Protopasta Protopasta Dragonfruit Smoothie HTPLA Filament - 1.75mm (0.5kg)
Transport your 3D printing projects to a tropical paradise with Protopasta Tropical Smoothie HTPLA Filament. Designed and produced for exclusivity, this filament combines the ease of PLA printing with the enhanced performance of heat-treated HTPLA. Inspired by the vibrant colors and textures of tropical fruits, each filament in this collection features unique black flecks reminiscent of seeds, adding a delightful touch to your creations.
- Inspired by the vibrant hues of tropical fruit smoothies, each filament contains a marble-like appearance with black glitter flecks, bringing the essence of the tropics to your 3D prints.
- Heat treat your parts post-printing at 100-120°C (200-250°F) to achieve up to three times the thermal stability of standard PLA.
- Enjoy the simplicity of PLA printing without the need for a hardened nozzle.
- Developed with input from designer Sophy Wong, whose Hawaiian heritage and artistic vision have beautifully shaped the color palette of this exclusive collection.
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Protopasta Tropical Smoothie HTPLA Filament
Refresh Your 3D Prints with a Smoothie
Dive into the vibrancy of Protopasta Tropical Smoothie HTPLA Filament, where the ease of PLA printing meets the enhanced performance of heat-treated HTPLA. Inspired by the vivid colors and textures of tropical fruits, this filament collection adds a bright flair to your 3D projects, making each 3D print a masterpiece of color and durability.
Key Features of the Protopasta Tropical Smoothie HTPLA Filament:
- Each filament features black glitter flecks for a stunning marble effect.
- Benefit from heat-treating capabilities that provide increased durability and performance at higher temperatures.
- Proudly manufactured in the USA, this exclusive filament guarantees superior quality and reliability.
- Designed to work with a variety of 3D printers, this filament adjusts to different hardware setups for optimal 3D printing outcomes.
Tropical Heat-Treatable Hues
Discover Protopasta Tropical Smoothie HTPLA Filament, where vibrant tropical colors meet the durability of heat-treated HTPLA. This exclusive collection combines the ease of PLA printing with enhanced temperature resistance, making it ideal for both aesthetic and functional 3D projects.
- A palette inspired by a vibrant Hawaiian vacation, with Dragonfruit's vibrant magenta, Orange Papaya's lively orange, and Pineapple Banana Smoothie's sunny yellow
- Heat-treat your prints at 100-120°C (200-250°F) to significantly increase stiffness and reduce warping, ensuring your parts remain robust and reliable even in demanding conditions.
- Achieve optimal results with flat or supported parts featuring 100% infill, making this filament suitable for a wide range of creative and practical uses.
Strength and Stability
Protopasta's HTPLA is an advanced form of PLA designed to withstand higher temperatures through a process called heat treating (or annealing). Unlike standard PLA, HTPLA can be transformed from an amorphous structure to a crystalline one, enhancing its thermal resistance and durability.
- Heat treating significantly boosts the temperature resistance of your 3D prints, ensuring they maintain their integrity in higher-temperature environments.
- By baking your 3D printed parts post-production, you convert the filament's structure from amorphous to crystalline, locking in durability and performance.
- Annealing enhances machinability and formability, increases ductility and toughness, and provides stress relief to your 3D-printed parts.
Ideal for Advanced Applications
- Heat treating HTPLA changes its internal structure, allowing it to maintain its properties well above the glass transition temperature (Tg) and up towards the melting point (Tm).
- The shift from an amorphous to a crystalline structure means that HTPLA retains its strength and functionality even in higher temperature environments, making it ideal for more demanding applications.
- This transformation significantly broadens the useful temperature range of HTPLA, as demonstrated by the difference between Tg and Tm in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results.
- With its enhanced properties, HTPLA is perfect for 3D projects requiring higher thermal stability without sacrificing the ease of use associated with standard PLA.
How to Anneal HTPLA
To fully capitalize on the benefits of HTPLA, heat treating (or annealing) is essential post-printing, as the crystalline structure reverts to amorphous when melted. Follow these improved step-by-step instructions to enhance your 3D prints:
Gather Your Materials:
- A large oven with precise temperature control and stability.
- Aluminum foil, if you have a small oven or one with glowing coils, to shield the 3D prints from direct heat.
- A flat surface, such as a wood block, cutting board, or silicone mat, is placed on a baking sheet.
- Your HTPLA 3D printed parts, with supports if necessary.
Prep Your Oven:
- Preheat the oven to a temperature range of 95-120°C (200-250°F).
- If using an electric oven, wait until the coils are no longer glowing. If glowing coils are unavoidable, cover them with the foil sheet to prevent direct heat exposure before preheating your oven.
Bake Your 3D Prints:
- Once the oven is preheated, carefully place your 3D printed part on the prepared surface and insert it into the oven.
- Bake the part for approximately 10 minutes. Or until you observe a change in the material's appearance, indicating the transformation to a crystalline structure.
Technical Specifications
Material Properties
| Properties | Value/Description |
| Base Material | Heat treatable PLA w/ high temp resistance |
| Characteristics | Low odor, non-toxic, renewably sourced |
| Molecular Structure |
Amorphous or partially crystalline
|
| Max particle size | 0.1 mm (may limit resolution) |
| Density | Approximately 1.24 g/cc |
| Length | Approximately 346 m/kg (1.75 mm) & 130 m/kg (2.85 mm) |
| Min Bend Diameter | 15 mm (1.75 mm) & 40 mm (2.85 mm) |
| Glass Transition (Tg) Onset |
Approximately 60°C (140°F) |
| Melt Point (Tm) Onset | Approximately 155°C (310°F) |
| Max Use |
|
Print Settings
| Nozzle Temperature [°C] | 206 |
| Heated Bed Temperature [°C] | 60 |
| Print Speed [mm/s] | 25-45 |
| Flow Rate/Extrusion Multiplier [%] | 100 |
| Extrusion Width [mm] | .45 (.05mm larger than nozzle size) |
| Volume Flow Rate [mm³/s] | 2-3 |
Heat Treating
| Part Axis | Percentage |
| Scale Values (x/y-axis) | 102.2% |
| Scale Values (z-axis) | 99% |
| Typical Heat Treat Temperature | Typical Heat Treat Time |
| 95-110°C | Approximately 10 minutes |
Tips & Tricks
- HTPLA doesn't require drying, but if drying, do not dry above the glass transition temperature, as this can heat treat HTPLA. For PLA, dry at 50°C (125°F).
- Use a 0.4 mm brass or plated brass nozzle with a heater block sock at a temperature of 195 - 225 °C and a bed temperature of 50 - 56°C.
- Ensure your 3D print bed is clean with adhesive.