Making Things with Wood Now Doesn't Require a Saw

Timber is good for designs that are sophisticated, as it enables for shifting and interlocking elements. The ultimate would be to be able to build objects with timber without having to saw, hammer, plane or glue. This is the potential that 3D printing offers. 3D printing is a technology that transforms 3D designs from computer instructions to a real object by laying down material in a computer controlled pattern building up the object layer by layer.

This mean less wastage, better precision, no joints and and no knowledge or skill in wood-working is required. It also enables possibilities to make wooden objects which cannot be created with conventional woodwork techniques.

The problem has been that adding woodchips or sawdust to 3D printing plastic results in granular, powdery appearing 3D prints which tend to crumble not to mention endless nozzle jams because wood fibres don't melt like plastic. This is where world leading printer filament manufacturer PolyMaker have stepped up and produced a unique wood-like 3D printing filament which contains no actual wood.



The benefits of the newly developed wood filament by Polymaker comes from it's unique foaming technology which produces a smooth layering of the 3D print with all the properties and appearance of wood with none of the associated printing problems.  The resultant 3D prints are 35-40% lighter than their plastic counterparts and can be sanded and painted.  Another benefit is that the colour profile can be adjusted because it is not determined by the additive wood.

The strength of 3D printed wood is lower in comparison with other 3D printed materials so heavier partitions (of minimal 3 mm) are advocated. When it's possible to do so make an effort to hollow your design out. This prevents distortion throughout the printing procedure and allows the wood powder stuck on the interior to be easily removed. We advise that a few openings are created so the powder could be removed more easily.

One of the greatest benefits of PolyMaker wood filament is the non-clogging of the extruder head. If you have used wood filament previously you would have been forever cleaning to remove wood powder from clogging up the feed gears and print nozzle between each print. The finish is also not comparable. PolyWood results in a smooth even finish whereas most wood infused filaments are patchy and pitted meaning filling with putty or grinding to achieve a uniform appearance.

PolyWood truly is a game-changer when it comes to wood filaments giving you the fantastic wood appearance without the constant hassles and cleanup, which is the whole reason you would want to 3D print wood in the first place.

Read more about PolyWood Filament