Has anyone using multiple print colors been keeping track of how much the color of the plastic effects the print temperature?
Is there much variance from the same provider?
I’ve not been tracking it in any formal way, but based on my experience with red and black and conversations with my printer kit supplier I’d say lots. The more junk they have to add to make it a solid color the more it will impact print temperature. Either because there’s filler that doesn’t absorb heat or filler that does. The black I’ve got is supposed to print from 190, I’m having to go much higher, 240 first layer, 220 second upwards.
I’m building 3D printers every day - and go through literally every single color of filament that DeltaMaker resells - every single one has been great at 230 (yeah, really high for PLA…but what can I say, it works at that temp). I think that maybe between suppliers it’s probably different, but not likely much between simply colors.
It turns out there are high temperature PLA formulations intended to be run much hoter than others. Someone pointed out to me that Natureworks 4032D runs comfortably at 230˚C. 4042D runs at about 190˚C, 4043D is about 180˚C. I’m sure plenty of other properties are a little different between them, too.
Anyways, the effect of colorants might be less noticeable at higher temps.