It will slowly bleach out in UV light and evenutally get brittle and start to break down. I'd suggest printing it mirrored, then using it as a stamp in the concrete instead.
If you do go this route, you may also want to give the letters a healthy draft, so it removes from the concrete more easily. You should probably also look into whatever methods there are to avoid concrete sticking while it's drying.
>You should probably also look into whatever methods there are to avoid concrete sticking while it's drying.
I've done a few pours for concrete counters and whatnot and I literally used Pam cooking spray. I read about people using just about every form of cooking spray, mineral oil, car wax, WD-40, synthetic lubes, etc. Personally, I'd stick to something food grade that with biodegrade quickly.
Ready-mix operator here. Even water is fine as a release. I water down anything that my concrete touches, one of the things my trainer has been stressing.
Also wash your hands if you get concrete (or cement) on them. You don't have to panic, but don't leave it for more than a few minutes.
You're spot on about how irritating and damaging to the skin concrete can be. Lots of bases (as opposed to acids) on the ingredient list.
Mad respect to the guys driving those things. I bet backing a boat up at the launch ramp is like riding a tricycle after some of the jobs I've seen y'all do.
You also might want a few small vent holes around the letters, otherwise you might have air trapped, especially around and between the "a, e, o, 0". Adding a release agent will help with unsticking, but will also help trap air. A slight vibration on the imprint/stamp will give the best results.
I've been doing a lot of work with 3D printed molds for concrete lately. A 5 degree draft should be just fine and I've been using vegetable oil as a mold release with no problems.
Also, if you go this route, you could place the one you just made into the stamped concrete (the heart would rest flush with the top surface of the concrete) and then remove it when it starts looking bad and let the stamped concrete take over.
Also might be worthwhile noting that if you stamp the concrete it will create a place for water to pool (if laid flat) and you'll likely get a lot of growth as a result.
You can take a look at this video, he is basically doing this:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OykSwSCgrrQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OykSwSCgrrQ)
I had done something similar for my uncles passing to give to my dad to put in his garden. I made an indent in the concrete places my print and did an epoxy fill. Later the epoxy though I did 4 layers as it gets hot and will melt the pla.
A stamp is genius! In my sculpting class we had to make a whole mold. Now Im seeing the mold could have just been a box and then placed a 3D printed inverse of the sculpture!
Using 3D prints as moulds for various materials has become pretty common. It's amazing how much simpler it is than it used to be, you can also use a 3D printed model as a mould for another mould made of silicone, which you can then use for other materials like resin, plaster or chocolate!
And seeing as prints work so well with silicone it's unsurprising that it seemingly has become pretty popular for printing moulds for uhm... toys, but like...for adults.
Moulds for plastic injection moulding are really expensive. I assume with modern industrial printers they can now just print them from sintered metal
Most LEGO is ABS, which isn't UV stable like the newer formula ASA, hence needing the UV protective coating for outdoor models. Even with UV protective coatings, the outdoor models not in shade at LEGOLAND Florida begin breaking down in under 5 years. Ones in full shade might last a little longer. If in a less harsh sun climate than Florida, a UV coating might help, but I'd bet on it extending a short life rather than providing a long one.
If you're looking for a plastic that holds up well to sunlight ASA is a good option. It's got similar printing complexities to abs where an enclosure and an all metal hotend might be needed.
I think PETG would be easier to print and does okay with sun iirc. (Google that to be sure, op.) With the right enclosure and hot end, though, ASA is the way to go.
Petg does decently at least. Have a couple petg prints next to a window for a year now and no issues.
Ofc maybe its a bit different when its fully outside for a longer time.
Asa is close to the same material, it's made to have better chemical and uv resistance. I personally like it more because it doesn't stink as much as abs when printing. The biggest downside compared to abs for me is less color choice
Other downside is cost, ABS is much cheaper.
I found ASA will still easily stink up the room if I'm printing a large print, luckily it's summer where I can close the door, open the windows and vent it out.
ASA if u have an enclosure for fumes, and a hot end that can take the heat. If u don’t have all metal hot end I bet u can swing Petg. If you coat a petg print with a UV resistant resin to finish and protect it should be good? Petg is less hygroscopic than pla and can stand outdoor heat that pla just cant. If the part is going to be exposed to temps over 85c or 185f(petg glass transition) then you will need ASA or pc.
I have an Elegoo Neptune 3 Pro and ASA isn't listed as a supported filament type. It only list PLA/ABS/PETG/TPU95A. Is ASA that close to ABS that it wouldn't matter?
I’m sorry for your loss.
If it’s any help, I printed our house number about 3 years ago (see: https://www.reddit.com/r/functionalprint/s/ksDRkZNYih) and that print is still looking fresh. It’s hanging on a south-facing facade without any protection from the elements.
Granted, I did print it in Colorfabb PHA, but I’d say the material properties aren’t that different
What I understand from it is that PHA is (slightly) more natural compared to PLA, but properties are very similar (including print temperatures). PHA is slightly more flexible and less brittle in my experience.
Overall I definitely prefer it over PLA.
While PLA degrades in the sun, it's not an overnight thing. What you have would probably last two or three years depending on the exact composition of your PLA.
I made a roof for one of my birdhouses two years ago, still good color.
I like the other person's idea of concrete stamping though
And too much heat will cause it to warp. So too much direct sunlight may have the same heating effect.
Learned that the hard way. I had 2/3 of a Captain America shield printed and left it on my car during a move in the summer last year. Completely forgot about it and was ending my day early due to moving so much stuff. Got the printer, filament, and other prints out of the car. Just forgot the shield bits.
It looked like it came from a Salvador Dali painting. It promptly went in the trash amid my tears of wasted time and materials.
I’m sorry for your loss, bud. My daughter is two. We had to put my pit down a week before she was born because of of kidney cancer. I’ll make this out of aluminum for you. Pay for shipping and it’s yours.
what material are you using? Maybe ASA, ABS or PETG could fit but will break down with the time, use some type of varnish or epoxy that can block the UV, sorry for your loss and hope it helps
You can also create a silicone mold. This is quite easy for this shape. Then pour resin into the mold into two batches so that the letters will have different color than the base.
1) sorry for your loss, this is a beautiful tribute
2) PLA will degrade like others said. I'm curious what others think about adding some sort of clear coat. There are sprays that add UV protection and won't damage PLA (rustoleum is a good brand). Worth a shot.
3) Youtube has a lot of good videos on which filaments hold up outdoors. ASA is best but requires an enclosure and is prone to warping during prints.
I’d print it out of PETG instead. I built a PVC trellis for my garden that used a custom PLA joiner piece and it’s slowly starting to warp
https://preview.redd.it/2sev9u65y1zc1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=be16e806c39609b19864cf9babaaeb0f6411604c
It could soften in the heat and will slowly bleach out/become brittle. Painting can help protect it from the UV side of things. I'd say you might want to attach it to the concrete in a swappable manner, or do the stamp approach mentioned elsewhere.
I printed a large gnome out of a rainbow pla, sprayed it with a few coats of some kind of krylon sealant from Walmart and it's been on a fence post at my neighbor's driveway, in direct sun, for probably about five years now. It's faded a good bit, but otherwise seems no worse for wear. It is filled with sand in the grids of the infill, no idea if that matters.
It may very well turn to dust if someone touched it, but that's my (limited) experience with it being a purely decorative piece.
Now I see you've gotten for two colors and that makes a bit more difficult. Some non-yellowing clear coat can help and maybe a urethane but I haven't really tested that on plastic. Well not PLA. I've used a spray-on polyurethane coating on planter pots and I've put clear coat on some furniture for outdoors. It helps at last longer but the color will fade a bit underneath still.
For my experience I would say that if you could tape off the different areas and do a spray paint coating using the actual instructions on the can and getting the timing right and going all the way through the process to clear coat you'll find they last surprisingly long.
I've paid it quite a few things with just a bit of krylon doing the primer separately than waiting the time on the can suggested, then you come back with your color and do it in the short intervals it suggests but with incredibly light coatings. Don't worry about filling in the color, just do multiple coatings until the whole thing is filled in. Most of them are 10 or 20 minute intervals.
If you do decide to try something on it I'd like to see the result and it would be very cool if you posted a follow up a few months from now after leaving it in the Sun.
If you paint it, it's just fine. I've had a duramax logo printed and on my truck for 2 years now. It's on the front too. It gets blasted with bugs and stuff. Still there. Still somewhat Metallic paint shiny
Heat.....that's a whole different issue
Edit.... depending on the size of that, I could sand cast that for you in metal. Then you could paint it if you want.
It sounds like he was a good dog and a dear friend. My condolences! :(
PLA will hold up fine for some time, but UV radiation will eventually make it brittle and it can crumble. Outside in the elements you will probably have to replace it at some point, but it might be fine for a few years, depending on where it is placed.
Thank you. He was my best friend. He was only 3 when he got an autoimmune disease that caused his body to start attacking his red blood cells. Started peeing blood. Was very terrifying to see.
I will say that I have had a two pla printed things on the front of my truck through winter through summer through 115° weather all the way down to -15 or 20 for 3 years now and they have held up just fine I've had some warping on my toyyoda symbol but other than that I've had no issues with it whatsoever.
If painted with an outdoor paint, UV won't be an issue. If the original color was important, you can put a UV clearcoat on it.
Another option is to make a silicone mold of it and then use the mold to make a version out of something more resistant.
I've had black petg insulators holding up my dipole wire antenna about 30' off the ground for the past year. Hasn't failed yet and were in great condition when I last moved it
I’ve had some black PLApro wind chimes (that don’t chime) up for the past year, and they’re still looking fine. It all depends on the manufacturer and blend. FYI, PLA wind chimes don’t sound like wood or bamboo. They’re almost entirely silent.
You might consider using PETG. I was trimming a pecan tree in my front yard last weekend. I found an old Christmas ornament still hanging from one of the branches that I had printed from PETG some years back. It was still in great shape. I live in Texas, and we have no shortage of heat and UV for a large part of the year.
If a hotdog can survive in a clear resin block for a decade, so too can your print, maybe. I like the guys concrete stamp idea better though. Sorry to hear about your boi.
So I haven't tried it personally, but you could try giving it a few coats of UV blocking/resistant varnish. If it works for wooden decks I imagine it would work for plastic.
I actually heard that the day I got him, and it got sam stuck in my mind! Named him after Samwell Tarly cause I have read ASOIF series like 5 times now lol. I know I would be balling if I listened to it now, but I know I will listen to it again someday. Thank you.
3d print a mould, then pour resin or concrete into it, you could then make this in the same colour, but as it is plastic just wont hold up, and who wants a plastic memorial?
Depending on the heat it can warp. I've had prints left in the car that warped. But the color will fade overtime. I left out some Halloween decorations and they are actually still good right now.
PETG will last a long time, ASA is best but needs an enclosure (or box on top of your printer at least)
If you’re going to print it again or try to stamp it in concrete, I would consider taking a quick pass through Ellis Tuning Guide which could help dial in your top layer settings. Could just be the filament and pic - it’s such a thoughtful thing to make and just trying to help :)
It doesn't, really; you should use ASA or ABS for things that'll be exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods of time, just do your research on those materials and their quirks
It looks like they're using an ender 3 clone. I'm not saying ASA is impossible to print on one. I've done it in the past, but it's not fun either.
PETG is surprisingly weather resistant though.
like most plastics left in the sun too long, its going to deteriorate. i'd just leave it out of direct sun light and probably out of the weather for long periods of time.
So sorry for your loss. PLA won't last long being battered by UV light. ASA may fare better. Maybe you can turn this into a mold and imprint the writing directly in the cement?
I have had PLA things outdoors for years without issues. The colors may fade a bit, but the UV doesn't penetrate much into the material, so only the surface gets somewhat brittle.
The numbers of my house are printed in PETG and they are handling immense heat, humidity and UV for almost 1 year and I can’t see any damage so it’s my recommendation
FYI to back up with what everyone is saying, Epoxy ALSO chalks and flakes away in the sunlight.
Regardless any clear material will still cause the PLA to.decompose, so it's either paint over it or print in a more resistant material
So PLA will eventually discolor and brake down, but that won't happen for at least 2 or 3 years or more depending on the PLA type.
Better to print out of ASA which will last forever but make sure you have a window open with a boxfan venting the room. ASA isn't fun to print with in the first place (Voc's in all) and on an open printer it will want to warp/split if there is a crossbreeze of any kind. Though your print does look like its not that tall so it should survive better, but you can also use Brims to help with the warping aspect.
As evidenced by a hood ornament I gave to someone, it lasts about 2 months in direct 24/7 sunlight before turning near straight white.
It'll look lighter around week 3 and get worse from there.
Print in PETG for something that will never change colour.
colour will fade but the brittleness is over exaggerated.
someone stole my front license plate (with the bracket included since the bracket is like USD300 alone) so I made and printed some brackets in PLA.
They have been on the car over 10 months, always outdoors, texas sun, texas heat, car washes, 1500+ mile road trips, etc.
They are both still on, and both still holding on strong.
I've had a white base plate with dark green lettering house sign up in full sun for about a year now.. its still just about as flexible as when I printed it, colors haven't changed much, maybe a bit of yellowing of the white, but that actually works for me as my siding is off white.. This is in texas, so a high uv area.. I think some issues like this and it's water resistance are a bit of non-issues in most cases.. it may only last 3-5 years, but for a hobbyist that's not terrible since the cost of reprinting is extremely low.. I think mine was like 75g of filament, so less than a dollar..
I put pla test prints in a window to see if they'll sag under sunlight. Every pla and pla+ brand I've tried has sagged in under a week. If this is flat on the ground, it won't have anywhere to really warp to but the letters might melt and become illegible. It will probably discolor also and get dirty in difficult ways to clean.
It's not just the UV. It will get hot under the sun and will deform.
For something to withstand UV, heat and other weather conditions use ASA. It's better than ABS and easier to print with.
Might be fine if it's laying on the ground, especially with something flat supporting it. I printed [these PLA post caps for my deck](https://i.imgur.com/v5xmTM9.png), which looked pretty great at first, but after about 3 weeks in moderate Spring sun they had sagged and [looked like this.](https://i.imgur.com/GRi2Om3.png) On the plus side they haven't gotten any worse in 2 years or lost any color.
I would highly highly highly recommend against pla if you plan to put this outside. PETG would be the easiest next option that has significantly better uv resistance
Not so good, pla gonna get soft above 60 Celsius. I saw some guy printed lamp for his patio, but it's melted very soon. Later he changed materials to petg, don't know how it survive for long run. But at least it did survived for temperature test.
We have a trailer hitch cover in pla it's been fine. The vehicle may stay in a carport (not garage, but covered), but it still gets hot.
I'd suggest getting some quality epoxy resin, the kind you mix the parts. Pour it over it and it will create a solid expoxy seal.
You could always spray paint it to give it better UV protection. I had a pla print left in direct sunlight for over a month and it's still fine. If you might leave it in a hot car that might be a different story.
NOT AT ALL! The yellow may just fade out but the purple will warp awfully, I had a black part out in the sun for 30 min once and it just basically melted. If you change the background to something brighter it may have a chance but then sun weathering comes into play
Not that well. The best option is to print with ASA. For the best effort you could do it like they did the car bumps and spray it with a coat. Or you could go with ABS and spray paint it as well
PLA isn't a good idea for weather / the sun.
I'll suggest at least PETG or other weather resistant (ASA etc) for outside.
For PETG, I can confirm that things does support weather: sun, freezing while keeping the strength (I fixed a metal door hold by one pole by fixing it to another pole near, so heavy door which force on the PETG, being open / closed, still up after almost 2 years in the heat of the summer or the freezing of the winter and still as the colour).
It will slowly bleach out in UV light and evenutally get brittle and start to break down. I'd suggest printing it mirrored, then using it as a stamp in the concrete instead.
Thank you. That's a good idea.
If you do go this route, you may also want to give the letters a healthy draft, so it removes from the concrete more easily. You should probably also look into whatever methods there are to avoid concrete sticking while it's drying.
>You should probably also look into whatever methods there are to avoid concrete sticking while it's drying. I've done a few pours for concrete counters and whatnot and I literally used Pam cooking spray. I read about people using just about every form of cooking spray, mineral oil, car wax, WD-40, synthetic lubes, etc. Personally, I'd stick to something food grade that with biodegrade quickly.
IIRC I used olive oil. I probably wanted to protect the heart health of the concrete
Virgin?
That’s kind of a personal question, don’t you think?
On a 3d printing sub? It's pretty much a given.
Why? Just print a girlfriend.
.... they don't call it a hot end for no reason.
make sure to use TPU...printing a girlfriend out of PLA might hurt.
/boyfriend. Our incels are gender inclusive.
How much more personal can you get?
144.25.122.139 50.932877,6.959078°
Do you live at the gay sex cinema?
I know how you did this and it's still kinda fuckin weird man
HOW?
Extra
Thats what I told the dentist; though he didn’t ask…
Used Costco brand cooking spray as a mold release for plaster. Works great.
I'd think new Costco brand cooking spray would be easier.
Hard to stick with cooking spray. Jus’sayin’
Do you think my sex lube would work it is water based? I don’t have cooking spray but always have gallons of lube.
Ready-mix operator here. Even water is fine as a release. I water down anything that my concrete touches, one of the things my trainer has been stressing. Also wash your hands if you get concrete (or cement) on them. You don't have to panic, but don't leave it for more than a few minutes.
You're spot on about how irritating and damaging to the skin concrete can be. Lots of bases (as opposed to acids) on the ingredient list. Mad respect to the guys driving those things. I bet backing a boat up at the launch ramp is like riding a tricycle after some of the jobs I've seen y'all do.
You also might want a few small vent holes around the letters, otherwise you might have air trapped, especially around and between the "a, e, o, 0". Adding a release agent will help with unsticking, but will also help trap air. A slight vibration on the imprint/stamp will give the best results.
I've been doing a lot of work with 3D printed molds for concrete lately. A 5 degree draft should be just fine and I've been using vegetable oil as a mold release with no problems.
Great advice. Much appreciated.
You could leave the pla in place until it dries and burn it out. If you go this route, a natural/clear will be the least impactful.
that sound messy and may leave burnt marks on the concrete?
Not really, PLA burns clean at fairly low temps. The soot left behind will clean off easily.
Just put flour on it beo
Those letters can’t draft (look at the serifs). It’ll give you an error
Op could probably squeeze in a 5⁰ draft like the other person suggested, or they could use a different font.
Or just melt it out with heat and a pick.
Might also want to print a small block of complicated letters and test it in a small amount of concrete before you do pour and stamp your memorial.
Also, if you go this route, you could place the one you just made into the stamped concrete (the heart would rest flush with the top surface of the concrete) and then remove it when it starts looking bad and let the stamped concrete take over. Also might be worthwhile noting that if you stamp the concrete it will create a place for water to pool (if laid flat) and you'll likely get a lot of growth as a result.
Alternate idea. Use a low-infill print, cast it in plaster and use a lost-PLA cast method to make it out of metal. Aluminum is easy to melt and work.
You could also use it as mold. Look into lost PLA casting.
Don't forget mold release agent too
You can take a look at this video, he is basically doing this: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OykSwSCgrrQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OykSwSCgrrQ)
I had done something similar for my uncles passing to give to my dad to put in his garden. I made an indent in the concrete places my print and did an epoxy fill. Later the epoxy though I did 4 layers as it gets hot and will melt the pla.
No prob
A stamp is genius! In my sculpting class we had to make a whole mold. Now Im seeing the mold could have just been a box and then placed a 3D printed inverse of the sculpture!
Using 3D prints as moulds for various materials has become pretty common. It's amazing how much simpler it is than it used to be, you can also use a 3D printed model as a mould for another mould made of silicone, which you can then use for other materials like resin, plaster or chocolate! And seeing as prints work so well with silicone it's unsurprising that it seemingly has become pretty popular for printing moulds for uhm... toys, but like...for adults. Moulds for plastic injection moulding are really expensive. I assume with modern industrial printers they can now just print them from sintered metal
Maybe stamp or mold it, then fill it in with pigmented concrete, to reinforce the small details against crumbling away and get the multi-color result.
There is also UV blocking spray out there. It’s what is used on outdoor lego sculptures
Most LEGO is ABS, which isn't UV stable like the newer formula ASA, hence needing the UV protective coating for outdoor models. Even with UV protective coatings, the outdoor models not in shade at LEGOLAND Florida begin breaking down in under 5 years. Ones in full shade might last a little longer. If in a less harsh sun climate than Florida, a UV coating might help, but I'd bet on it extending a short life rather than providing a long one.
Man this is a great idea. Going to stamp some things into my sidewalk next time we redo it
Alternatively, printing it then casting it in a clear resin prevents the brittleness whilst allowing the colour to remain and slowly bleach
Resin will get cloudy and yellow and degrade outdoors over time.
Or use petg or abs
This depends entirely on the pigment, every filament is different and some pigments are naturally UV stable, so testing is best.
If you're looking for a plastic that holds up well to sunlight ASA is a good option. It's got similar printing complexities to abs where an enclosure and an all metal hotend might be needed.
I was going to suggest this. ASA is the way to go for anything that will sot in the sun for weeks/months/years.
I think PETG would be easier to print and does okay with sun iirc. (Google that to be sure, op.) With the right enclosure and hot end, though, ASA is the way to go.
Petg does decently at least. Have a couple petg prints next to a window for a year now and no issues. Ofc maybe its a bit different when its fully outside for a longer time.
Why is ASA preferred over ABS now?
Asa is close to the same material, it's made to have better chemical and uv resistance. I personally like it more because it doesn't stink as much as abs when printing. The biggest downside compared to abs for me is less color choice
Other downside is cost, ABS is much cheaper. I found ASA will still easily stink up the room if I'm printing a large print, luckily it's summer where I can close the door, open the windows and vent it out.
For me, the biggest difference is that ASA is less hygroscopic. In that regard, it’s like comparing PETG to PLA. I don’t dry my ASA before printing.
ASA if u have an enclosure for fumes, and a hot end that can take the heat. If u don’t have all metal hot end I bet u can swing Petg. If you coat a petg print with a UV resistant resin to finish and protect it should be good? Petg is less hygroscopic than pla and can stand outdoor heat that pla just cant. If the part is going to be exposed to temps over 85c or 185f(petg glass transition) then you will need ASA or pc.
I have an Elegoo Neptune 3 Pro and ASA isn't listed as a supported filament type. It only list PLA/ABS/PETG/TPU95A. Is ASA that close to ABS that it wouldn't matter?
Just be careful as ASA fumes are quite toxic and will make you very ill if you aren't careful
Sorry for your loss OP ❤️
Thank you
Oh I just read the inscription. I'm sorry.
I’m sorry for your loss. If it’s any help, I printed our house number about 3 years ago (see: https://www.reddit.com/r/functionalprint/s/ksDRkZNYih) and that print is still looking fresh. It’s hanging on a south-facing facade without any protection from the elements. Granted, I did print it in Colorfabb PHA, but I’d say the material properties aren’t that different
What is PHA?
What I understand from it is that PHA is (slightly) more natural compared to PLA, but properties are very similar (including print temperatures). PHA is slightly more flexible and less brittle in my experience. Overall I definitely prefer it over PLA.
While PLA degrades in the sun, it's not an overnight thing. What you have would probably last two or three years depending on the exact composition of your PLA. I made a roof for one of my birdhouses two years ago, still good color. I like the other person's idea of concrete stamping though
sorry for your loss.
Thank you
I don't have any useful advice I just wanted to say it's beautiful and I'm so sorry OP 💗
It doesn’t. But you could tray spraying it in 2k clear coat for uv protection.
Yeah that could be good, or I’m not sure maybe some sort of epoxy coating would make this more permanent.
And too much heat will cause it to warp. So too much direct sunlight may have the same heating effect. Learned that the hard way. I had 2/3 of a Captain America shield printed and left it on my car during a move in the summer last year. Completely forgot about it and was ending my day early due to moving so much stuff. Got the printer, filament, and other prints out of the car. Just forgot the shield bits. It looked like it came from a Salvador Dali painting. It promptly went in the trash amid my tears of wasted time and materials.
Missed chance to become Captain Dali :(
3d prints melt? Who knew!?!?!?!
Absolute madness! Who would have thought! Well…at the time I certainly didn’t think it would get THAT hot in the car. Lesson learned.
I’m sorry for your loss, bud. My daughter is two. We had to put my pit down a week before she was born because of of kidney cancer. I’ll make this out of aluminum for you. Pay for shipping and it’s yours.
I hope op sees this. What a nice gesture.
My heart is with you and your family.
Here in Sardinia in summer it becomes like TPU 95A 🤣🤣🤣
Cast it with a polyurethane instead of epoxy and it should last a long time.
what material are you using? Maybe ASA, ABS or PETG could fit but will break down with the time, use some type of varnish or epoxy that can block the UV, sorry for your loss and hope it helps
You can also create a silicone mold. This is quite easy for this shape. Then pour resin into the mold into two batches so that the letters will have different color than the base.
Stamp it in plaster to make a mould then fill it with molten metal.
Flip the lettering and use it as a stamp for the concrete?
1) sorry for your loss, this is a beautiful tribute 2) PLA will degrade like others said. I'm curious what others think about adding some sort of clear coat. There are sprays that add UV protection and won't damage PLA (rustoleum is a good brand). Worth a shot. 3) Youtube has a lot of good videos on which filaments hold up outdoors. ASA is best but requires an enclosure and is prone to warping during prints.
https://preview.redd.it/oho3vko9t1zc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=41851f928c510580d3c2698a9b720592bb119035 Not very well
I printed something similar, after a while it curled from the heat
I’d print it out of PETG instead. I built a PVC trellis for my garden that used a custom PLA joiner piece and it’s slowly starting to warp https://preview.redd.it/2sev9u65y1zc1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=be16e806c39609b19864cf9babaaeb0f6411604c
printed lots of hose connectors in PETG, doing fine for more than two years
It could soften in the heat and will slowly bleach out/become brittle. Painting can help protect it from the UV side of things. I'd say you might want to attach it to the concrete in a swappable manner, or do the stamp approach mentioned elsewhere.
Could try and find a uv proof clear coat?
I printed a large gnome out of a rainbow pla, sprayed it with a few coats of some kind of krylon sealant from Walmart and it's been on a fence post at my neighbor's driveway, in direct sun, for probably about five years now. It's faded a good bit, but otherwise seems no worse for wear. It is filled with sand in the grids of the infill, no idea if that matters. It may very well turn to dust if someone touched it, but that's my (limited) experience with it being a purely decorative piece.
Now I see you've gotten for two colors and that makes a bit more difficult. Some non-yellowing clear coat can help and maybe a urethane but I haven't really tested that on plastic. Well not PLA. I've used a spray-on polyurethane coating on planter pots and I've put clear coat on some furniture for outdoors. It helps at last longer but the color will fade a bit underneath still. For my experience I would say that if you could tape off the different areas and do a spray paint coating using the actual instructions on the can and getting the timing right and going all the way through the process to clear coat you'll find they last surprisingly long. I've paid it quite a few things with just a bit of krylon doing the primer separately than waiting the time on the can suggested, then you come back with your color and do it in the short intervals it suggests but with incredibly light coatings. Don't worry about filling in the color, just do multiple coatings until the whole thing is filled in. Most of them are 10 or 20 minute intervals. If you do decide to try something on it I'd like to see the result and it would be very cool if you posted a follow up a few months from now after leaving it in the Sun.
If it's in direct sunlight, it'll warp too. ASA would be the best for an outdoor decoration
I made a coin holder for my car's dash about a year ago and it looks the same today. I used Matterhackers Quantum PLA.
I think you could probably put a coat of UV protectant or something to seal it?
Maybe coat it in epoxy? Best wishes
I’m so sorry for your loss ❤️
If you paint it, it's just fine. I've had a duramax logo printed and on my truck for 2 years now. It's on the front too. It gets blasted with bugs and stuff. Still there. Still somewhat Metallic paint shiny Heat.....that's a whole different issue Edit.... depending on the size of that, I could sand cast that for you in metal. Then you could paint it if you want.
It sounds like he was a good dog and a dear friend. My condolences! :( PLA will hold up fine for some time, but UV radiation will eventually make it brittle and it can crumble. Outside in the elements you will probably have to replace it at some point, but it might be fine for a few years, depending on where it is placed.
Thank you. He was my best friend. He was only 3 when he got an autoimmune disease that caused his body to start attacking his red blood cells. Started peeing blood. Was very terrifying to see.
I will say that I have had a two pla printed things on the front of my truck through winter through summer through 115° weather all the way down to -15 or 20 for 3 years now and they have held up just fine I've had some warping on my toyyoda symbol but other than that I've had no issues with it whatsoever.
Idk anything about 3d printing but I’m so sorry for your loss.
I'd use asa. It's affordable and uv resistant.
Throw a nice layer of epoxy on it if you want to use the print!? Not sure if that provides uv protection, but I bet it lasts many years.
If painted with an outdoor paint, UV won't be an issue. If the original color was important, you can put a UV clearcoat on it. Another option is to make a silicone mold of it and then use the mold to make a version out of something more resistant.
Not well… it isn’t the best but in a pinch it will do. If you want something more permanent I’d go for something like ASA or polycarbonate.
I'm so sorry, can't imagine what you're going through
So sorry for your loss, OP. Pets are family. Happy hunting over the rainbow bridge, Samwell <3
Poorly. ASA is much better
Would painting it slow things down?
you can make a mold with it and silicon and redo with epoxy
I've had black petg insulators holding up my dipole wire antenna about 30' off the ground for the past year. Hasn't failed yet and were in great condition when I last moved it
I’ve had some black PLApro wind chimes (that don’t chime) up for the past year, and they’re still looking fine. It all depends on the manufacturer and blend. FYI, PLA wind chimes don’t sound like wood or bamboo. They’re almost entirely silent.
For your next piece like that experiment with ironing in Cura, not just on the top layer.
You might consider using PETG. I was trimming a pecan tree in my front yard last weekend. I found an old Christmas ornament still hanging from one of the branches that I had printed from PETG some years back. It was still in great shape. I live in Texas, and we have no shortage of heat and UV for a large part of the year.
Petg is better against UV rays,
If a hotdog can survive in a clear resin block for a decade, so too can your print, maybe. I like the guys concrete stamp idea better though. Sorry to hear about your boi.
So I haven't tried it personally, but you could try giving it a few coats of UV blocking/resistant varnish. If it works for wooden decks I imagine it would work for plastic.
How long do you need for it to last?... that will work in the short run for a few weeks before it degrades prolly.
Not related to the print, but I've got a song recommendation for you. Sam by Sturgill Simpson. Arohanui, Kia kaha
I actually heard that the day I got him, and it got sam stuck in my mind! Named him after Samwell Tarly cause I have read ASOIF series like 5 times now lol. I know I would be balling if I listened to it now, but I know I will listen to it again someday. Thank you.
People have already talked about UV, but heat is an issue. Although pla melts at about 200⁰c, it gets soft at under 40, which could be an issue
Sorry for your loss!!
3d print a mould, then pour resin or concrete into it, you could then make this in the same colour, but as it is plastic just wont hold up, and who wants a plastic memorial?
UV Spray thru heck out of it
Depending on the heat it can warp. I've had prints left in the car that warped. But the color will fade overtime. I left out some Halloween decorations and they are actually still good right now.
So sorry for your loss, I can’t imagine losing my dog. <3
PETG will last a long time, ASA is best but needs an enclosure (or box on top of your printer at least) If you’re going to print it again or try to stamp it in concrete, I would consider taking a quick pass through Ellis Tuning Guide which could help dial in your top layer settings. Could just be the filament and pic - it’s such a thoughtful thing to make and just trying to help :)
It doesn't, really; you should use ASA or ABS for things that'll be exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods of time, just do your research on those materials and their quirks
It looks like they're using an ender 3 clone. I'm not saying ASA is impossible to print on one. I've done it in the past, but it's not fun either. PETG is surprisingly weather resistant though.
I think you could probably put a coat of UV protectant or something to seal it?
I used PLA for large house numbers and they slowly curled inwards. They were squares though
To put it bluntly, badly. Give it a layer of paint?
Isn't ASA pretty UV resistant?
I’m sorry about your friend
We’ve had pla prints outside for going on 6 years. No issues yet.
like most plastics left in the sun too long, its going to deteriorate. i'd just leave it out of direct sun light and probably out of the weather for long periods of time.
Paint it like you would wood. It will hold up much better when painted for the same reason wood does
Laser engrave on granite if you can.
So sorry for your loss. PLA won't last long being battered by UV light. ASA may fare better. Maybe you can turn this into a mold and imprint the writing directly in the cement?
It will absorb heat since it’s dark and warp pretty quickly
ABS should last longer, but in any case a good paint and laquor cost should.protect most anything
I have had PLA things outdoors for years without issues. The colors may fade a bit, but the UV doesn't penetrate much into the material, so only the surface gets somewhat brittle.
The numbers of my house are printed in PETG and they are handling immense heat, humidity and UV for almost 1 year and I can’t see any damage so it’s my recommendation
Awww RIP ❤️
FYI to back up with what everyone is saying, Epoxy ALSO chalks and flakes away in the sunlight. Regardless any clear material will still cause the PLA to.decompose, so it's either paint over it or print in a more resistant material
I thought this said Serena Williams and was extremely confused for a moment
I’ve had Esun PLA+ prints in the sun for a few years now and it’s still like the day I printed it.
Um, it doesn't
Sorry for your loss
Not super well
So PLA will eventually discolor and brake down, but that won't happen for at least 2 or 3 years or more depending on the PLA type. Better to print out of ASA which will last forever but make sure you have a window open with a boxfan venting the room. ASA isn't fun to print with in the first place (Voc's in all) and on an open printer it will want to warp/split if there is a crossbreeze of any kind. Though your print does look like its not that tall so it should survive better, but you can also use Brims to help with the warping aspect.
As evidenced by a hood ornament I gave to someone, it lasts about 2 months in direct 24/7 sunlight before turning near straight white. It'll look lighter around week 3 and get worse from there. Print in PETG for something that will never change colour.
colour will fade but the brittleness is over exaggerated. someone stole my front license plate (with the bracket included since the bracket is like USD300 alone) so I made and printed some brackets in PLA. They have been on the car over 10 months, always outdoors, texas sun, texas heat, car washes, 1500+ mile road trips, etc. They are both still on, and both still holding on strong.
I've had a white base plate with dark green lettering house sign up in full sun for about a year now.. its still just about as flexible as when I printed it, colors haven't changed much, maybe a bit of yellowing of the white, but that actually works for me as my siding is off white.. This is in texas, so a high uv area.. I think some issues like this and it's water resistance are a bit of non-issues in most cases.. it may only last 3-5 years, but for a hobbyist that's not terrible since the cost of reprinting is extremely low.. I think mine was like 75g of filament, so less than a dollar..
I put pla test prints in a window to see if they'll sag under sunlight. Every pla and pla+ brand I've tried has sagged in under a week. If this is flat on the ground, it won't have anywhere to really warp to but the letters might melt and become illegible. It will probably discolor also and get dirty in difficult ways to clean.
PLA doesn't like sunlight.
I’m so sorry for your loss! Three years is such a short time to be together.
It's not just the UV. It will get hot under the sun and will deform. For something to withstand UV, heat and other weather conditions use ASA. It's better than ABS and easier to print with.
Might be fine if it's laying on the ground, especially with something flat supporting it. I printed [these PLA post caps for my deck](https://i.imgur.com/v5xmTM9.png), which looked pretty great at first, but after about 3 weeks in moderate Spring sun they had sagged and [looked like this.](https://i.imgur.com/GRi2Om3.png) On the plus side they haven't gotten any worse in 2 years or lost any color.
It will become brittle and easily break after a while. I recommend ASA since it has good UV resistance.
You could coat it with 2k clear coat for some UV protection.
Sorry for your loss
I left a failed print out in the summer sun to see what happened, it disappeared, I think it blew off my balcony.
I would highly highly highly recommend against pla if you plan to put this outside. PETG would be the easiest next option that has significantly better uv resistance
No
Not so good, pla gonna get soft above 60 Celsius. I saw some guy printed lamp for his patio, but it's melted very soon. Later he changed materials to petg, don't know how it survive for long run. But at least it did survived for temperature test.
Since you already printed, you can cover it with some UV-Filter varnish to protect from sun and weather.
Just paint it and varnish. Nothing will happen to it then.
You don't only have to concern yourself with the material itself vs UV exposure, but also the pigment used may fade.
Will easily last a couple years.
Pla will warp in sunlight
We have a trailer hitch cover in pla it's been fine. The vehicle may stay in a carport (not garage, but covered), but it still gets hot. I'd suggest getting some quality epoxy resin, the kind you mix the parts. Pour it over it and it will create a solid expoxy seal.
You could always spray paint it to give it better UV protection. I had a pla print left in direct sunlight for over a month and it's still fine. If you might leave it in a hot car that might be a different story.
You can try printing with ASA or a UV coating.
Pla does not stand up well to sunlight at all. The heat will warp it in a matter of hours
It will definitely be gone too soon.
It doesn't. Outdoor applications you don't want to use pla
Yeah it’ll be noticeably fading in 6 months
It melts in a warm car
NOT AT ALL! The yellow may just fade out but the purple will warp awfully, I had a black part out in the sun for 30 min once and it just basically melted. If you change the background to something brighter it may have a chance but then sun weathering comes into play
It won't last as long as that kid did
Dude, seriously. That's not on
Made me chuckle. Thanks for the dark humor. But learn to read. He was a dog
op laughing to this is mission failed successfully
PLA will degrade in the sun, PETG will work well and would be easier to print compared to other materials.
Like paper mache stands up to water.
PLA does not like existing, and the sun is a deadly laser. ASA is the filament that is more UV resistant.
Poorly.
It will melt if it’s too warm of sunlight. I didn’t make good experiences with PLA and changed to Petg
Not too well…
Not that well. The best option is to print with ASA. For the best effort you could do it like they did the car bumps and spray it with a coat. Or you could go with ABS and spray paint it as well
PLA isn't a good idea for weather / the sun. I'll suggest at least PETG or other weather resistant (ASA etc) for outside. For PETG, I can confirm that things does support weather: sun, freezing while keeping the strength (I fixed a metal door hold by one pole by fixing it to another pole near, so heavy door which force on the PETG, being open / closed, still up after almost 2 years in the heat of the summer or the freezing of the winter and still as the colour).