3D Printing Resources
⚠ IMPORTANT: Licensing Requirements for ALL Uses
Each design has specific licensing requirements listed on its page. These requirements are legally binding and apply to:
- Original prints of these designs
- ALL remixes based on these designs
- ALL derivatives and modifications
- ANY commercial sale of prints or modified versions
If you sell prints commercially (including remixes/derivatives):
You MUST provide proper attribution to "Ham Radio Dude" and link to the original design. This is a legal requirement of the Creative Commons license.
Exception: Written licensing agreements with HRD Industries LLC may modify these terms. Unauthorized commercial use without proper attribution is copyright infringement and will be pursued.
License Types Explained
Check each design's page for its specific license. Here's what each license means:
FREE Free for All Use (CC0 / Public Domain)
Use for personal or commercial purposes. No restrictions or attribution required.
CREDIT REQUIRED CC-BY / CC-BY-SA
Commercial use IS allowed, but you MUST credit "Ham Radio Dude" and link to the original. This applies to remixes and derivatives too.
NON-COMMERCIAL CC-BY-NC / CC-BY-NC-SA
Personal use only. Commercial sales are NOT permitted. You may remix for personal use with attribution.
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Data refreshes every hour
Choosing the right filament for antenna winders, transformer enclosures, and portable gear isn't just about strength. It's about surviving a hot trunk in July and 100W of FT8 heating up your toroid. This guide focuses on what matters for ham radio.
⚡ Quick Reference
Best for Outdoor/Portable Antennas
ASA - Heat resistant to 248°F, UV stable, RF transparent
Acceptable Alternative
PETG - Easier to print, good to ~185°F
Use white color + vents for heat management
Avoid for RF Applications
Carbon Fiber filaments (PLA-CF, PETG-CF, PAHT-CF)
Carbon fiber attenuates RF signals
Avoid for Outdoor/Hot Conditions
PLA - Softens at just 140°F (hot car trunk temp)
Why I chose ASA: On a hot summer day with direct sun, the winder itself gets warm just sitting there. If I'm also housing a T140-43 transformer nearby running 100W FT8, temps can hit 145-175°F. That's right at PETG's softening point but well under ASA's limit.
When I am visiting Arizona/Nevada, I toss my antenna bag in the trunk during the summer where you're already at 150°F+ before you key up. I'd rather have margin than come back to a warped mess.
Material Comparison
| Property | PLA | PETG | ASA | ABS | Nylon | PAHT-CF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat Deflection (HDT) | 131-140°F (55-60°C) | 163°F (73°C) | 199°F (93°C) | 203°F (95°C) | 140-185°F | 375°F (191°C) |
| Real-World Failure* | 149°F (65°C) | 185°F (85°C) | 248°F (120°C) | 230°F (110°C) | Varies | >375°F |
| RF Transparent | Yes ✓ | Yes ✓ | Yes ✓ | Yes ✓ | Yes ✓ | NO ✗ |
| UV Resistance | Poor | Moderate | Excellent | Poor | Moderate | Good |
| Tensile Strength | 53-60 MPa | 43-50 MPa | 42-45 MPa | 40-45 MPa | 40-85 MPa | 93 MPa |
| Impact Resistance | Poor (brittle) | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Excellent | Brittle |
| Print Difficulty | Easy | Easy | Moderate | Moderate | Hard | Hard |
| Enclosure Needed | No | No | Recommended | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hardened Nozzle | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
*Real-world failure = temperature where part deforms under load (CNC Kitchen testing)
Material Details
RECOMMENDED ASA
The Good
- Heat resistant to 248°F (120°C) under load
- Excellent UV stability - won't degrade in sunlight
- RF transparent
- Matte finish hides layer lines
The Tradeoffs
- Needs enclosure or draft-free area
- Highest particle emissions - ventilate during printing
- Releases styrene fumes
Best For: Antenna winders, outdoor enclosures, anything in hot vehicles
ACCEPTABLE PETG
The Good
- Easy to print - almost as simple as PLA
- Good impact resistance
- RF transparent
- Very low emissions during printing
The Tradeoffs
- Softens ~185°F - marginal for extreme heat
- Will degrade over years in direct sun
If using for hot environments: Add vents, use standoffs between toroid and plastic, choose white/light colors to reduce solar absorption
NOT RECOMMENDED PLA
Why Hams Should Avoid for Field Use
- Softens at just 140°F (60°C)
- Car trunk in summer easily exceeds this
- Will warp and deform under heat
AVOID FOR RF Carbon Fiber Filaments
⚠️ DO NOT USE FOR ANTENNA APPLICATIONS
Carbon fiber is conductive. Even chopped CF in filaments will:
- Attenuate RF signals (40-60% reduction measured)
- Potentially detune your antenna
- Create unpredictable SWR
CF filaments are great for drone frames and structural parts - keep them away from antennas and feedlines. Carbon fiber conductivity (~10⁶ S/m) is enough to absorb HF energy even though particles aren't fully connected.
📡 RF Transparency Notes
All common non-filled filaments (PLA, PETG, ASA, ABS, Nylon, PC) are RF transparent.
Avoid for Antenna Parts:
- Carbon fiber filaments (any type)
- Metal-filled filaments (copper, bronze PLA)
- Conductive/EMI shielding filaments
🌬️ VOC & Print Safety
Lowest Emissions (safest)
PLA - Lactide only, 4-5 μg/min
PETG - Trace aldehydes, <1 μg/min
Moderate
Nylon - Caprolactam (irritant)
Highest (require ventilation)
ABS - Styrene 10-110 μg/min
ASA - Styrene <25 μg/min, HIGHEST particle count
Print ASA/ABS with ventilation or filtration. Parts are inert once printed.
📚 Notes & Sources
Heat & Mechanical Properties
• PLA typically has a higher tensile strength than PETG, with values around 50-60 MPa compared to 40-50 MPa for PETG. UltiMaker
• PETG has a higher heat deflection temperature than PLA, typically around 70°C compared to 55°C for PLA. UltiMaker
• QIDI PAHT-CF has tensile strength of 93.15±1.64 MPa, heat deflection temperature (annealed) of 190.7°C. QIDI Tech datasheet
• The heat deflection temperature of Bambu PAHT-CF is up to 194°C (0.45MPa), making it useful in applications where the printed parts may be exposed to high temperatures. Bambu Lab
VOC Emissions
• The emission rates of VOCs differ significantly between the different polymer filaments, with the emission from Nylon and PETG more than an order of magnitude lower than that of ABS. Molecules 2022, PMC9229569
• The specific emission rates for particles ranged from 2.0 × 10⁹ (GLASS, a PETG-based filament) to 1.7 × 10¹¹ (ASA) #/min. Gu et al. 2019, Environment International
• The individual VOCs emitted in the largest quantities included caprolactam from nylon-based filaments (~2 to ~180 μg/min), styrene from ABS and HIPS (~10 to ~110 μg/min), and lactide from PLA (~4 to ~5 μg/min). Azimi et al., Environmental Science & Technology 2016
• Polycarbonate can emit fumes during the printing process that may contain bisphenol A (BPA). Journal of Toxicology & Environmental Health, 2024
• The 3D printing filament that included carbon nanotubes emitted two new VOC gases, which could potentially pose an inhalation hazard. 3Dnatives/EPA study, 2020
Carbon Fiber & RF
• CF Masts vs CF Filament: Solid carbon fiber masts supporting wire antennas have measured loss of less than 0.1dB and work well for ham radio. The RF concern applies primarily to 3D printed CF filaments used for antenna parts. SOTABEAMS
• Testing on CF masts showed resistance of about 75 Ohms per centimetre, giving minimum resistance of about 3,000 Ohms per mast section - essentially non-conductive for practical purposes. SOTABEAMS Carbon-6
• Continuous carbon fiber composites provide more than 99.9% electromagnetic attenuation. Attenuation increases with thickness, frequency, and fiber volume ratio. ScienceDirect - Electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of CFRP
• 3D printed carbon fiber reinforced composites (PA11/PLA-CF) showed significant electromagnetic interference shielding in the C-band (3.5-7.0 GHz). ACS Omega, 2023
• Complex permittivity of 3D-printed filaments varies with printer settings, infill percentage, and printing patterns - commercially available filaments lack RF property specifications. IEEE - RF Characterization of 3D Printed Materials
• Microscopic inspection of fingertips after handling printed PA6-CF parts showed significant fiber transfer. HI-AM 2025 study via Fabbaloo
Airborne Fiber Warning for CF Filaments
• Use an enclosure with effective filtration, consider local exhaust with a HEPA-class filter, avoid aggressive dry sanding, and wear gloves when handling fresh prints. HI-AM 2025
Independent Testing
• CNC Kitchen (Stefan Hermann) - Real-world thermal failure testing
Last updated: December 2024