Washing machine and dryer safe filament?
 
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Washing machine and dryer safe filament?  

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fuchsr
(@fuchsr)
Famed Member
Washing machine and dryer safe filament?

Of course I have asked the Might Google but all I found was a total of 4 relevant answers, one of which degraded quickly into a philosophical discourse over whether socks prefer to live alone or in pairs…

Background:

Wife loves to knit clothing for our granddaughter, and I have become the designated designer and manufacturer of accessories such as buttons. So far I have use ABS to print this stuff, however, I don’t use ABS much and to buy a kilo of pink filament to make six buttons feels like a bit of waste… Would much rather use PETG, which I have in many different colors. I’m pretty sure PLA is not going to survive the laundry process, especially the dryer, and others such as nylon or PC are expensive and again, I don’t use them regularly enough to justify buying way more than I need.

Question:

Does anyone have actual hands-on experience with sending filament through the laundry, especially PETG? In the articles I found everyone was speculating based on glass transition temperatures, which is nice and good but theory is not quite the same as running the experiment (the former biochemist in me speaking…)

And sure, I can run the experiment myself, I know, and I probably will. But I was just curious if anyone here has actually done it before —- on purpose or accidentally 🙂

-r

Posted : 12/03/2021 12:36 pm
mrstoned
(@mrstoned)
Reputable Member
RE: Washing machine and dryer safe filament?

I have had the "luck" to forget my keyfobs a few times in the workpants. They are 1.5mm base + 1mm text tags.

Made from PETG, https://www.clasohlson.com/se/p/38-9247-1

I do however only was these pants in 60c and eco-cycle. It's abit gentler on centrifuge (longer runtime at lower speed).

I only hangdry my washing, no tumbler at home.

 

Edit; If the prints are to be attached and washed regularly, i would try and print on the hotter side to make sure you have good layerbonds, and not use complex geometries or large prints (small prints would conform better to washing motion).

Could also use a cottonbag to protect the clothes with prints on them so they dont get in contact with the drum. Similar how you would wash legos 🙂

 

Prusa Mini+ kit. BondTech extruder. FW 5.1.2
Prusa MK3S+ kit. Stock. FW 3.11.0
Prusa MK3S+, used. Stock. FW 3.13.3

Posted : 13/03/2021 12:22 am
fuchsr
(@fuchsr)
Famed Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Washing machine and dryer safe filament?

@mrstoned

Thanks for sharing. Since we’re talking knitted baby clothing I’m sure it’s going to go through the cold wash cycle and low temperature dryer setting (or air drying) but I was interested in hearing some war stories like yours, as opposed to theoretical musings.

Posted : 13/03/2021 12:44 am
Diem
 Diem
(@diem)
Illustrious Member
RE: Washing machine and dryer safe filament?

@fuchsr

I don’t use ABS much and to buy a kilo of pink filament to make six buttons feels like a bit of waste

Sharpie printing: Load white filament, strap a coloured fibre-tip pen (or blend several) to the extruder so that a line of ink is painted onto the filament as it is drawn in and Hey Presto! your very own colour is extruded.

I got the idea from: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:11742    - it's of no direct use but a clear explanation.

I've only experimented with a jury rig, enough to know that it works.  If I ever decide to make regular use of the method I'll design a mount.

Re Laundry:  Remember, wool is ruined at about the same temperature as PLA.

Cheerio,

Posted : 13/03/2021 3:53 am
fuchsr
(@fuchsr)
Famed Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Washing machine and dryer safe filament?

@diem

Hah! Now I suspect a pink sharpie may cost me as much as a spool of filament 🙂

 
Posted : 13/03/2021 5:00 am
Yveske
(@yveske)
Estimable Member
RE: Washing machine and dryer safe filament?

You can see the sharpie method in detail here

Having problems with bed adhesion every morning...

Posted : 13/03/2021 6:38 am
Lize
 Lize
(@lize)
Estimable Member
RE: Washing machine and dryer safe filament?

What a great thread, I've got a new shirt pattern and was looking through a buttons website for some slightly more interesting ones but never thought to print my own!  I'm liking the sharpie idea too, I didn't anticipate that the pack of coloured sharpies I got in a sale could be even more useful.

 

Posted : 13/03/2021 11:44 am
Clarmrrsn
(@clarmrrsn)
Honorable Member
RE: Washing machine and dryer safe filament?

I do like the idea of sharpies adding colour, that's one mod that certainly has peaked my interest.

Afraid I have zero experience of washing 3D printed items, but could you treat them the same as food safe items?  Sealing with epoxy or something similar?

Not my area of expertise, just spit balling here,

This post was modified 3 years ago by Clarmrrsn

Tank you very much!

Posted : 13/03/2021 11:50 am
Diem
 Diem
(@diem)
Illustrious Member
RE: Washing machine and dryer safe filament?

@yveske

Thanks. Someone's taken it a lot further I  see.  I got some reasonable pastels with white but it looks like I barely scratched the surface.

Cheerio,

Posted : 13/03/2021 12:55 pm
Dan Rogers
(@dan-rogers)
Noble Member
RE: Washing machine and dryer safe filament?

PETG goes thru the dryer successfully.  I found out today when my wife washed my cloth, multi-layer, COVID mask - with my 3d printed nose clip attached.  That's a very thin part, and doesn't seem to have suffered in the least.  Which makes sense when you think about it - slumpy happens at what - around 200c?  I didn't test it on HIGH - but it did go through the hot/cold wash, and then the Dryer - without any deformity at all.

Posted : 15/03/2021 12:10 am
fuchsr
(@fuchsr)
Famed Member
Topic starter answered:
RE: Washing machine and dryer safe filament?

That’s a great real-life story! Thanks for sharing.

I feel pretty good now about PETG as a material to satisfy my wife’s requests for baby accessories.

Posted : 15/03/2021 12:24 am
0800peter
(@0800peter)
Active Member
RE: Washing machine and dryer safe filament?

Ok Folks, Due to being a fan of Weizenbeer that needs long and big glasses I searched for a solution to bring them in a Dishwasher.

I found the 4mm Wires in the Washer to be perfect holders for a 20cm long 9mm hose that can easily be an adapter.

Printed in PETG they made the Banana even in ECO Programm, so i decided to use PC

And what a Material :-D.

Out of the Box with Prusaslicers PC generic setup I made a hole in one.

If you like to feel more of it, you can find it in Ebay Kleinanzeigen. I so happy with the result. even a glass Masskrug weighting more than 1 kg  bending the hoses in the extensive Program(70°C) leaves it straight.

https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/weizenglas-adapter-spuelmaschinen-glaeseradapter/1692947206-176-9241

Have a beer

 

Narren hasten, Kluge warten, Weise gehen in den Garten

Posted : 15/03/2021 1:16 am
Caiden Mann
(@caiden-mann)
New Member
RE: Washing machine and dryer safe filament?

There are a few options for taking out money for different things. One option is to take out a loan from a bank or other financial institution. Another option is to use credit cards. Yet another option is to get a mortgage. Each of these options has its own pros and cons, so it's important to weigh all of your options before deciding which one is right for you .Taking out a loan from a bank or other financial institution can be a good option if you need a large sum of money and can't get credit cards with a high enough limit. However, loans typically have interest rates, so you'll need to make sure you can afford the monthly payments.

Posted : 28/04/2022 4:45 pm
JustMe3D
(@justme3d)
Honorable Member
RE: Washing machine and dryer safe filament?

I print end stops for hoodie cords (as sewing is one of my other hobbies and I can´t get any decent end stops to my liking anywhere) from ASA (Spectrum ASA 275). To the best of my knowledge they have survived so far washing machine cycles with 40 degrees celsius; I don´t know about dryers which I assume would damage the printed parts at a temperature exceeding maybe 50 degrees C.

Cheers

Chris

I try to give answers to the best of my ability, but I am not a 3D printing pro by any means, and anything you do you do at your own risk. BTW: I have no food for…

Posted : 28/04/2022 8:17 pm
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