Materials · Polymers
Polymer Creep Test
Beginner 3 weeks 10-15 hours
Hang weights on PLA, PETG, and nylon strips for a week and measure how much each one slowly stretches under load. (Requires a 3D printer)
Major
Materials
Focus area
Polymers
Total hours
10-15 hours
What you'll need
- PLA PETG and nylon 3D printer filament samples
- dial indicator gauge 0.001 inch with magnetic base
- calibration weight set for testing
- digital caliper 6 inch stainless steel
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Steps
- Print matching test strips from PLA, PETG, and nylon and measure them.
- Build a rack that holds each strip with a hanging weight.
- Set the dial indicator to measure how much each strip stretches.
- Record stretch at set times over 7 or more days.
- Calculate strain and plot strain vs. time for each material.
- Compare creep resistance and document the test for your portfolio.
What to photograph for your portfolio
- Creep rig
- samples under load
- strain vs time chart
- material comparison
Resume bullet starters
Copy one, then swap in your own numbers.
Ran [X]-day creep tests on 3 polymers under constant load and measured strain over time
Found [material] crept [X]% less than [material], supporting its use in load-bearing parts
Quantified results with [insert your result, such as hardness change, strength, efficiency, or error vs published values] and summarized findings in a technical report
Skills you'll show off
Polymer behaviorcreep testinglong-duration experimentsdata analysismaterials selection