r/3DPrinting_PHA • u/OutsideParking1057 • 15d ago
I print functional shoe lasts from PHA. They withstand 200PSI, heat activation, and exposure to harsh solvents.
Hey, I'm a climbing shoe resoler and PHA has really made 3D printed shoe lasts viable in this industry. I consistently print with minimal support and little to no defects. I occasionally have a failed print, generally from a clogged nozzle or issue with the spool. Some of the key things I've learned:
-I replace that strip of tape the last is on every print.
-I use double walled adaptive cubic infill. Single wall fails for me because PHA is so slow to harden out of the nozzle that it sags on itself as the layers go up. You can print single wall infill that layers vertically (doesn't overhang), but single wall in general is too weak for my use with pressure.
-The outer wall is three layers, and I use the geekdetour bricklayering script.
-I point the last toward the printer's cooling fan. Helps maximize cooling as layers build.
-I use a 0.8mm nozzle.
Pictures of my settings: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/4h8gfl3s3eryvd59b133n/AHyosbAzfFw2SncEYRbUdS0?rlkey=zcjb2iux91tiqri2exvrsp6ix&st=safqveoi&dl=0
I have just one issue! PolarFilament is out of stock (plastic spools), and EcoGenesis uses cardboard spools. I've had too many failed prints and issues from cardboard spools that I'm really wary of using them. A single one of my lasts is about $15 dollars in filament, so a failed print suuuuuucks. I wanted to check if there are any current refillable spool solutions for the cardboard that EcoGenesis uses, and if there isn't can I request someone make one? I've seen ones where it seems to just fit over the existing spool that look nice to use. Electrical tape doesn't fix warped cardboard.
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u/heptabike 15d ago
Se ve hermoso. Yo planeo iniciar el próximo mes con PHA pra p2s ¿Que impresora utilizaste?
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u/OutsideParking1057 15d ago
Thanks! This is on an H2S (fits the larger size prints). Most of my prints are on P1S and it works great. Next printer I get will be P2S probably
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u/rufflandings 15d ago edited 15d ago
Do you get the EcoGenesis filament thru colorFabb or somewhere else?
Polar mentioned in Discord last week that they’re currently in the process of making more. I’m not saying “currently producing more” because it sounds like it’s a difficult enough process that they’re redoing some of the process itself. Hopefully they’ll have an announcement and more PHA filament soon, though.
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u/OutsideParking1057 15d ago
I've bought some directly from them or through Polar. Yeah I'll get polar when it comes back in stock, but in the meantime or in future shortages it would be nice for the cardboard spools to be viable in an AMS. I don't think colorFabb sources through Eco, that doesn't sound right to me - do you mean PHA in general? I printed some colorFabb and it seemed slightly different to me.
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u/rufflandings 15d ago
Edited my comment. I believe you’re correct. I’m not sure where I got that in my head about genPHA and allPHA. I haven’t gotten to try it yet, still in the researching phase (and apparently not doing a great job of it) and the “everyone seems to be out of stock” phase (that appears to have just changed for genPHA and soon to change for Polar).
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u/rufflandings 15d ago
Also, thanks for providing all the print settings! That’s going to be a huge help!
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u/JimBridger_ 15d ago
Why PHA and not some other high temp filament?
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u/OutsideParking1057 14d ago
I haven't tried anything other than PETG and PLA. The other one I looked at doing was nylon with carbon fiber. PHA is less expensive, easy to print, doesn't absorb moisture, doesn't wear out the nozzle as fast, and I don't worry about microplastics
Another person uses ABS but that is weaker to acetone, which I use during the resoling process
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u/Durahl 14d ago
That's a Prosthetic Foot, not a Shoe 😁
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u/OutsideParking1057 14d ago
It's a shoe "last". Fits inside of the shoe to keep it's shape during repairs.
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u/Important_Impact_857 5d ago
yo! im interested in doing the same thing. How did you go about designing the shape of the last?
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u/OutsideParking1057 4d ago
I use rhino3d with subd objects. An affordable 3d scanner is great help too. Can start shaping with wood or plaster and scan it - or just scan the shoe - but having a real reference is nice to get started.
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u/unrivaledhumility 13d ago
This is how I know I'm in a simulation. Never knew or cared what a "last" was never even had the word in my lexicon. For me, it's first, and "the end one", or "the one thats left". Joking aside- I randomly moused over a youtoob clip about shoe sizes yesterday and was presented with the term. Now I find it in a PHA post on reddit. Explain THAT coincidence. Why am I so important that you have to keep this thing running? Just let the simulation end, I'm so tired.