Guide to printing
Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer
Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer­— Guide to printing
Contents
3D Printing with Amphora
1
The Amphora advantage
1
General safety
2
Storage and handling 3
Preprint cleaning tips
3
Purging
4
Preparation 4
Settings
5
Type of build plates and adhesion tips
5
Retraction speed/slicing
5
Printing
6
Feeder tension on filament 6
Layer adhesion
6
During print
6
Proper cooling
7
Post-processing
8
Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer—Guide to printing
3D printing
with Amphora
Increased customization, greater
efficiency, and unleashed creativity
Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer is a low-odor, styrene-free
choice that is uniquely suited for 3D printing applications.
Amphora empowers consumers to create strong, functional
3D products through desktop printing. It’s also a great
alternative to ABS or PLA in industries such as manufacturing,
health care, technology, education, and retail.
• Low odor
Air quality
With superior melt strength and dimensional stability,
filament made from Amphora delivers advanced overhang
capabilities to create stronger and more detailed items—
with low odor and low emissions.
Amphora provides makers of 3D filaments with a
consistent, high quality product. In addition to high gloss
and superior toughness, Amphora provides improved air
quality and dimensional stability with a material that is
BPA-free and cleared for use in certain applications
regulated by the FDA.
Dimensional
stability
1
•T
emperature resistance to
create functional parts
•G
reat layer bonding for
reliable processing and great
part finish
hemical resistance for
•C
long-lasting good looks and
performance
FDA
compliance
Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer­— Guide to printing
•G
enerates significantly
fewer ultrafine particulates
than ABS
• Tough thermoplastic
material creates stronger,
more detailed parts
Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer focuses on functionality
and features strength, workability, ease of processing, and
aesthetics for 3D printed products.
The Amphora advantage
• Styrene free
• Complies with certain
U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA)
regulations for food
contact applications
This guide to 3D printing with Amphora provides important
Handle with care!
general safety and handling recommendations and tips to
successfully print 3D creations with optimal results. Always
• Heated bed—Do NOT touch when hot.
follow the 3D printing instructions from the 3D printer
• Heated nozzle—Do NOT touch when hot.
manufacturer when using a 3D printer. SERIOUS INJURY
• Molten plastic—Do NOT touch.
MAY OCCUR IF 3D PRINTERS ARE MISUSED OR IF THE
• Any moving parts—Do NOT touch.
FILAMENT, PRINTER, OR 3D CREATIONS ARE TOUCHED
DURING OPERATION OR HANDLED IMPROPERLY. Users
are solely responsible for the safety of their 3D creations
and compliance with all applicable regulations.
General safety
Safety awareness is very important in 3D printing,
especially with printer use in educational settings and near
children. It is very important that 3D printer users read and
carefully follow the instructions on installation and use
provided by the manufacturer of their 3D printer. Always
handle 3D printers with care. Parts should not be touched
during operation because they can cause serious burns,
and moving parts will have possible pinch points.
Other important safety recommendations: Safety glasses
should be worn during operation, and gloves should be
worn for thermal applications. To avoid mishaps that could
diminish the quality of the print, follow the 3D printer
manufacturer’s instructions and check to make sure there
are no obstructions to the spool/feed before printing.
Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer—Guide to printing
2
Storage and handling
Preprint cleaning tips
Proper storage of the spool when not in use will directly
affect the quality of printing and longevity of parts. Keep
spools in a dry place away from direct sunlight. It is
recommended to store the spool in a box or container to
avoid dust collecting on the filament.
Amphora acts like a “sponge” by picking up and bonding
onto what is left over from previous prints. Always follow
the printer manufacturer’s instructions and keep your
printer clean, inside and out. Without proper cleaning/
purging, when fresh Amphora exits the extruder tip, it will
pick up any burned material surrounding the tip from
previous prints and can contaminate the print object.
When storing a used spool, users will need to make sure
that the filament does not get tangled on the spool. Always
use the available holes in the side of the spool to secure the
end of the filament.
Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer­— Guide to printing
3
Purging
Preparation
Purging should continue until the old material is no longer
exiting the nozzle and there is a constant flow of Amphora 3D
polymer without any remains of the previously used material.
Because of high melt strength, Amphora sticks to the nozzle
easily. To remedy this—between print jobs, occasionally
brush the nozzle with a soft steel brush at 260°C to avoid
buildup of carbon residue.
Whenever possible, make any necessary modifications to
your printer’s settings prior to rather than during printing.
Have a checklist to keep in mind as you prepare to print.
It is important to understand how to adjust your printer’s
settings to match optimal Amphora printing conditions.
Standard PLA or ABS settings will not produce quality prints
with Amphora.
Following the instructions from the printer manufacturer,
level your printer bed and make sure you calibrate the
printer before use.
Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer—Guide to printing
4
Settings
Proper settings in variable applications will directly affect
the quality of your print. Optimize results by checking
temperature, build plates, adhesion, slicing, and retraction.
Also making sure you have a perfectly level bed will add to
a successful first-layer adhesion.
Refer to the corresponding one-pager for specific material
settings.
Type of build plates and adhesion tips
For a glass build plate, a thin layer of glue from a glue stick is
recommended. For an aluminum build plate, Kapton™ tape
is recommended for best results. For proper adhesion, it is
important to make sure the build plate is grease-free. Clean
any fingerprints or excess glue with a degreasing agent.
Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer­— Guide to printing
5
Retraction speed/slicing
Adjustments may be necessary if retraction speeds are too
high or too low. Retraction settings are very printer
dependent, and some printers do not allow for end-user
adjustments. It is best to experiment with your printer until
you reach optimal retraction settings. When printing
Amphora and your printer allows retraction adjustments,
you should adjust your retraction speed and distance to
maximum values that can be mechanically tolerated.
Run some standard prints designed to detect retraction
problems. Signs of underretraction typically include print
defects such as droplets or strings of material at print
object edges and gaps. An indication of overretraction
would be extruder stepper motor chatter or tapping as the
stepper gear is moved too quickly for the filament to
physically retract and the motor slips and the filament is
literally ground down against the extruder gear. Reducing
frictional resistance in your filament feed system by proper
reel mounting and reducing tight filament coil tension can
help run your printer at higher retraction settings.
Printing
Keep in mind important considerations for adhesion,
tension, and cooling.
Feeder tension on filament
Keeping even tension without skips throughout the feed will
avoid problems with melt and possible material degrading.
During print
Start the print with a skirt to ensure optimal filament flow
through the nozzle. Starting your base layers out right is
crucial—it can result in a failed print later on in the printing
process. The skirt can be removed later with tweezers.
Monitor the first layer to make sure no material sticks to
oo little tension—results in the feeder gear not
•T
being able to push the filament through properly,
resulting in uneven feed to the extruder.
oo much tension—causes the feeder gear to
•T
dig out the filament, eroding the filament at the
gear position and eventually stopping feed to the
extruder all together.
• In both cases, material trapped in the extruder
at process temperature can degrade, potentially
causing clogging of the extruder tip and print defects.
• Keep
even tension throughout the feed without skips.
the nozzle and accumulates. Do not print too fast. Allow
time for the material to effectively stick to the build plate
and first layers. If the first layer is okay, with no buildup or
skips in the layer, the rest of the print should be successful.
Layer adhesion
Layer adhesion determines toughness of print. Achieving
a tough print is desirable.
Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer—Guide to printing
6
Proper cooling
Check recommended cooling fan specifications for your
project needs. In general, it is advised that users begin to
engage the cooling fan between the 3rd and 5th layer
at 100% for regular print jobs that require an average
strength and speed. If users need best possible strength,
then the advice is to print with as little cooling as possible.
How little depends on the model geometry, print speed,
layer height, and printing temperature. Always attempt to
run the fan at 100% rate during bridging operations, where
you are attempting to print overhangs or gaps without
physical support. This will greatly improve bridging distance
without undesirable sagging. Done properly, you can bridge
with Amphora up to 8 cm without noticeable sagging.
When finished printing, allow bed to cool to less than 40°C
before attempting to remove the print from the bed.
Allowing the bed to cool will minimize print distortion and
allow easier removal. After cooling, the print will often
release itself with no effort. If the print is still adhered to
the build plate, gently use a spatula to easily free the print.
Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer­— Guide to printing
7
Post-processing
Post-processing is generally unnecessary when printing
with Amphora. If the user deems that post-processing
applications are necessary, certain tools and techniques
may be applied.
In the case of creating a print with complex designs,
support material may be carefully removed using a hobby
knife or other sharp blade.
For sanding a finished print, start with 120/180 grit and
work up to 320 grit or higher. The color of the material
may change and become slightly dull, but much of the
initial gloss can be recovered with continued polishing.
For drilling applications, use a general-type steel drill bit.
Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer—Guide to printing
8
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Kingsport, TN 37662-5280 U.S.A.
U.S.A. and Canada, 800-EASTMAN (800-327-8626)
Other Locations, +(1) 423-229-2000
www.eastman.com/locations
Although the information and recommendations set forth herein are presented in good faith, Eastman Chemical
Company and its subsidiaries make no representations or warranties as to the completeness or accuracy thereof.
You must make your own determination of its suitability and completeness for your own use, for the protection
of the environment, and for the health and safety of your employees and purchasers of your products. Nothing
contained herein is to be construed as a recommendation to use any product, process, equipment, or formulation
in conflict with any patent, and we make no representations or warranties, express or implied, that the use thereof
will not infringe any patent. NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OF
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WAIVES ANY OF THE SELLER’S CONDITIONS OF SALE.
Safety Data Sheets providing safety precautions that should be observed when handling and storing our products
are available online or by request. You should obtain and review available material safety information before
handling our products. If any materials mentioned are not our products, appropriate industrial hygiene and other
safety precautions recommended by their manufacturers should be observed.
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