Recommended materials - Hoglet/HPD_F1 GitHub Wiki

To make your car durable it is important to choose materials wisely. Parameters to consider are:

  • "Strength": Impact durability.
  • Temperature tolerance.
  • Rigidity.

Materials that have been tried:

Standard PLA

Easy to print and gives realistic, and spectacular, unplanned decomposition in a crash.

Even if some parts have been proven to work when printed with these, it is still recommended to avoid.

Tough PLA

There are several products in this category, I have personally used PolyMax™ PLA and eSUN PLA+.

Positives:

  • Very tough
  • Easy to print

Negatives:

  • Temperature sensitive <50C
  • Has a tendency to over time change form under pressure.

I have extensively and successfully used eSUN PLA+ for most of the car and can recommend that. Just remember not to use it for the motor mounting and DO NOT leave it in your car standing outside on a sunny day.

PETG

PETG promised to be the replacement for PLA; Easy to print and stronger than PLA.

Unfortunately it has not measured up to the hype, the results of attempts to use the material have been disappointing.

Positives:

  • Easy to print
  • Temperature tolerant (90C)
  • Strong, but...

Negatives:

  • Explodes on impact.

NOTE: Some products can be better (see difference between standard and tough PLA) so please report if you have a PETG that works well.

Nylon

Nylon is a wonderful material that is virtually indestructible.

Positives:

  • Very strong: "Indestructible"
  • Temperature tolerant: 80C+

Negatives:

  • Extremely hard to print.
  • Shrinking
  • Warping
  • Flexible.

Alloy 910 and others(?)

To fix the inherent problems with pure nylon there are offerings that improves the situation: We have been using Alloy 910 to good effect.

Positives:

  • Less hard to print.
  • Temperature tolerant (82C).
  • Shrinks and warps less.

Negatives:

  • Alloy 910 is expensive.
  • Very expensive.
  • Still not easy to print.

Used for motor mount.

TPU

We use TPU filmant of shore 95A hardness for shock absorbing parts (wing mounts).

Polycarbonate (Lexan)

Very promising material. Prusament PC Blend have been extensively tested with good result.

Positives:

  • Relatively easy to print.
  • Heat resistant (110C).
  • Strong and durable.

Negatives:

  • A little more expensive.
  • Sensitive to drafts
  • Needs a printer that can print 275C