Will standard stationary glue work (Elmer’s, Kokuyo, or similar), or does something stronger need to be use? Additionally, I also need to glue in magnets into my 3D prints. What is the best kind of glue for this use case, or will any do fine?
They will only be used for a few prints, so I would like to avoid very large containers. Small bottles and syringes are ideal
edit: I will probably go with cyanoacrylate (CA) glue then. 3D Gloop has also been recommended, but is not sold by any local retailers and international shipping will take too long for the project I need to use it for. Could be a neat option for some people though. Thanks, everyone!
Somebody has also suggested acrylic/plastic cement for chemically joining plastic parts together, but in my experience with laser cut acrylic, it’s difficult to apply and can also affect the appearance of the print if you mess up. It also has a very short time window between application and fusing. I’m sure it works fine, and it will probably hold up better due to the plastics being chemically fused, but I will go with CA glue.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/edited-volume/9780815515814/handbook-of-plastics-joining pirate this and read chapter 17 it’s really valuable
I actually prefer other kinds of fastening for pla. Magnets can be melted into undersized holes via a soldering iron (just avoid cooking too hot, keep it around 100 degrees).
Push fits and friction welds work well in certain applications.
Cyanoacrylate, aka CA glue or superglue, is the best adhesive for PLA. After applying the glue, fixture or clamp together the parts you are planning to adhere and then leave them alone while the glue cures.
You can buy CA accelerant which dramatically reduces the curing time of super glue.
You can also mix in baking soda to drastically increase the strength of the bond
Totally. I prefer to have a little cure time to get things set and aligned properly, for some reason it nakes me feel panic-y when the set time is super quick lol.
CA glue (aka super glue) works extremely well with PLA. I wouldn’t recommend any special 3d print specific glue because it will probably be the same thing but with a higher price.
Super glue is fine. You don’t need to waste money on expensive glues.
It’s so good that recovering magnets from prints I’ve made takes a lot of work because the super glue holds them to pla really well.
PLA to PLA: Gloop https://www.3dgloop.com/shop/pla-gloop
Regular superglue for placing magnets, I like 3DGloop for sticking prints together
Sci-Grip 16 for bonding PLA together. Sand the side of the magnet you are gluing in and use Cyano Acrylate (super glue).
I don’t know sci-grip, does it leave white marks like super glue?
Its acrylic based but very thick. So it would leave white marks but it’s not going to get all over easily.
I’ve been told that methyl ethyl ketone is a good solvent for PLA (similar to acetone and ABS).
MEK can be a great solvent, but also rather toxic. Not something you want to be working with without gloves and ventilation. Guy on a paint crew I worked with called it “methyl ethyl killya”.
This is correct and MEK shouldn’t be recommended to home users not accustomed to working with solvents safely.
I know this isn’t strictly an answer to your question, but maybe something to consider:
I have a hot-air soldering station with different nozzle sizes, one of which is very small. It can be precisely controlled up to 480°C, and it’s awesome to weld PLA or PETG together. I stopped using glue alltogether.
Acetone dissolves PLA. You can use it for chemical polishing but also for assembling parts.
You’re thinking of ABS/ASA, acetone does not dissolve PLA.
I used acetone to chemically-polish a PLA part this very afternoon. But if you say so 🙂
You might get some minor surface reaction, but you’re sure as hell not able to dissolve PLA in acetone. Leaving a part printed of PLA in acetone will not turn it in to goo like it does with ABS/ASA.
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Since when does acetone dissolve PLA? For PLA one should use ethyl acetate or chloroform
Have you even tried it instead of talking out of your ass?
I use acetone to assemble PLA parts and polish them all the fucken time.
