Is HF PETG Actually High Flow? (And What Are The Trade-offs?)

Summary

This video review examines Bamboo Lab's high flow PTG filament, highlighting its 33% increase in flow rate compared to the standard PTG. While maintaining similar print settings, the high flow variant shows improved extrusion consistency but suffers from decreased impact strength and challenges in bridging and stringing tests. The presenter compares both filaments across various print tests, revealing that the basic PTG generally outperforms high flow in terms of print quality. Ultimately, the reviewer advocates for offering both filament types to meet diverse user needs, emphasizing the trade-offs between speed and mechanical properties.

Takeaways

• 😀 High-speed printers have led to the emergence of new filaments claiming better output and quality.
• 😀 Bamboo Lab has released a high-flow PTG filament, which replaces their basic PTG variant.
• 😀 The high-flow PTG filament has similar pricing to the basic version, but fewer color options.
• 😀 The recommended print settings for both filaments remain identical, except for an increased printing speed.
• 😀 The high-flow PTG shows a 33% increase in flow rate compared to the basic PTG during testing.
• 😀 While the high-flow filament improves stiffness, it also leads to a significant decrease in impact strength.
• 😀 In print tests, the basic PTG performed better in bridging and stringing tests than the high-flow variant.
• 😀 The high-flow filament's increased flow results in a softer extrusion, leading to more stringing issues.
• 😀 Mechanical property trade-offs exist with the high-flow PTG, necessitating careful consideration of its use.
• 😀 The video creator advocates for the continued availability of both filament types to cater to different printing needs.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the video?

The video focuses on reviewing Bamboo Labs' new high flow PTG filament and comparing its performance with the standard PTG.

What are the main advantages of high flow PTG over basic PTG?

High flow PTG offers a higher printing speed (up to 300 mm/s) and improved stiffness, with a 33% increase in flow rate compared to basic PTG.

How does the price of high flow PTG compare to basic PTG?

Both high flow PTG and basic PTG are priced the same at $1,199.99 per kilogram.

What significant change did Bamboo Labs make regarding their filament options?

Bamboo Labs has decided to discontinue the basic PTG filament and replace it entirely with the high flow variant.

What are the temperature settings recommended for printing with high flow PTG?

The recommended heated bed temperature is between 65-75°C, and the hot end temperature is between 230-260°C.

What issues did the reviewer encounter when testing the overhang capabilities of high flow PTG?

Both filaments had issues with adhesion and failed to complete prints at certain heights, but high flow PTG performed slightly better before failure.

What were the results of the stringing test between high flow PTG and basic PTG?

Basic PTG showed less stringing compared to high flow PTG, which had more fine wisps due to its softer flow characteristics.

What was the reviewer’s conclusion regarding the impact strength of high flow PTG?

The high flow PTG showed a decrease in impact strength, which the reviewer noted might be a concern depending on the application, though they personally found it acceptable for their needs.

What recommendations does the reviewer make regarding the availability of the filaments?

The reviewer suggests that it would be beneficial for Bamboo Labs to offer both the basic and high flow PTG filaments to cater to different printing needs.

How did the reviewer prepare the filaments before printing?

The reviewer dried both rolls of filament in a poly dryer overnight to ensure they were free of moisture before starting the printing tests.