Kapton Tape
Contents
Description
Kapton Tape also known as Polyimide Tape is an electrically insulating heat resistant tape that has many uses for Reprap. See here a picture of the Casainho extruder using Kapton tape.
Dupont makes several types of Kapton tape. The standard Kapton HN works up to 400C and has a coefficient of thermal conductivity of 0.12 W/m*K.
Uses: Insulation/fastening
Kapton tape is well suited for fastening heating elements. As such, it's the material of choice for fastening heating wire to the heater barrel of an extruder such as the Mendel extruder. Kapton can also be used to tape the temperature sensor to the printhead/extruder.
Uses: Print surface
Kapton tape is a good print surface for priting ABS on a Heated Bed. For ABS to stick to Kapton the Kapton needs to be hot (different sources mention minimum temperatures between 80-130C). Also the Kapton should be free of grease, graese can be removed with Acetone or propane torch (!!test your Kapton for fire resistance!!)(North90ty).
Uses: anti-friction
Peter is doing some research at using Kapton as a low-friction film, as an alternative to lubrication. [1] [2]
Fake Kapton
Real Kapton is expensive, fake Kapton tape is offered on Ebay for less money. This fake tape might work well, i have a roll of tape labelled "Kapter" which works fine. Test the heat resistance of your tape before using it! testing can be done in an oven or with a soldering iron.
Safety Risk
Polyimide has excellent heat resisting properties, however it has limits. In the event of excess temperature, even in very small areas such as caused by electrical sparks, the tape can burn fast enough to resemble a small explosion. Make sure everything is well insulated and secured!
Test your tape before using it, mine won't burn (North90ty).
Suppliers
Please keep the tables in alphabetical order.
Note : These vendors currently provide tape suitable for the reprap project
| Vendor (with link) | Shipping location | Widths - Cost | Additional notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BestOfferBuy | USA |
8mm - $2.10 16mm - $3.10 |
|
| Kapton Tape Online | USA |
1mm - $4.95 | |
| Makerbot | USA |
6mm - $6.00 20mm - $9.25 120mm - $25.00 |
|
| MakerFarm | USA |
120mm 33Meters Long - $28.00 |
|
| McMaster | USA |
305mm x 305mm sheets - $13.00 |
|
| Mendel Parts | EU |
13mm -$5.41 25mm - $9.48 50mm - $18.98 |
|
| Paoparts | FR-EU |
50 mm - 14€90 |
|
| ProtoParadigm | USA |
10mm - $4.00 20mm - $5.00 130mm - $20.00 220mm - $33.50 310mm - $47.00 |
|
| The Masking Shop | EU | 3mm - 250mm |
WARNING: These Vendors provide tape of which the suitability for the reprap project has been questioned and/or have been flagged as possibly illegitimate business.
| Vendor (with link) | Shipping location | Widths - Cost | Additional notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deal Extreme | Known To provide fake Kapton and have commenters claiming to have not received their product. Taken from previous edit. Worth a second look per satisfied customers below |
That said, I have Deal-Extreme-Kapton and it withstands a soldering iron. --Traumflug 10:32, 30 September 2011 (UTC)
Second that. I have nothing but good experience with the (4-5 rolls, different widths) "kapton" I've bought from dealextreme. --Nudel 01:03, 1 October 2011 (UTC)
