3D Printing

Getting started with 3D Printing for race car parts

Here is our experience with 3D Printers and race car parts. Watch the video below covering a large number of topics. If you want an executive summary:

- Get a Bambu Lab H2 series printer

- Use PLA for prototyping, PA6-CF for engine bay components, ASA for exterior parts, TPU for mud flaps, ABS for interior parts (maybe PETG depending on use case).

- Get a Sovol SH03 Dry Box to dry filament and anneal PA6-CF:  https://amzn.to/3QQSpqY  

Our list of recommended products can be found here (look for the 3D printing section):

https://www.frogracing.us/store/recommended-products#h.nkm22fojgsva 

Which filament to choose?

Use PLA for prototyping, PA6-CF for engine bay components, ASA for exterior parts, TPU for mud flaps, ABS for interior parts (maybe PETG depending on use case).

Theis3D Printer Filament Comparison Guide is pretty helpful:  https://bambulab.com/en-us/filament/guide 

We have had good luck with all SUNLU filaments. For ASA we have been using Overture

• SUNLU PA6-CF: https://amzn.to/4gurxYe 

• SUNLU PLA+2.0 for rapid prototyping: https://amzn.to/4ev2eCL 

• SUNLU High Speed ABS: https://amzn.to/4uPJl3N 

• SUNLU TPU 95A: https://amzn.to/4hHSWXa 

• Overture ASA: https://amzn.to/45xN8Iv 

Printing PA6-CF

SUNLU PA6-CF (https://amzn.to/4gurxYe ) prints pretty easily with the default PA6-CF from the Bambu slicer. However you will need an AMS-HT or an equivalent filament heater/drier (see recommended products at the bottom of this page).  Plan on at least 8 hours of heating/drying before use and another 8-12hrs of annealing post print to cure the prints of any moisture. 

Printing TPU

TPU 95A can be used to print bushings but it is really out material of choice for mud flaps. The filament cannot be fed through the standard AMS or PTFE tubes to the extruder as it will stretch the filament. We recommend using the SUNLU S4 3D Printer Filament Dryer (https://amzn.to/4wJKOtS) to feed directly to the extruder and keep temperature and moisture under control for your filaments.

Also check out the Bambu Lab TPU Printing Guide: https://wiki.bambulab.com/en/knowledge-sharing/tpu-printing-guide 

The information for the top feeding rack can be found here: https://wiki.bambulab.com/en/h2/h2d-tpu-printing-guide 

Recommended products

Printers/Scanners

• Bambu Lab H2S for large functional parts in single color: https://us.store.bambulab.com/products/h2s 

• Bambu Lab H2D for multicolor/multi-material prints with AMS Combo: https://us.store.bambulab.com/products/h2d 

• Revopoint MetroX 3D Scanner: https://amzn.to/4uPJl3N 

Filaments

• SUNLU PA6-CF: https://amzn.to/4gurxYe 

• SUNLU PLA+2.0 for rapid prototyping: https://amzn.to/4ev2eCL 

• SUNLU High Speed ABS: https://amzn.to/4uPJl3N 

• SUNLU TPU 95A: https://amzn.to/4hHSWXa 

• Overture black ASA: https://amzn.to/45xN8Iv 

• Polymaker Pink ASA: https://amzn.to/4hN6uAG 

• Storage rack: https://amzn.to/4xIjaPa 

Accessories

• Sovol SH03 Dry Box to dry filament and anneal PA6-CF:  https://amzn.to/3QQSpqY 

• SUNLU S4 3D Printer Filament Dryer ideal for TPU: https://amzn.to/4wJKOtS 

• Bambu Lab AMS HT for high temp filaments: https://us.store.bambulab.com/products/ams-ht 

• Carbon Fiber PEI plate: https://amzn.to/4uVEfmE 

• 3D Scanning spray: https://amzn.to/3QOC1r2 

• Nozzle cleaning/ finishing cutters toolkit: https://amzn.to/44gQa3h