PLA Opacity Tool

thingiverse

Finding the perfect black PLA for camera applications has proven to be a challenging task. Many formulations are translucent at best, even when printed at 100% infill. I recently took sample photographs that were fogged by translucent PLA due to light shining through the thinnest part of the camera shutter. To find the most affordable and opaque black PLA available, I created this simple tool for testing opacity. Print it at a layer height of 0.25 mm, with each layer increasing from 0.25 to 1.25mm thickness from the center outwards. For 3D printing cameras, a minimum opacity through 1mm thickness is required. This tool can be held up to a standard incandescent lightbulb without touching it, as it will likely stick and melt. I use a 70 lumen LED flashlight as my benchmark for zero light transmission. I've had good results with Shaxon and Makergeeks black PLAs (opaque at 1mm), but their pigment content has decreased recently, making these filaments insufficient for photographic applications. Here are the results of various PLA formulations tested: * MatterHackers Pro Gun Metal Grey PLA: Mixed results by batch * Rigid.Ink Black PLA: Mixed results by batch * JustPLA Black PLA: Mixed results by batch * Verbatim Black PLA: Opaque, but with a diameter of ~2.78mm and incomplete infill Additionally, a Flickr user reported that eSun Black PETG from HobbyKing is opaque at 1mm or less. However, the following filaments are no longer opaque: * Shaxon Black PLA * MakerGeeks Dark As Night PLA * Inventables Black PLA * Lulzbot Black PLA * Hatchbox Black PLA * MatterHackers Pro Black PLA * MatterHackers Pro Midnight Blue PLA * Ultimachine Black PLA * Atomic Deep Black PLA * Laywood-Flex * FilamentONE PLA Extrafill Vertigo Grey If you have found a truly opaque black PLA, please share your results in the comments. Print Settings: * Printer Brand: LulzBot * Printer: TAZ 4 * Rafts: No * Supports: No * Resolution: 0.25 * Infill: 100% * Notes: Less than 10 minutes printing time.