I’ve got a half roll of PA6-CF on the way, figured I’d ask some general questions on calibration and printability before I get started as this will be my first time printing PA6-CF. If it helps, I’m using 300blkFDE’s settings on an Elegoo Centauri Carbon, planning on drying the filament first in a toaster oven and using a Sunlu S2 filament dryer while printing.

What calibration prints are considered essential when first printing PA6-CF? Also, what issues in those calibration prints should I be looking out for (dimensional accuracy, wet filament, etc)?

Is Sunlu PA6-CF comparable to other brands like Polymaker, and do 300blkFDE’s settings translate to Sunlu? Are there any changes I should make to settings?

Are there any general things I should keep in mind while printing and annealing? I’m planning on printing a few rimfire cans (probably FTN.5 rimfire and rimfire flow) once I get my Form 1s submitted and approved.

  • Kopsis@forum.guncadindex.comEnglish
    2·
    1 month ago

    Temp tower, flow rate, and pressure advance (in that order). Then I run a 100mm 3-axis cal print with my 3D2A settings to check quality and calibrate shrinkage. If you plan to anneal, anneal the cal print before taking shrinkage measurements. If you know your starting point for settings is close, you really just need to fine-tuning stuff that is filament/printer dependent.

    I’ve never gotten Sunlu PA6-CF to print as clean as Polymaker. Seems like no matter how clean the print is, there are always a few random defects in the extrusion. I suspect it’s impurities resulting from less rigorous process QC (they have to take out cost somewhere to undercut Polymaker). No issues with mechanical performance.

    My only other issue with the Sunlu is the plastic spool can’t handle 100°C drying. Have to bundle the filament using some fine wire, then carefully pop off the plastic spool halves leaving just the filament on the cardboard core. That hassle alone is enough to make be pay the premium for Polymaker in the future.

  • Print_a_22@forum.guncadindex.comEnglish
    1·
    1 month ago

    While I don’t use 300blk settings exactly, I have a well dialed in fiberon pa6cf profile I use, and have used with sunlu

    Generally speaking, it prints well, with a bit rougher surface finish than fiberon. On paper it’s not quite as strong

    It does seem to arrive a bit wetter than other nylons I’ve used. Dry it properly before starting

  • 300blkFDE@forum.guncadindex.comEnglish
    1·
    1 month ago

    I just made a post with some Sunlu pa6-cf. Make sure and dry it good as in like 80-90c for 24-48hrs. Use my settings and I changed my flow rate to 1.1 I have also found that it like the temp closer to 280c vs 300c which will be perfect for your printer. What nozzle size are you going to be using? I ask this because I did run into a few clogs with a .4 nozzle so I switched and used a .6 nozzle with my all my line widths set to .5 and a .12 layer height.