Armor Totes 101

[SgtSaint]

Real life example of why there's so many posts about not printing in PLA.
But if you've already done it, well... you have.
Maybe consider some mylar emergency blankets as they're cheap and wrap the totes so they reflect as much sun as possible. I see them by the 10pack on Temu and other outlets.

 

[RageGoblin]

Google emphasizes temp and humidity as the biggest concerns. I can’t comment on how to combat the humidity but to avoid heat you could try a cover over the cargo and avoid dark or clear totes. These might help with the heat.

Not sure why, but I hadn't thought of the cover.... Not my brightest moment. Lol. Thanks for that.

 

[Ulfhedinn073]

Real life example of why there's so many posts about not printing in PLA.
But if you've already done it, well... you have.
Maybe consider some mylar emergency blankets as they're cheap and wrap the totes so they reflect as much sun as possible. I see them by the 10pack on Temu and other outlets.

If you have any anecdotes or stories about how traveling with PLA has gone both with and sans blanket, I'd love to hear them. HCS is a-coming, and my mostly PLA suit has to get to Seattle from Orlando somehow...

 

[Driel71]

If you have any anecdotes or stories about how traveling with PLA has gone both with and sans blanket, I'd love to hear them. HCS is a-coming, and my mostly PLA suit has to get to Seattle from Orlando somehow...

Im driving 4 hrs for something this weekend and will have my PLA in black plastic totes in the back of the car. Im not anticipating any issues but if it goes sideways I’ll post back here.
My totes are lined with Eva and upholstery foam so it might make a slight difference.

 

[billeybob250]

Real life example of why there's so many posts about not printing in PLA.
But if you've already done it, well... you have.
Maybe consider some mylar emergency blankets as they're cheap and wrap the totes so they reflect as much sun as possible. I see them by the 10pack on Temu and other outlets.
View attachment 364078

ooo i was just thinking if wrapping my toad in this may be helpful.

PLA armor team for the win.

 

[SgtSaint]

If you have any anecdotes or stories about how traveling with PLA has gone both with and sans blanket, I'd love to hear them. HCS is a-coming, and my mostly PLA suit has to get to Seattle from Orlando somehow...

I don't because I won't build PLA items. I was just trying to offer an idea to someone in need.
There are WAY TOO MANY posts throughout the 'net for people that have had their PLA props, droids, armor and so on warp. I've seen photos of a guy's droids in the back of a station wagon where he figure the aircon would be enough: The one on the left was fine, the one on the right got all the sun through the window and looked like a melted candle. Prop swords and rifles in the trunks of cars that curved like a bow from their own weight in the heat. Etc. etc.
There are folks willing to do it and if they're happy then I'm happy for them. Me personally: I don't get the devotion to PLA as if there is some badge of accomplishment for using the bottom tier material. There's no gain. Its not cheaper. Its not stronger. It's not anything other than the introductory material given by the printer maker. I've never understood the devotion around it.

 

[Ulfhedinn073]

I was just trying to offer an idea to someone in need.

Hey man, same. Just trying to hear what you've heard.
The blankets are a great idea, but I'm also looking to see what other's experience is to see if we can come up with other protection solutions, especially for those that have flown PLA in these totes. If it means wrapping my suit in tinfoil, I'll absolutely do it.

 

[BebopBry]

To offer some first hand experience, I have armor printed in PLA+ that I had sitting in black totes on my apartment patio that was in direct sunlight for a few hours a day in 90+ degree heat in the south and after sitting out there for about a couple of months like that, I have not had any of the parts warp in any way. That being said, that’s just MY personal experience with it. Regular PLA, wall count and infill can account to those who have had mishaps probably.
So if anyone with pla / pla+ printed props like myself, is worried about heat in totes then it’s always worth a shot to test it yourself on a failed print or something that you wouldn’t care if it did warp.

 

[SgtSaint]

Hey man, same. Just trying to hear what you've heard.
The blankets are a great idea, but I'm also looking to see what other's experience is to see if we can come up with other protection solutions, especially for those that have flown PLA in these totes. If it means wrapping my suit in tinfoil, I'll absolutely do it.

This is the part I just don't get. You do it maybe you can shed some light... People are more than willing to jump through all these hoops and measures to protect their PLA prints. Wrap it foil... Heck I've seen people say they pack their PLA armor in coolers when traveling, just to be safe. So they *know* the shortfalls of PLA. Why not just move up to a more robust material since it doesn't cost more, is not harder to use, and doesn't need all this special handling and worry? I've just never understood it.