After Proto Pasta, which was the first high profile company to reach the market with a 15% carbon fiber reinforced PLA filament, and colorFabb, which followed earlier this year with its 20% carbon fiber-XT blend, it is now German RepRap‘s turn to join in on the carbon fiber game by launching its own Carbon20 3D printer filament with 20% carbon fiber.
“The idea of mixing fibers with the 3D printer filament for reinforcement isn’t new,” the team at German RepRap stated, “However, previous filaments have always had disadvantages with regard to some material properties.” The new matte black filament was developed to offer a high level of temperature resistance and a high viscosity above its melting temperature, which are considered to be two fundamental properties for successful printing.
The result is a flex modulus (which, in layman terms, is the material’s bendability or the ratio of stress to strain) of 6.2 GPa, which is twice as high as for PLA, whilst the stretch at breaking point is specified at 8-10 percent, making the material more rigid, but not as brittle as pure PLA resin. Since it is free of any toxic styrenes, any odor produced during printing is kept at a minimum.
Due to the abrasive effect of fiber reinforced elements, such as the Carbon20 filament, stainless steel nozzles should be used or brass nozzles replaced frequently. German RepRap does assure that the material is compatible with both its DD2 extruder, as well as its DD3 extruder. On the X400 3D printer by German RepRap, it prints at temperatures of 252°C with a bed temperature of 45° C (with PET coating) and a high glass transition temperature of 80°C.
The price for the 750g reel (1.75 mm diameter) on German RepRap’s official website is €71.40. In the US, Carbon20 is available via 3DChimera for $95.85. Considering it is a material built for professional and semiprofessional prototypes, whether that price is a bargain or not will depend solely upon the value of the project it is used for.
3DXTech Has been making high modulus PLA, ABS, and recently PETG. Carbon Fiber filled filaments seams to be their forte. All of them excellent filaments IMHO.