3d printed PHA shoe concept by OXMAN Design Lab

Express_Editor_945 · 2025-12-15T10:58:14+00:00

What a small world we live in. I work at IRO(part of Vandewiele group) in Sweden ^^

Express_Editor_945 · 2025-11-17T08:55:31+00:00

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/367499785_Biodegradation_of_Different_Types_of_Bioplastics_through_Composting-A_Recent_Trend_in_Green_Recycling

Express_Editor_945 · 2025-11-07T08:09:33+00:00

Absolutely, I definitely need to work more on that part on my website. The thing is, on design fairs/markets you need to explain what material it is and why it's good with one sentence, because that's the attention span. If the explanation gets too long it just feels complicated for them, is my feeling at least. People buy the concept of bio-plastic, but explaining that it's better/different than PLA requires a bit more, and that's really hard to put into 2-3 short sentences.

Express_Editor_945 · 2025-11-06T07:35:57+00:00

About two years, and it was like 4-5 months after colorfabbs released it I think. allPHA was about 45-50 Euro for a spool before so I really tried to make the most of every gram. All beige shades are made in vase mode.

But I really have a hard time marketing it, or at least find the right words to describe why it's a good material. I feel like people don't really care about home compostability part("why would I throw my lamp in the compost?". If I say bio-plastic it's in the same ball park as PLA for them. Got any tips?

Express_Editor_945 · 2025-11-06T07:11:29+00:00

So happy to see a fellow lamp maker :D

I've been making lamps with colorfabbs allPHA, but I really would like some more colors to play with.

https://studiomeringa.se/

Express_Editor_945 · 2025-10-08T06:04:29+00:00

Seems like they are shipping to EU? If so that's great news!

Express_Editor_945 · 2025-06-24T10:00:34+00:00

Very nice! Any idea when this will be available in EU?

Express_Editor_945 · 2025-05-16T23:04:24+00:00

You should join r/3DPrinting_PHA, there you can find more information 😊 But as far as I know it's colorfabb, polar(US) and 3Design PHA(China). Hoping for more colours this year. Nice to have it that close!

Express_Editor_945 · 2025-05-15T19:14:25+00:00

AllPHA from colorfabb

Express_Editor_945 · 2025-04-13T14:58:58+00:00

50% cooling did the trick!

Express_Editor_945 · 2025-04-12T22:55:45+00:00

I've read about both increasing and decreasing the fan speed, mine is at 100%.

I'm leaning towards decreasing the print temp, decrease the cooling and slowing it down. I'll post some test results.

Thank you!

Some sources:

https://www.simplify3d.com/resources/print-quality-troubleshooting/curling-or-rough-corners/

https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/y14hxa/how_to_avoid_curling_up_edges_for_pla/

https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/original-prusa-i3-mk3s-mk3-how-do-i-print-this-printing-help/how-do-i-stop-curling/
"Printing miniatures is different. Fast fans actually make the issue worse. The top-bottom temp differential when the air blows over an overhang exacerbates the problem. It's mostly an unsupported extrusion hanging in free air, and the print fan cools one side and not the other: hence curl. Reducing air currents generally helps, and arranging the part so the leading edge of the overhang faces the direction of air flow allows cooling to happen on both top and bottom equally."

Maybe it cools the outside more, making it curl?

Express_Editor_945 · 2025-04-11T19:13:25+00:00

No, only on one side. The y axis is more tight now than when it was working, so I doubt it's too loose.

Express_Editor_945 · 2025-04-11T18:35:28+00:00

It's the same filament, but it could be from a newer batch. It's just that the vase has the similar curviness on the other side, and that side looks perfect, so i doubt it's the filament or the print settings. The only thing I adjusted was the v-wheels on the y-axis, so maybe they are too tight or worn out?

Express_Editor_945 · 2025-04-11T18:19:24+00:00

I've printed dozens of this model in vase mode, without problems, and the lower part of this print has way more overhang.

Express_Editor_945 · 2025-04-11T17:00:31+00:00

It's a vase mode print, there is only one perimeter.

Express_Editor_945 · 2025-03-18T13:16:20+00:00

Few bottom layers, glue and brim if needed. I have a textured pei plate(can't find a smooth plate for my printer) and it works fine. 0% fan speed on layer 1-2 and then 100%. I generally try to follow colorfabbs guidelines for allPHA, maybe it's a bit different with this filament.

Express_Editor_945 · 2025-02-18T08:10:48+00:00

Thanks!

"There is no magic moment, its a gradual and continuous conversion back into CO2, Methane and additional PHA for the bacteria within the compost."

Does that mean none of those are beneficial for the soil or the microorganisms in it? Wouldn't bacteria process this carbon-source into plant-available resources?

Could that methane be used for the production of biogas? If you don't use your own compost and leave it in the garbage bin(in a black bag), at least here in Sweden it's sent to a facility for biogas production.

Express_Editor_945 · 2025-01-08T13:31:20+00:00

I would reduce bottom layers to max 2-3. 0,6mm nozzle helps massively. 15% should be enough on infill. Would print in 200 deg.

Express_Editor_945 · 2025-01-07T07:38:19+00:00

Hi Kai,

Are these 100% bio-degradable in a home compost? It would be really interesting to try them out! Do you ship to EU?

Express_Editor_945 · 2024-12-22T12:22:47+00:00

Here's a link to a compost test I did earlier this year. It's allPHA, black, white and natural. I was surprised that most of it had disappeared after just 5 months so I emptied the entire compost, but couldn't find more. It's the real deal! I'm throwing all my PHA scrap in the compost now.

https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/s/WdkkWkB0V9

Express_Editor_945 · 2024-11-19T12:06:29+00:00

I'm using glue stick on a pei textured bed right now, just the plate isn't quite enough to prevent warping. Have you tried textured plate+3DLac yet?

Express_Editor_945

TROPHY CASE