eSun ePLA-LW (Light Weight)

eSun have made the move to Cardboard Spools. You can find out more about this here. You may receive a mix of different types of spools as we work through our stock.
The latest batch of cardboard spools now has a waxed edge designed to be used with the Bambu Labs AMS unit.
PLEASE NOTE for Bambu Labs AMS users - The Old Cardboard spools will be able to be used in the AMS with the help of the ring adapters. The link to download the STL for the adaptors can be found above. You will however NOT be able to close the lid of the AMS while in use

ePLA-LW (Lightweight PLA) is a material specially developed by eSUN for the fields of model airplanes, drones, and COSPLAY. Compared with WOOD, ePLA-LW has more stable interlayer bonding, and the foaming rate and strength can be controlled by adjusting the printing temperature. Use active foaming technology to achieve lightweight, low-density PLA parts. The foaming volume ratio is 220%, and when printing the same volume model, 1 roll of ePLA-LW can be used as 2.2 rolls of ordinary PLA. Foaming makes the layered pattern almost invisible, and the surface of the printed item is matte and delicate. At around 210-270°C, this material starts to foam during printing, increasing its volume by nearly 1.2 times, and the printing extrusion rate can be reduced to 45% to print lightweight parts.

Under the same model and at the same speed, the use of lightweight PLA enables the model aircraft to have a lighter wing load and a lower stall speed. For models such as airplanes, under the condition of balanced strength, reducing the weight as much as possible can greatly improve the performance of the airplane.

Low density, up to 0.54g/cm3

The foaming volume ratio is 220%, and 1 roll of ePLA-LW is equivalent to 2.2 rolls of ordinary PLA

Free adjustment of strength and foaming ratio

Excellent surface effect, matte and delicate

Good adhesion between layers, resistant to explosion and easy to repair

Easy to paint, strong surface paint adhesion

Excellent printability, large models do not warp, do not block, and do not need a constant temperature chamber

Printing parameters

 Note: Printing test conditions: nozzle 190-280℃; layer height 0.2mm; bed 45℃; speed 40mm/s

1. Note that the first layer speed setting is consistent with the actual printing speed, set to 100% of the actual printing speed, turn off the first layer and small area printing speed reduction function, the first layer extrusion rate is consistent with the actual foaming extrusion rate, such as 270 degrees set to 45% of the first layer extrusion rate; if the bed adhesion is too strong, you can set the bottom valve when printing.

2. Pay attention to the maximum operating temperature of the printer. Most Teflon tube printers cannot be operated for a long time above 250℃. Long-term printing above this temperature may cause blocking. If the temperature exceeds 250℃, high temperature printers such as metal hoses are required for printing.

3. Yellowing of printed parts after high temperature foaming is a normal phenomenon. Lowering the printing temperature can relieve it.

4. Since the ePLA-LW foams continuously in the melting cavity of the high-temperature nozzle, the retraction basically does not work. Stringing is normal during printing. It is recommended to print the rc plane in vase mode to reduce the effect of stringing.

5. Foaming ratio is related to temperature, printing speed, nozzle melting cavity size, pay attention to compare model design wall thickness according to your own printing situation, adjust extrusion rate, temperature, speed and other parameters.

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