Hardness of Material for 3D Printing: Choose the Right Option for Durable Parts

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В 3D Печать, why do a PLA toy and an ABS automotive part have drastically different lifespans? The answer lies in the hardness of material for 3D printing—a key property that determines a part’s ability to resist scratches, деформация, и носить. Choosing a material with the wrong hardness can lead to premature part failure, whether it’s a brittle PLA prototype or an over-hardened metal component that cracks under stress. This article breaks down the hardness characteristics of common 3D printing materials, how to measure hardness, реальные приложения, and selection tips, helping you match material hardness to your project’s needs.

What Is Hardness in 3D Printing Materials?

Hardness of material for 3D printing refers to a material’s ability to resist permanent deformation (like dents or scratches) when exposed to external pressure or force. It directly impacts three critical part performance factors:

  1. Износостойкость: Более жесткие материалы (НАПРИМЕР., нержавеющая сталь) resist wear from friction, making them ideal for moving parts like gears.
  2. Воздействие сопротивления: Balanced hardness (not too hard, not too soft) helps parts absorb impacts—for example, ABS’s moderate hardness prevents it from shattering like brittle PLA.
  3. Служба срока службы: Materials with appropriate hardness last longer in their intended use—stainless steel medical implants (Высокая твердость) outlast PLA prototypes by years.

Think of hardness as a “protective shield”: a harder shield (НАПРИМЕР., Титановый сплав) defends against scratches and pressure, while a softer shield (НАПРИМЕР., Плата) is more flexible but less durable.

How to Measure the Hardness of 3D Printing Materials

Hardness isn’t a one-size-fits-all metric—different materials use different testing methods. Below are the three most common measurement standards, along with how they apply to 3D printing materials:

Метод измеренияКак это работаетIdeal for MaterialsExample Values for Common 3D Materials
Береговая твердость (A/D)Uses a durometer to measure indentation depth under a fixed load; Shore A for soft materials, Shore D for hard plastics.Пластмассы (Плата, АБС, Петг)– Плата: Shore D 50–60 – АБС: Shore D 70–80 – Петг: Shore D 65–75
Роквелл твердость (СПЧ)Measures the depth of indentation from a diamond or steel ball under two loads; focuses on metal hardness.Металлы (нержавеющая сталь, Титановый сплав)– Нержавеющая сталь: HRC 25–30 – Титановый сплав: HRC 30–35
Виккерс твердость (Hv.)Uses a diamond pyramid indenter to create a square indentation; calculates hardness from indentation size.Составные материалы (carbon fiber reinforced nylon) and metalsCarbon Fiber Reinforced Nylon: HV 120–150 – Титановый сплав: HV 300–350

Hardness Characteristics of Common 3D Printing Materials

Not all 3D printing materials have the same hardness—each is engineered for specific uses. The table below details the hardness, key properties, and ideal applications of 6 popular materials:

Тип материалаТвердость (Common Measurement)Key Properties Related to HardnessИдеальные приложения
Плата (Полилактановая кислота)Shore D 50–60Lowest hardness among common plastics – Хрупкий (breaks under high impact) – Биоразлагаемый, odorless– Прототипы (НАПРИМЕР., игрушечные модели, display props) – Indoor decorative parts (НАПРИМЕР., сажание горшок) – Non-functional parts (НАПРИМЕР., 3D printed art)
АБС (Акрилонитрил-бутадиен-стирол)Shore D 70–80Moderate hardness – Высокая прочность (resists impact without breaking) – Good dimensional stability– Автомобильные детали (НАПРИМЕР., внутренняя отделка, Брекеты на приборной панели) – Home appliance shells (НАПРИМЕР., small fan casings) – Функциональные прототипы (НАПРИМЕР., ручки инструмента)
Петг (Polyethylene Terephthalate Copolymer)Shore D 65–75Balanced hardness (between PLA and ABS) – Высокая ударная стойкость – Химический устойчивый (сопротивляется маслам/растворителям)– Продовольственные детали (НАПРИМЕР., clear containers) – Outdoor small parts (НАПРИМЕР., garden light covers) – Структурные компоненты (НАПРИМЕР., Римские рамки)
Нержавеющая стальHRC 25–30 / HV 200–250– Высокая твердость – Отличная коррозионная стойкость – Высокая сила (поддерживает тяжелые нагрузки)– Аэрокосмические компоненты (НАПРИМЕР., small engine parts) – Медицинские устройства (НАПРИМЕР., surgical instrument tips) – Промышленные инструменты (НАПРИМЕР., wear-resistant nozzles)
Титановый сплавHRC 30–35 / HV 300–350Ultra-high hardness – Легкий вес (1/2 Вес стали) – Биосовместимый (безопасно для человеческой имплантации)– Медицинские имплантаты (НАПРИМЕР., artificial hip joints, зубные короны) – Аэрокосмические части (НАПРИМЕР., aircraft wing brackets) – High-performance sports equipment (НАПРИМЕР., велосипедные рамы)
Carbon Fiber Reinforced NylonHV 120–150 / Shore D 80–85– Высокая твердость (harder than most plastics) – Высокое соотношение прочности к весу – Resists warping– Автомобильные структурные детали (НАПРИМЕР., Компоненты подвески) – Sports gear (НАПРИМЕР., tennis racket frames) – Промышленные детали (НАПРИМЕР., gear wheels)

Реальные случаи: Matching Hardness to Application

Choosing the right hardness avoids costly mistakes. Вот 3 practical cases showing how hardness impacts part performance:

1. Случай 1: PLA for Indoor Prototypes

  • Проблема: A designer needs a 3D printed prototype of a new phone case to test fit. Using a hard material like ABS would be overkill and more expensive.
  • Решение: Плата (Shore D 50–60) is soft enough to print quickly and cheaply, yet rigid enough to show the phone case’s shape. The prototype works for fit testing and costs 50% less than an ABS version.
  • Результат: The designer iterates 3 times on the PLA prototype before finalizing the design, Экономия времени и затрат на материалы.

2. Случай 2: Stainless Steel for Medical Tools

  • Проблема: A medical device firm needs 3D printed surgical instrument tips that resist wear from repeated use and sterilization. Soft plastics like PETG would scratch and degrade quickly.
  • Решение: Нержавеющая сталь (HRC 25–30) has high hardness and corrosion resistance. The instrument tips withstand 100+ autoclave sterilization cycles and show no visible wear after 6 месяцы использования.
  • Влияние: The firm reduces tool replacement costs by 70% compared to plastic instruments.

3. Случай 3: Carbon Fiber Reinforced Nylon for Drone Frames

  • Проблема: A drone maker uses ABS for frames, but the frames crack under hard landings—ABS’s moderate hardness isn’t enough for the impact.
  • Решение: Switch to carbon fiber reinforced nylon (HV 120–150). Its higher hardness and toughness absorb impact energy, and the frames survive 10+ hard landings (против. 2–3 for ABS).
  • Исход: The drone’s failure rate drops from 15% к 2%, Улучшение удовлетворенности клиентов.

How to Choose the Right Hardness for Your 3D Printing Project

Follow this 4-step process to match material hardness to your needs:

  1. Определите цель вашей стороны:
  • Просить: Will the part be functional (НАПРИМЕР., передача) или декоративный (НАПРИМЕР., статуэтка)? Functional parts need higher hardness; decorative parts can use softer materials.
  1. Identify Environmental Stressors:
  • List forces the part will face: трение (needs high hardness), влияние (needs balanced hardness), или коррозия (needs hard, corrosion-resistant materials like stainless steel).
  1. Check Hardness Data:
  • Use the table in the previous section to narrow down materials. Например:
  • Indoor prototype → PLA (Shore D 50–60).
  • Medical implant → Titanium alloy (HRC 30–35).
  1. Test with Small Samples:
  • Print a small test piece (НАПРИМЕР., a 2cm×2cm cube) of your chosen material. Test its hardness with a durometer (для пластмасс) or hardness tester (для металлов) to confirm it meets your needs.

Перспектива Yigu Technology

В Yigu Technology, Мы видим hardness of material for 3D printing as a critical yet often overlooked factor in part performance. Our 3D printers are optimized to enhance material hardness: our FDM printers (YG-FDM 800) use precise temperature control to boost ABS’s Shore D hardness by 5–10%, while our metal 3D printers (YG-Metal 500) ensure stainless steel parts reach HRC 30 for maximum wear resistance. We also provide free hardness testing for clients, helping them confirm material suitability before full production. As new materials emerge (НАПРИМЕР., ultra-hard ceramic composites), we’ll keep updating our systems to unlock their full hardness potential.

Часто задаваемые вопросы

  1. Q.: Can I increase the hardness of a 3D printed part after printing?

А: Да! Для пластмасс: Post-cure resin parts with UV light (boosts Shore D hardness by 5–10%); coat PLA/ABS parts with epoxy (добавляет тяжело, scratch-resistant layer). Для металлов: Heat-treat stainless steel parts (annealing at 800°C increases HRC by 3–5).

  1. Q.: Is a harder material always better for 3D printing?

А: Нет. Overly hard materials (НАПРИМЕР., titanium alloy for a simple prototype) are more expensive and harder to print. Мягкие материалы (НАПРИМЕР., PLA for decorative parts) are cheaper and more flexible—choose based on your part’s use, not just hardness.

  1. Q.: How do I measure the hardness of my 3D printed part at home?

А: Для пластмасс: Use a handheld Shore D durometer (расходы \(50- )100) — press it against the part’s flat surface and read the value. Для металлов: You’ll need a professional Rockwell tester (often available at local engineering labs for a small fee).

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