Video: Will It Erode? - Part 1

We performed this test with the popular "3D Benchy", a 3D model specifically designed for testing and benchmarking 3D printers. In this first part of the series, we tested the abrasion resistance of various materials ranging from thermoplastics to photopolymer resins by media blasting them with an aggressive aluminum-oxide media. Here is a list of the processes and materials we tested:

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)

• PLA
• Polycarbonate
• ULTEM 9085

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)

• Nylon 12 (dyed blue)
• Nylon 11 EX

HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF)

• Polypropylene
• TPU 88A

Stereolithography (SLA)

• Accura ClearVue (quick-clear finish)
• Somos EvoLVe 128

Lubricant Sublayer Photo-curing (LSPc)

• xCE
• xPP405

Digital Light Synthesis (DLS)

• RPU 70

PolyJet

• Opaque Rigid Photopolymer

At the conclusion of the media blasting abrasion tests, we assigned an abrasion resistance ranking to each material based on how it performed. 1-star rated materials exhibited poor abrasion resistance, exemplified by issues such as surface erosion, feature loss, abrasions, etc. In contrast, 3-star rated materials had excellent abrasion resistance and held up significantly better.

You can see the results from the test in the chart below:

In the image gallery below, you can closely examine how each tested part changed by the end of the experiment. On the left side of each photo you will see what the Benchy looked like before testing, and on the right what it looked like after testing.

Want to see more content like this? Check out some of our other engineering challenge videos below!

• Will It Break? - Impact Resistance Test
• Will It Beat The Heat? - Heat Test
• Will It Wrench? - Torque Strength Test