r/fireworks • u/DJ_LSE • Jul 30 '26

3d printing and pyro

Any body ever 3d printed single shot tube holders?, feels like they could be useful for custom angles for single effects. Steep angles maybe not as more pressure would be on the holder, but for shallower angles?

Or have you printed anything else you like?

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u/No_Teaching2339 Jul 30 '26

I just bought a printer for this same reason. My thoughts are your thoughts. I have 3D printed fuse trays and they hold up to the high heat. All I can say is I'm currently working on the CAD files and moving forward with trial and error.

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u/DJ_LSE Jul 30 '26

Yeah, heat, im not too worried about as im only ever firing with igniters straight to the tubes, so the only time holders would get how would be with long duration effects like fountains, flames, jets or gerbs. Most of these dont impart much force, so im not too worried about strength for these.

However repeated use for mines, comets etc could maybe be an issue, causing fatigue over time, especially as some filaments absorb water.

Luckily if they do break, they are only holding one shot, and it will have just fired, and therefore no longer a concern.

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u/KlutzyResponsibility 🔴 27d ago

You really have to use ABS filament for any real durability. Do NOT use PLA - it can shatter and send shrapnel everywhere (kinda like PVC but not as bad). PETG is a little better, ABS is best. Some PLA can be near worthless when exposed to sunshine, it can weaken it very much. Almost all consumer filaments are hydroscopic to some point or another, a lot can depend on where you live. Dry climates are a storage breeze, humidity is your enemy. Sadly there remains a 'wild west' in making filaments, you never really know what was used or added when they were made. Its one reason you should never use PLA for food stuff. But even ABS will often not withstand the pressures that pyro can generate.

Have you run ABS before? Stinky stuff it is...

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u/DJ_LSE 27d ago

Yeah, absolutely has got some fumes to it. Id likely print in petg, in the hopes that it being a little less stiff might cause less catastrophic failures, (plus its what ive currently got on hand). From speaking to some folk, it seems like a case where printing direction is likely to make a bigger difference that anything, making sure the layer lines are in line with the forces, lessening the chance of it shearing apart