How to print with DPA-100

This material is based on our unique PLA/PHA recipe which means that it will print very similar to our other PLA/PHA materials. We’re sure most will be able to dial in settings in no time, but we still thought a write-up on print settings is interesting to share. If you have great tips or slicer settings please share!  support@colorfabb.com

General settings

In order to successfully print with DPA-100 make sure your printer and slicer are able to set the below recommended settings.

The next few tables show the most relevant slicer settings for Cura and Makerware. If you prefer to use a different slicer software you should be able to find similar settings and create your own profiles.

First what you want to do is sand your model with a fairly rough grit of sand paper, something like 220-240 should work nicely. BronzeFill is much easier to sand down then regular PLA, so depending on your model this shouldn’t take too long. By increasing the grit of the sand paper the model will get smoother everytime, exposing the bronze particles at the surface, but it will still look matte and dull.

This tip came in from Paul Braddock, a talented character modelling artist and active member of the Ultimaker community. He used steel wool to polish the surface which will start exposing the bronze particles even more. We’ve tried this method with a fairly fine grade of steel wool and were impressed how shiny it already got!

Our DPA-100 support material is engineered to match with a variety of materials which can’t be supported by PVA due to bad adhesion to the build material. DPA-100 shows strong adhesion to PETG, ABS, ASA, PC and PA materials.

For a faster dissolving cycle try to remove as much support material before putting the model in the dissolving device. Wear eye protection and gloves when removing support material. If your model has fine detailed features do not try to attempt removing support material, you will risk damaging the model.

It’s good idea to keep note how much support material is removed so you know how much is going to be dissolved. Once the alkaline solution is saturated it can’t dissolve anymore support material and you will need to renew the alkaline solution.

In order to dissolve DPA-100 you need a mild alkaline solution which is heated and stirred. At higher temperature DPA-100 will dissolve faster than at lower temperature. The temperature you choose depends on the temperature resistance of your build material. In general 20c below the temperature resistance of your build material is a safe settings. Thicker models would be less likely to deform and can handle temperatures closer to softening temperature. The minimum pH value for the alkaline solution is >10. We recommend using our DPA Detergent for making the alkaline solution.

At colorFabb we experimented with a low cost set-up for dissolving DPA-100. We used a sous-vide stick and a plastic containter with lid. The sous-vide stick will heatup the water to desired temp and circulate water.At colorFabb we experimented with a low cost set-up for dissolving DPA-100. We used a sous-vide stick and a plastic containter with lid. The sous-vide stick will heatup the water to desired temp and circulate water.

The process step by step:

• Fill up your dissolving device with water, use 4 l of water to dissolve 100 g of DPA deterent.
• Heat the bath to the required temperature and start the recirculation process.
• You can add your models as soon as the bath has reached the correct temperature and DPA detergent has been dissolved in water.
• The dissolving process usually takes between an hour and 9 hours, depending on the amount of DPA-100 supportmaterial being dissolved, the geometry of the model and the temperature of the water. It’s a good idea to periodically check the process and if necessary change the position of the model in the device. Make sure the model is submerged for the duration of dissolving DPA-100 support material.
• When the support material is full dissolved, let the model dry for at least 15 minutes, rotating the model a couple of times to make sure the detergent can drain off.
• After initial drying, rinse the model thoroughly using warm, running water to remove the remaining detergent and then let dry completely.
• After completely drying white residue could appear, if so, put the model into a warm (30 – 50 °C) water bath for at least one hour. Add rinsing agent for dish washers to speed up the process.
• 1 kg of DPA-100 can dissolve at least 1 kg of support material. The more support material is dissolved, the slower the material will be able to dissolve. It’s a good idea to keep track of how many grams of support material has been dissolved so you know when to renew the alkaline solution.
• Before disposing the solution, it must be neutralized. For this, we recommend 5 – 10 g citric acid per litre of used up solution. When foam formation occurs, the solution has reached a neutral pH area.
• The detergent, dissolved in water, produces a mild alkaline which usually, together with the dissolved support material, can (in limited quantities) be disposed of via the wastewater. Please check your local regulations. You can acquire our waste profile datasheet by contacting support@colorfabb.com

colorFabb nGen supported by DPA-100 on the Ultimaker S5 – Bicycle Helmet by Neomek

Design by Ken Schulze

Design by Christopher Tenelsen

colorFabb_XT to the left and colorFabb PETG Economy to the right. Topology optimized shelf bracket – by toms3dp

DPA Detergent