Is this possible with the 3D printers? or is this a machining job?
We don’t have any printers that can do PTFE last I knew. Someone correct me if that’s no longer the case.
1 Like
curious what folks in the know about 3D printing say.
Looks to me (based on a quicky search) like 3M are the only folks out there doing this, mostly b/c PTFE is a peculiar material, not terribly well-suited to this type of manufacturing…
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/design-and-specialty-materials-us/3d-printing/
1 Like
I read PTFE but I was thinking PEI. Yeah, I agree with you, PTFE printing seems to be very uncommon for 3D printing.
1 Like
Worked with PTFE in fuel cells, which the PEM types operate at about 400F-425F. It is very stable and solid up to about 450F (maintained its incredible dielectric properties - as you approach 500F it just sort of starts to deteriorate and scorches (think of your brown Teflon pans that over heated). Melting point is around 600F so I’d say that puts to out of 3D printing at consumer ranges at least.
Eternal mystery … how do they get it to stick to the pan!
2 Likes
Here’s some probably totally useless trivia on PTFE:
PTFE’s resistance to van der Waals forces means that it is the only known surface to which a gecko cannot stick.
6 Likes
Thank you, Cliff Clavin.
1 Like
alright. no worries. thanks for the input everyone.
1 Like
I will say, machining Teflon/PTFE is a dream. Might be the easiest thing I’ve ever cut. The only downside is that it is stupid expensive.
1 Like