architecture Fused Filament Fabrication 3D printer, including 3D printing pens.
- Easy Printing: Requires basic equipment like a 0.6mm hardened steel nozzle and a Filawarmer, with printing process similar to regular PLA.
- Advanced Properties: Less hygroscopic than regular PLA, maintaining quality even without filament dryers.
- Fully Sinterable: Transforms into 100% basalt with minimal warping during printing when fired in a sintering furnace.
- Special Qualities: Simulates moon dust, making it ideal for lunar construction research and beyond.
NOTE: Filamet™ is less hygroscopic than regular PLA. Filament dryers have adverse affects on Filamet™. Spools should not be dried.
Lunar Regolith Simulation
Crafted from a lunar regolith simulant, this filament perfectly mirrors the composition of lunar regolith found in mare regions of the Moon. Its meticulous formulation ensures authenticity, enabling users to immerse themselves in the lunar landscape right from their desktop.
- Mimics Lunar Composition
- Educational Value offers unique hands-on experimentation opportunities.
- Desktop Lunar Immersion
Accessible Lunar Exploration
Designed for compatibility with Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) 3D printers, this filament opens the doors of lunar exploration to enthusiasts and professionals alike. Now, anyone with a compatible printer can engage in the excitement of lunar innovation and experimentation.
- Compatible with most FFF 3D printers
- Democratized Innovation empowers individuals to participate in the burgeoning field of lunar exploration and innovation
- Offers an interactive platform for learning about lunar science and technology
Limitless Creativity and Innovation
With Basalt Moon Dust Filamet™, creativity knows no bounds. From constructing intricate lunar habitats to unleashing imaginative artwork with an otherworldly touch, the possibilities for creative expression and innovation are truly endless. Explore new frontiers and push the boundaries of what's possible with this groundbreaking filament.
- Boundary-Pushing Designs: Encourages users to think outside the box and explore novel applications
- Versatile Applications: From architectural models to artistic sculptures, the filament's versatility sparks creativity across a wide range of industries and disciplines.
Technical Specifications:
Composition: Basalt Moon Dust Filamet™ primarily consists of oxides of silicon, iron, magnesium, potassium, aluminum, titanium, and calcium, all blended into our standard PLA-compliant binder for optimal performance.
Diameter: Available in a fixed diameter of 1.75mm, exclusively offered for this introductory release.
Weight Options: Available in spool sizes of 0.25kg and 0.5kg, catering to various project needs and printing requirements.
Filawarmer Requirement: Filawarmer is optional for filament usage, providing flexibility in printing setups and environments.
Nozzle Compatibility: Compatible with hardened steel nozzles, with a recommended diameter of 0.6mm for optimal printing results.
Material Load by Mass: Each filament batch comprises 60-62% of the total mass, ensuring consistent and reliable printing performance.
Sintering Capability: Untested: Sintering trials have not been conducted for this product yet, leaving potential applications for future exploration and development. However, we expect the sintering temperature of Basalt Moon Dust Filamet™ to be at or near 1050°C (1922°F).
Getting Started with The Virtual Foundry Filamet:
Materials Needed:
- Filamet™: Choose from one of The Virtual Foundry's 15+ stock materials or contact us to create something new and unique.
- Open-Architecture FFF 3D Printer: Direct drive works best but isn’t required.
- Hardened Steel Nozzle: Optimal nozzle sizes are 0.6mm or 0.8mm.
- Build Surface: Utilize a Powder Coated Spring Steel build plate, Glass build plate, or Blue Painter’s Tape to cover your build surface.
- Filawarmer: Recommended for enhanced printing performance.
Printing Guidelines: Filamet™ prints similarly to regular PLA filaments but with a few adjustments:
- Use a 0.2mm layer height, 70 – 100% infill, and adjust the flow rate to 120 – 135%.
- Start printing at 210°C (410°F) and fine-tune within the range of 190 – 230°C (374 – 446°F).
- Maintain the build plate temperature at 40 – 65°C (104 – 149°F), with 65°C (149°F) recommended for glass/G10 build plates.
Debinding and Sintering Requirements:
Materials Needed:
- Kiln: Necessary for the debinding and sintering process.
- Heat-Resistant Gloves: Ensure safety during handling of heated materials.
- Crucible: Used for holding materials during debinding and sintering.
- Debinding Agents: Al₂O₃ for Bronze and Copper, Magnesium Silicate for sintering Bronze and Copper, and Steel Blend for Stainless Steel 17-4, Stainless Steel 316L, and Inconel® 718.
- Sintering Carbon: Essential for the sintering process.
Debinding and Sintering Process:
- Filamet™ debinds solely with heat, eliminating the need for additional debinding equipment.
- Sintering can be accomplished in any kiln capable of reaching and maintaining the required sintering temperature.
Questions
What is the difference between the MH PRO series TPU and the MH Build Series TPU?
I have had generally good luck with this material. I love the properties of it. I would like some advice on reducing some stringing. I use Prusa MK3S with the Generic FLEX setting. I get a big string from the purge line to the skirt and from the skirt to the print. I am using a 240 degree print temp and my speeds are all around 30.
Is this designed to be printed in a machine with a bowden extruder?
I ordered this material (Matter Hackers Pro Series, 1.75mm, TPU, Gray) for my Bambu Lab X1E printer. When I tried to load it into the AMS, it failed and got stuck. I needed to disassemble the filament tubing to get it unstuck. Is there something that could be done to use this material with the Bambu Lab X1E printer? Perhaps mounting it to the rear spool instead if in the AMS...? Do you have any experience with this material for this printer? Thank you. Brian Wixom brianwixom@gmail.com
I discovered that Metthackers pro clear TPU is easy to break, while the cheap inland white TPU is nearly impossible to break. So I don't get it, the NylonX is major strong and I use it as the backbone of everything, but I don't understand how a cheap filament, precisely inland white TPU, outperforms mettahackers pro series in utility function. It prints better, but I can make the cheap stuff print near perfect with extra attention to settings. So I ask, whats really up with mettahackers TPU, it concerns me because I was going to invest in Mettahackers Nylon and now I am in doubt. I simply want to know why the cheap stuff was way beter than mettahackers pro series?? Please.
Can this be used as a base, with a layer change/stop and then PLA printed on top of it? I want a flexible bottom to a specific print, but I don't want the entire print flexible...
What's the shore hardness?
What are temperature limits for printed parts?
How well do TPU printed objects hold up against gasoline and oils? Thinking about making an intake boot? I'd like it to hold around 100 psi. any recommendations?
What is the chemical resistance to water rating?
What is the Light Transmittance Rating of this material? This is a commonly reported property, usually expressed as % of total light transmittance. 100% = perfect clarity, all light crosses through 0% = perfect opacity, no light crosses through.
Where is the Safety Data Sheet?
1.7mm as delivered, which made it very prone to kinking. Not printable with the EZR Struder on an Ender 3, with any temperature or nozzle. 1.8mm & above seems necessary with flexible filament. Thicker is better because it needs to transfer force to the nozzle. It might work with a dual drive direct extruder with real tight passages.
What is the Young's modulus of the material
What is the moisture level it ships with?
The TDS says "Print Temp 230C +/-10" and "Bed Temp 70C +/-10". The images on this web page say "Hot End Temp 250C +/-10" and "Bed Temp 50C +/-10". Is this inconsistency a hallmark of the MH PRO series TPU???