Delrin, also known as acetal or POM, is a unique thermoplastic material. Parts 3D printed with Delrin offer high-impact strength, resistance to repeated impacts, and low moisture absorption. But before we discuss more about this special material, let’s clear up some issues around nomenclature.
When creating new formulations, it’s common for material manufacturers to develop their own unique names. In this case, the American chemical company DuPont did just that when they manufactured an acetal resin thermoset plastic, calling it Delrin. From there, the name has simply stuck with people.
Scientifically, a more appropriate name for Delrin is polyoxymethylene (POM), which is derived from the material’s chemical formula. While there are two common types of POM – copolymer acetal (POM-C) and homopolymer acetal (POM-H) – only the latter is what’s known as Delrin.
For this article, we’ll simply refer to the material as “POM”, even if what we’re really talking about is POM-H-based 3D printing filaments. We’ll discuss some printing tips for dealing with this tricky material, and then present some of the best brands if you’re up for the challenge.
Let’s dive in!
Tips & Tricks
Having a material that delivers in so many aspects comes with a price, and not just in terms of cost. POM is notably difficult to 3D print and offers many challenges to the regular 3D printing user.
The most common problem with 3D printing POM is bed adhesion, which can lead to warping, especially considering its low friction coefficient. Since the material is smooth, it’s slippery and thus more challenging to properly stick to the bed. Here are a few tips that can help the printing process:
- Proper bed adhesion: Place a wooden or cardboard surface on top of a heated bed to lay your print. Blue tape, hairspray, or similar adhesive-like methods might also provide good results but aren’t guaranteed.
- Use an enclosure or heated build chamber: Keep in mind that if POM gets overheated, it will produce formaldehyde fumes that are dangerous to inhale. For this reason, it’s highly recommended to use an enclosure or heated build chamber. In case you’re in need of some inspiration, we have some DIY ideas for a printer enclosure. Alternatively, you could use a 3D printer that comes enclosed.
- Go for an all-metal hot end: POM filament is a stiff material, so this type of hot end may provide better results.
- Adjust the nozzle temperature: It’s best to set your hot end somewhere between 210 and 230 °C. Don’t go over 230 °C, though, as you may overheat the material, causing it to emit unwanted fumes.
- Set the bed temperature: This depends on the filament and the printer. However, we’ve found that temperatures within the range of 120 to 150 °C seem to work. Naturally, you’ll need to try it out for yourself with a few test prints before deciding which to choose.
- Fine-tune the speed: It’s recommended to turn the printing speed down to around 30 mm/s. This helps ensure quality layer bonding because if the print head moves too fast, such a stiff material won’t have the time to achieve good adhesion onto a previous layer.
The Best Brands
Now that we’ve seen what it is and how to print with it, let’s look at some of the best Delrin filament options available to buy.
Gizmo Dorks
Gizmo Dorks is a popular filament manufacturer born and raised in California. It supplies many different filament materials, including what they call an acetal filament.
Sold in 1-kg spools, the company claims its POM can be printed with a bed temperature between 100 to 130 °C and recommends using a drywall joint tape, wood, or cellulose-based platform for bed adhesion.
User reviews on this POM filament at Gizmo Dorks website are mostly positive, although often commenting on the difficulties associated with bed adhesion.
- Colors: Black, white
- Sizes: 1.75 mm, 2.85 mm
- Price per kg: ~$27
3D Printers Online Store
3D Printers Online Store is a US-based online marketplace that sells anything related to 3D printers, including filaments.
Their POM filament is demanding. The recommended nozzle temperature is quite high (230 – 280 °C), although it’s suggested the bed temperature can be as low as 85 °C. Still, according to their website, it’s a high-rigidity and wear-resistant material. Plus, it offers free shipping to the US, EU, Australia, and the UK.
- Colors: Black, white
- Sizes: 1.75 mm, 3.00 mm
- Price per kg: ~$45
Yousu
Guangzhou Yousu is a Chinese filament manufacturer that offers engineering-grade materials like Polycarbonate (PC), PEI, PEEK, and of course, POM.
According to the company, besides all the applications POM is known for, their filament is also said to be food-safe, following a number of certifications. Be sure to check the provided Technical Data Sheet (TDS) and Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) on their website. This is one of the few companies that provide this information.
- Color: Natural (white)
- Sizes: 1.75 mm, 2.85 mm
- Price per kg: ~$29
What Are the Alternatives?
Wondering how POM stacks up against other popular filaments? As we’ve mentioned, POM offers a host of great advantages but printability can pose a challenge. Some other filament options you may want to consider for your next project include PLA, PETG, ABS, or nylon.
Unlike POM, PLA is super easy to print with and doesn’t require an enclosure. The downside is that PLA is rather brittle and doesn’t handle heat well, and shouldn’t be used for outdoor applications. PETG is more flexible and tough than PLA, but it doesn’t offer the same level of rigidity as POM.
As for ABS, it’s more durable than PETG but it can be trickier to print with. For example, ABS doesn’t like to stick to the bed, so you’ll need a heated build chamber and bed to prevent warping and cracking between layers. Compared to POM, ABS is easier to print, but it’s not as machineable.
While POM has a lower coefficient of friction than ABS, it’s pretty comparable to that of nylon. In fact, nylon (also known as PA) may be the best substitute for POM in the more demanding applications. Nylon also has excellent wear resistance, even better than POM as long as moisture is kept away.
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