3D printed plastics

[NormL1]

I am an avid 3D printer and less than a noob distiller. I am jumping way ahead here, but, I have read the threads regarding PTFE and EPDM and was left wondering if any of the current plastics for 3D printing would be safe or have been tried. Don't get me wrong, I have no idea for a use, but, I know me and sooner or later I am going to say "I could just print this and it would fix the issue." Just wondering if it has been tried or if any of the filaments would be safe. By safe I mean both from toxicity and survivability standpoint.

My guess is the answer is "no", but, I thought I would ask before I needed the answer. Link to a list of filaments https://all3dp.com/best-3d-printer-fila ... ood-metal/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow or https://www.matterhackers.com/3d-printe ... nt-compare" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow PET is considered a food safe filament and is not one of the many designed to be biodegradable

[Badmotivator]

Aside from the materials issue (you already kind of know what the answer to that is...) the thing that strikes me here is that distilling uses very simple and usually large shapes, easily manufactured in mass quantities very cheaply, out of very common materials prized for their durability. So distilling is kind of the opposite of the use case for 3D printing.

[NormL1]

BadM, definitely agree with your point, but, I am printing car parts and other things that I never would have thought would have worked. One of my printers is an Aon-M which has a heated build box of 18" x 18" x 25" and can print in poly carbonate and all of the new stuff. Basically, I can make big stuff. One application may be, I could print test widgets fairly easily. I certainly didn't buy the Aon for still's, so, for now still's and distilling in general are safe.

[Kareltje]

+ 1 for Badmotivator.
Even if you could print some shapes in metal, I think you can not compete with construction in the old-fashioned way. We do not have airplanemotors, that have very difficult to make parts.

And there is another thing: I expect that some extra additives are necessary to make a plastic suitable for 3D-printing. And especially the additives are a problem in plastics. Because these are relatively small molecules, that easily leach out.

[NormL1]

Maybe the only application is for an HO scale still for your train set then ...

[Kareltje]

But home distilling is illegal in a lot of countries!
So then you have to 3D-print a shed in which your still is hidden?

[MichiganCornhusker]

I would say for anything in vapor path simply no plastics.

But you could make a great turbine turbulator for the cooling water of a Liebig.
Could probably make the entire outside shell.

Maybe other cooling water applications for reflux rigs but I'm not that familiar with those.

[yakattack]

When you can print Virgin ptfe then you can print any seal you wish.

[googe]

Im very interested in this norm, as I've been trying to get a certain thing printed with 3d print. I've rang every 3d printer in nz and alot in Australia, even contacted a couple in China. From.what I've been told, no one is yet able to do virgin ptfe, that's what I need. Was surprised to hear there doing stainless steel and copper now, the things you could make.would be endless!!. Good luck with it and keep us informed.

[NormL1]

I have actually done some stainless printing, both sinter and deposit. The sinter was flatly amazing such detail in a small package. It was a print of a car in 1/256th scale which should have no detail and it does. The brass prints are the ones that amaze me, they are printed in wax and then though the lost wax process turned into the product. Also amazing detail. Deposit stainless has a pitted surface which does not look good in close inpection, but, is strong as hell.

It seems like new plastics are being added daily, so, it might not be long for PTFE. Hard to justify printing when you can cut a sheet though

[Bushman]

I have a pretty strong background in 3D printing, CNC plasma cutters, CNC machines, etc. One thing that a 3D printer is great for is making plugs for molds. It is not hard to find material that can be safe and mixed together to make a part from a silicone mold made from the plug.