PLA is vegetable based and biodegradable so is definitely not well suited to any automotive application inside or out. It will last a little longer primed and painted. I use an automotive high fill spray primer filler and a lot of sanding to achieve a smooth look to parts I print. PLA is the most common filament for low end consumer 3D printers, produces very few fumes and works well at lower extruder temperatures.
For this application I would try either PETG which still works well on lower end printers, is a little stronger and wont break down as readily. ABS would be the strongest material accessible to most 3D printers but can be challenging to print on low end printers, especially ones that are not enclosed as the temperature differential over the duration of the print can cause warping of the job. ASA is also proving a good choice for this type of application and supposed to be a little easier to manage in an open printer but I would still try to keep the room you are printing in at a sable temperature, ie avoid dramatic temperature drops overnight if possible.
With the printers I use at work ($20K plus) we are able to print carbon fibre reinforced nylon and a host of other exotic materials but they are very expensive and even at this price point the printers still require so much fondling and attention to get right. 3D printing is a great technology and I cant wait to see how far it will go but it is still very early days.
Cheers
Topic: 3D Printing ‘78 Taillight Backing Plates (Read 1536 times)
