In order to take 3D printing technology to the next forefront of innovation, it’s critically important that corresponding materials are enhanced to provide higher functionality and quality in prints. One company that has led the way for material advancement is taulman3D, a filament producer that consistently rolls out new products that all make the most of the 3D printing experience. From the high-temperature, FDA-approved PETG to their flexible PCTPE, the 3D printing filament company has always striven for optimized materials with a specified purpose. For instance, the San Diego-based company Cognionics utilized taulman3D’s Nylon and PCTPE to produce EEG brain-wave monitoring systems.
Known for its durability, flexibility and comfort, taulman3D’s PCTPE is ideal for a number of different applications, from cosplay to tech systems. Although the particular material has always a been durable and flexible material, one drawback was that the color was limited to natural nylon, a plain white without pigment. Though many users have exemplified complete control over the material’s appearance by utilizing dye to produce a clean and colorful finish, this process is oftentimes costly, time consuming, and demands an extra step or two. To offer their customers another solution around their colorless material, taulman3D has just unveiled the Black PCTPE, which has the same exact formulation as the original, but with a much darker finish.
Usually, material producers create this black effect by adding carbon into their filament, which is aesthetically effective, but can compromise the capabilities of the material itself. But taulman3D managed to keep true to their PCTPE by adding an abundance of dark blue dye to the material, which gives a strong impression of black when the users adds more infill and walls to their print. This also allows users to achieve a dark blue tone when printing with only one wall and low infill. So ultimately, taulman3D’s Black PCTPE provides two different colors in one type filament.
Designer Clayton McIntyre, whose 3D printed railroad museum project we have been following, has been utilizing their PCTPE for over a year now, but the addition of the new color has now enabled him to perform dual prints with the flexible and durable material.
“For me, dual extrusion has always been key. But with PCTPE only being in white, dual printing has been pointless,” said McIntyre. “The Black PCTPE retains the integrity of its predecessor.”
Usually, taulman3D is focused more on achieving high strength materials rather than a specified filament color. But with the new Black PCTPE, taulman3D is clearly answering a request from the 3D printing community. All in all, taulman3D has managed to maintain the functionality of their original material without compromising strength or flexibility, while providing a sleek aesthetic that’s not usually available from mechanically-driven materials like PCTPE.
The PCTPE Black (Super Dark Blue) material is now available in both 1.75mm and 2.85mm spools directly from taulman3D, each priced at $30/spool. Discuss in the Taulman3D forum at 3DPB.com.
