Creating your own printable file: from STL to gcode
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Creating your own printable file: from STL to gcode
Material
The material profile section will allow the user to edit, manage and define the profiles that
define a material filament used for building a part.
• Extrusion temperature: here the user can set the temperature the nozzle needs to have
to process the filament
• Bed temperature: here the user can set the temperature of the bed necessary to pro-
cess the filament
• Diameter filament: here the user can set the diameter of the filament.
• Print speed: here the user can set the nominal speed at which the filament will print.
• Material density: here the user can set the density of the filament in order to calculate
the consumed material during a print
In the section below we will discuss the materials that Leapfrog 3D Printers offer and give you a
general idea on how to use them.
Material
Description
PLA
Poly(lactic acid) or polylactide (PLA) is a thermoplastic aliphatic polyester
derived from renewable sources, such as corn starch, tapioca products
or sugarcanes. After printing, the surface is instantly smooth. There are
no toxic fumes coming heated PLA, so printing with this filament is safe
(although it is always advisable to print in a ventilated area).
PLA PRO
PLA PRO is a PLA variety which provides more intense colouring as well
as UV-, draught- and heat resistance. This makes it very suitable for archi-
tects and industrial designers.
ABS
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is a common thermoplastic. This
is the same material as LEGO bricks are made of. After printing you can
smooth the surface of ABS using sand paper or acetone. ABS is commonly
used in engineering applications, since it can handle much more stress
than PLA. When printing with ABS, a very small amount of toxic fumes
may get into the air. It is advisable to print in a ventilated environment or
with a (fume) cover.
PVA
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH, PVA, or PVAl) is a water-soluble synthetic poly-
mer. It is used as a support material for PLA in 3D printing because it can
be easily removed.
HIPS
High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) is used as a support material for ABS in
3D printing. HIPS can be solved using D-Limonene