3D Printed Lacrosse Balls: Will It Break or Bounce?
Each 3D Printing material has its own application, and many materials are known for their durability. We put 9 materials available through our 3D printing service to the test to see whether they would break or bounce in this high-velocity impact lacrosse experiment!
At Xometry, we’ve tested the impact resistance of 3D printed parts in a few processes in the past, but now we're diving deeper and exploring more polymers and infill options.
We offer dozens of 3D printed polymers that you can instantly price online through Xometry's 3D printing service. They all have their strengths and ideal applications, but polymers, in general, are known for their durability.
So, how do we test that durability? High-velocity impact, of course! And sometimes the best way to do that….is by throwing stuff at a wall. To honor the start of the spring sports season, what better method than a Maryland favorite: lacrosse.
So grab your safety glasses and see what happens when we put balls-to-the-wall!
| Process | Material | Hypothesis |
|---|---|---|
Process Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) | Material Nylon 12, dyed green / Nylon 12, glass-filled | Hypothesis No break / Possible chipping |
Process Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) | Material ABS-M30, solid / ABS-M30, ultralight / Polycarbonate, solid / Nylon 12, solid / Ultem 9085, solid | Hypothesis No break / Dent or break / Chip / No break / No break |
Process PolyJet | Material Multi-material rigid / Shore A 50 rubber-like | Hypothesis Chip or shatter / Coarse tearing |