3DXTech ThermaX™ High Temperature Support (HTS2) is a break away support ideal for printing with high temperature polymers such as PEI-9085. HTS2 has good adhesion to a variety of materials and breaks off easily without damaging the part, allowing for clean final looks.
Printing Difficulty: Challenging/Expert
HTS2 can be purchased from AON3D directly by contacting help@aon3d.com.
HTS2 requires drying prior to using to minimize the impact of moisture on the printing process. HTS2 will remain printable if hydrated, but will create strings at retraction points introducing the risk of an unsuccessful print depending the geometry complexity. HTS2 should be installed in the filament dry storage and feed system prior to printing to prevent moisture uptake.
If the filament is hydrated, dry the filament at 100ºC for 2 hours in a convection oven. Please ensure drying equipment respects our site requirements to ensure adequate drying performance is achieved. HTS2 can age when exposed to high temperatures for extended amount of time, resulting in high brittleness. Avoid leaving the spool in an oven for too long.
Store filament in air tight bags or containers alongside silica or zeolite desiccant. Be sure to replace desiccant regularly when its moisture capture ability is exhausted.
For more information, see the Filament Drying and Moisture Control page.
For instructions on how to inspect the AON3D build plates, refer to the Inspect and Clean Build Plates procedure.
HTS2 prints best on the CF-PEEK composite plate at higher bed and extrusion temperatures. For best results, reduce the First Layer Speed and increase the first layer extrusion temperature to 400-420ºC. Smaller prints require a higher extrusion temperature on the first layer to ensure adhesion.
HTS2 prints well on the PEI build sheet. For best results, reduce the First Layer Speed. Smaller prints require a higher extrusion temperature on the first layer to ensure adhesion. It is recommended to use Nano Polymer Adhesive to act as a release agent and prevent permanent welding of parts to the build surface. The PEI film is sensitive to Z offset calibration and thermal stability of the printer system. For best results, ensure that the machine has reached thermal equilibrium before calibrating. If the bed-to-nozzle distance is too small, or the first layer is too hot, the part may be difficult to remove without damaging the part and/or build sheet.
For best results, process settings should be adjusted based on a particular model geometry. If you require process development support, our Applications Engineering team can help! Send us a message at help@aon3d.com to consult with one of our Additive Manufacturing Specialists.
To avoid clogging the nozzle, HTS2 should not be left idle at printing temperatures. In the provided profiles, the temperature of the hot end is reduced to 300ºC while idle.
| Setting | AON M2+ |
|---|---|
| Extrusion Temperature | 350-400ºC |
| Bed Temperature | 120-170ºC |
| Chamber Temperature | 100-135ºC |
| Print Speed | 40 mm/s |
| Nozzle Size | 0.4-0.6 mm |
| Preferred Build Platform | CF-PEEK Composite Plate |
The FFF material profiles to print HTS2 as a support material can be found in the model material page:
Allow all machine components to reach room temperature before proceeding further. Failure to allow components to cool down will result in thermal injury (burns) to personnel.
HTS2 support can be removed by hand or using pliers to carefully break away support from the model material. HTS2 is best removed while the printed part is still warm. If HTS2 is unable to separate from the warm part, the Z-offset between the toolheads may need adjusting.
Leave one layer of separation between HTS2 and model material to prevent HTS2 from fusing with the part. Make sure the printed pillars are carefully snapped off to prevent damage to the model. If the part cools completely before removing HTS2, support removal may get difficult; in this case reheat the part in the printer chamber or an over. Do not exceed the glass transition temperature (Tg) of model material.
Follow the standard operating procedures for Using Supports and Support Materials and Dual Extrusion to ensure good quality and repeatability with HTS2 support.
Make sure to use the build material recommended in the sample slicer profiles. Some geometries might require the use of a higher printing temperature to make sure that the build material sticks to the support. In that case, increase the temperature by 10°C on the layer number where the build material is supposed to be supported.
Make sure to use the build material recommended in the sample slicer profiles. Some geometries might require to use a lower printing temperature so that that the build material doesn’t fuse with the support. In that case, lower the temperature by 10°C on the layer number where the build material is supposed to be supported.
Leaving the filament inactive inside the feedpath for extended amount of time with an active chamber above 120°C, may cause ageing and the the filament to become more brittle. In order to avoid having the filament break during printing, make sure to install HTS2 a short amount of time before using it (less than 12h). If the filament stayed inside the feedpath for a long amount of time, unload the filament and cut off a length equivalent to the length of the feedpath before loading it again.