[…] Polymaker’s HT-PLA-GF, a glass fiber high temp PLA that can be annealed in boiling water without deformation to withstand temps like 150º.
That sounds like a microplastic water risk. I hope Polymaker did at least give a little shit about the environmental aspect and made sure the material doesn’t leak into the water during the process. Probably still advisable to pour the waste water through a filter afterwards, just like after sanding & cleaning.
Your argumentation doesn’t make much sense; indeed your last sentence even reinforces my argument that, hopefully, the process is as clean as possible. Also don’t you think you’re a little bit quick in assessing my priorities based on a single comment? 😉
I think 3D printing, as many things, is a net positive if used responsibly. It’s so easy to repair or upycle stuff with it. I’m also really interested in that pure PHA filament (which is actually compostable, unlike PLA), haven’t gotten around to trying it. Of course also using PETG; got two huge bins for PLA and PETG to collect and send it to Recyclingfabrik (getting cheaper rPLA & rPETG in their shop in return). It’s awesome how easy it is with 3D printing to have a full recyling circle. I think awareness for both environmental impact as well as basic safety concerns are really falling short in the community though. The amount of people sanding their prints without any particle extraction system, printing ABS and stuff without air filtration or even work with resin without proper respirator is concerning. And so many people just clean their sanded pieces under water, unaware of the consequences (it’s impossible for huge filtration plants to fully filter them out). On the other side it isn’t too hard for any 3D printing hobbyist to run their dirtwater through something like a coffee filter.
So yeah, I like 3D printing and the environment and am optimistic we can have a cake and eat it too. 🥧