Very interesting technique to do complex objects with a dual extruder.

3D Printing
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1

Very interesting technique to do complex objects with a dual extruder.
Basically the object is printed with the extruder with ABS filament while the support are printed using the PLA filament, and then …

“Automagically” any PLA is dissolved leaving a full detailed ABS object.

WOW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWYn5wJ72zY&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWYn5wJ72zY

2

I could add, perhaps you could use it (or a small jewels cleaner) to clean also the nozzle (but from PLA only).

3

This has been done for a long time with ABS + PVA, which is even simpler to demo; PVA dissolves in water.

4

I can’t believe people would waste that much electricity and nasty chemicals just to remove some plastic support material.

5

@Derrick_Oswald_curmu – there are a lot of shapes you can’t easily print without support materials. This allows for significant overhangs and printing fully enclosed moving parts.

6

Note that the sodium hydroxide (lye) is what is dissolving the PLA. The ultrasonic tank speeds up the process helping separate the PLA from the ABS. Also, on the comment of PVA: as far as I’ve seen it doesn’t stick to ABS very well. This makes it less than desirable as a support material when printed with ABS.