3D printed parts are generally not nearly as strong as an equivalent injection molded part and techniques like prolonged heat treatment, although they tend to distort the part beyond use.
[CNC Kitchen] examined the results (video, embedded below) of a recent paper describing a novel ABS filament reinforced by a “star-shaped” polycarbonate core. According to the authors, this arrangement is resistant to deformation during the annealing process, which is often required to increase the strength of the parts. While researchers had access to specialized equipment needed to make such a composite material, [CNC Kitchen’s] The solution to simply using its twin extruder setup to print the required hybrid filament directly is something we think is very much in line with the now old school, RepRap “print your printer” vibe.
The printed filament appears to be of reasonable dimensional accuracy and seems to feed the printed spool through a heating block with no nozzle attached to ensure there are no obvious clogs. The rest of the video focuses on a very thorough comparison of strength and deformation between the garden variety of polycarbonate, ABS, and this new hybrid filament after the annealing process. Although he finishes with mixed results, being able to combine and print just your own hybrid filament is super cool and a success in itself!
Interested in multi-material filaments? Read our article about a more conventional approach that doesn’t require you to print it yourself!