• After you have leveled the build platform,do not forget to make sure the nozzle is at the optimal starting distance from the bed. If the problem persists after you have leveled the bed, try moving the nozzle closer to the bed for better adhesion. (note: if the nozzle is too close to the bed, it may not extrude. Follow the guide/tutorial provided by your vendor). Check out the video below on how to manual level the platform on Geeetech A30T:.

• If you start out printing at a high speed, chances are the plastic will detach from the bed. This is because the first layer is denied the time required to cool down and lay onto the platform. Go to the settings and reduce the speed of the first layer by 50% to see if it helps.

• Use a heated bed and set the bed temperature slightly below the melting point of the material. Picture this: you are 3D printing a 100mm wide ABS object; the extruder prints at a temperature of 230 degrees, but the platform is cold.The plastic cools quickly as it is being extruded out of the nozzle. If the ABS print is cooled to room temperature of 30 degrees, it will shrink by 1.5mm!

• Make sure the bed is clean and not polluted with dirt or oil. Apply some glue on it to promote adhesion. Go easy on the glue: a thing layer spread evenly on the bed will do the trick. What is worth mentioning is that different printers use different types of print beds, the most common ones being aluminum,glass,and etc. But not a single type of them works best with every type of filament. Heat-treated silicon boride,for example,works great with ABS,but not with other consumables.

• When printing tiny objects or objects with a relatively small base, it helps to create a brim or craft in your slicer software. This is to increase the contact surface area between the bed and the object for better adhesion.

• Subscribe to our newsletter now so that you won’t miss out on the latest discounts, industry news, and much more!

In this article we are going to take a closer look at both materials, comparing them in terms of their merits and drawbacks, so that you can make better-informed choices and better quality prints.

ABS

Pros: great availability;cheap;sleek finishing with acetone.

Cons: difficult to work with ;smelly.

Optimal Temp: 235-240°Celsius.

Editor’s comment: Prints made of ABS is resistant to high temperatures and of great durability; but the filament’s high printing temperature and tendency to warp mean it is hard to print with. And you may want to find a well ventilated place whilst printing with the consumable due to the pungent smell it gives off while being heated.

PLA

Pros:renewable;environmentally-friendly;less likely to warp;well affordable;odorless.

Cons: less durable and flexible;not soluble in esters or ketones

Optimal Temp.: 200°Celsius

Specifications: diameter: 1.75mm/2.85mm

Editor’s comment: made from sugar cane and corn starch, PLA is easily the most environmentally friendly and affordable material available on the market. Objects created from PLA is of great strength, medium durability and low flexibility. Same as ABS, it is not soluble in esters or ketones. However, unlike ABS,it renders a heated bed redundant(note: having a heated bed still helps). A case in point would be the Geeetech E180,which is specifically designed for educational settings and comes without a heated bed since it uses PLA. Textured paper is used on the build platform to improve adhesion.  

Conclusion: ABS and PLA are of about the same cost. If you are just getting started in 3D printing, PLA is probablly the material to start with. ABS is the one to go for if you are aiming to create more durable objects on your 3D printer.

Wanna share your printing expertise and creative prints with other DIY professionals, hobbyists ? Join our forum today : http://www.geeetech.com/forum/

Flexible filaments

As the name indicates these more flexible than any other filaments. Due to flexibility these are soft and can be molded into any shape and size with ease.

Pro Series Flex

The filament is the one among TPE which is popular for its elasticity and flexibility and behaves like a real rubber which can bend and mold in any shape and size easily. Therefore, these are made of tightest tolerance with high precision for3D printing. The filament can be best experienced with slower print speeds to avoid filament binding in the extruder.
Buy Now

 Advantages/properties

• The filament is like a soft rubber making it more flexible and elastic than the popular PLA and ABS filaments
• The filament is good for high-quality objects with large objects because it bonds well between layers
• The heated bed is not needed and it is a durable material with little shrinkage while cooling.

Disadvantages/Issues 

• The printer should be modified otherwise can extrude from the nozzle inconsistency due to its flexible property.
• Hence, needs experienced hands for printing the filament is not for beginners
• For optimal performance the printer nozzle needs fine-tuning.

Applications

• Stoppers, belts, caps, phone cases, bumpers and more can be made from this filament due to its 2 important properties.
• The filament can be used in various fields due to its flexible nature i.e., home appliances, automotive, medical, electrical insulation, weather seals for windows and doors, Kid’s toys and wearable’s and soles of the footwear.

Price Starting from : $30 to $ 50 for 1.75mm/1kg spool

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 220 to 230 °C.

TPE

This filament is well-know for its flexibility and elasticity. Also helpful in the making of extremely flexible 3D printer material that will have the properties of soft rubber. As the name the Thermoplastic elastomers the filament is superbly flexible and elastic. The less infill you use, the more flexible your finished print will be.
Buy Now

 Advantages/properties

• Great to use with most of the FDM filaments.
• The filament is like a soft rubber making it more flexible and elastic than the popular PLA and ABS filaments,
• Good for high-quality objects(bonds well between layers).
• The heated bed is not needed.
• Hence, it is a durable material with little shrinkage while cooling.

Disadvantages/Issues

• The printer should be modified otherwise can extrude from the nozzle inconsistency due to its flexible property.
• Hence, needs experienced hands for printing the filament is not for beginners
• For optimal performance the printer nozzle needs fine-tuning.

Applications

• Stoppers, belts, caps, phone cases, bumpers and more can be made from this filament due to its 2 important properties.
• The filament can be used in various fields due to its flexible nature i.e., home appliances, automotive, medical, electrical insulation, weather seals for windows and doors, Kid’s toys and wearable’s and soles of the footwear.

Price Starting from : $30 to $ 50 for 1.75mm/1kg spool

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 225 to 235 °C.

PCTPE

Plasticized Copolyamide TPE is the combination of synthetic polymer Nylon and flexible filament TPE. Due to the mixture of these 2 filaments the properties and settings are almost the same. Synthetic fabrics are used to dye your prints of any color.

Buy Now

 Advantages/properties

• Nylon makes it easy to print.
• Flexible like TPE and can be dyed into any color due to Nylon.
• Can work better in critical setup
• Low shrinkage

Disadvantages/Issues

• The filament needs to be dyed in various colors that require an extra step, consumes more time and highly expensive.
• Difficult to print needs experienced hands.
• While printing may lead to blobs and stringing
• Not good with Bowden extruders
• Poor bridging characteristics

Applications

• The main applications are, helps in printing cosplay armor, phone enclosures, and industrial parts.

Price Starting from : $30 for 1.75mm/1kg spool

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 235 to 245 °C.

Soft PLA

The Soft PLA has similar characteristics as that of normal PLA with one unique property that is flexible like rubber. Due to this it is also, called “Flexible PLA“. Hence, it is compatible with all the 3D printers.
Buy Now

Advantages/properties

• Soft PLA is flexible, rubbery, elastic and has impact resistance.
• Hence, it acts like a biodegradable PLA due to its low carbon footprints.
• Therefore, it has good vibration dampening characteristics.

Disadvantages/Issues

• It creates clogging, bubbling, and bunching in the nozzle while printing.
• Can’t shape in the desired form due to extremely adhesive nature.
• Hence, need to slow down the printing speed for best results
• A direct extruder is required for the smooth journey of the filament to the bed.
• Not good for objects with more gaps and overhangs.

Applications

• Best for stoppers, belts, caps, phone cases, bumpers and more.
• Unique ergonomic nature helps in printing pen grips, shoe sole inserts.
• The materials which need to be strong such has tires, cell phone covers, and other things with flexible in nature.

Price Starting from : $30 for 1.75mm/1kg spool

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 220 to 230°C.

TPU

Thermoplastic Polyurethane is the filament that belongs to the class of polyurethane that has unique properties namely elasticity, transparency, and resistance to grease, oil, and abrasion with a shore hardness of 95A. There are various types of TPU namely polyester TPU used to resist oil and hydrocarbons, polyether TPU used in wet environments, and polycaprolactone TPU performs with low-temperature and comparatively more resistant to hydrolysis.
Buy Now

Advantages/properties

• Resistant to oil, grease, and abrasion.
• Printed parts have low-temperature resistants
• Ease to work
• With the right settings, there will be no curling or delamination.
• Excellent layer to layer adhesion.
• No warping issues.

Disadvantages/Issues

• It creates clogging, bubbling, and bunching in the nozzle while printing.
• A well-polished and smooth look can’t be obtained.
• We need to slow down the printing speed for the results.
• Hence, it doesn’t dissolve in simple chemicals.

Applications

• Best for stoppers, belts, caps, phone cases, bumpers and more.
• Used in automotive instrument panels, caster wheels, power tools, sporting goods, medical devices, drive belts, footwear, inflatable rafts, and a variety of extruded film, sheet, and profile applications.
• The materials which need to be strong such has cell phone covers and other things with flexible in nature.
• Therefore, it helps in the outer casing of antennas for efficient performance even after many wash cycles.

Price Starting from : $30 for 1.75mm/1kg spool

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 220 to 250°C.

Composite filaments

These are the filaments made up of 2 or more individual components whose combined physical strength exceeds their individual properties as per the name.

Laybrick

Lay-Brick is the 3D material that almost as similar features as LAYWOOD-D3,  Kai Parthy is the inventor of these 2 filaments which are quite amazing, the filament is rough apart from that gives a look and feel of grey stone retaining the flexibility and elasticity of the plastic. The filament should be used with maxi-sized 3D printers. Therefore, it gives the ” Non-plastic look“. The temperature above 210°C the filament produces rough and sandstone result otherwise it will produce a smoother finish.
Buy Now

Advantages/properties

• The filament is stiff and brittle in nature
• Gives sandstone look rather than plastic
• No warping
• No heated bed required
• Get a different variety of textures depending on the extruder temperature.

Disadvantages/Issues

• Temperature above 210 makes the print rough.

Applications

• Best for landscape and architectural designs.
• Fux-stone, model train scenery can be printed with this filament.

Price Starting from : $40 for 1.75mm/1kg spool

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 165 to 190°C.

Wooden PLA

The wood filament is a fusion of standard PLA and finely powered wood materials that provide the print with the natural texture of wood. The mixture may contain bamboo, cork, wood dust, and other wooden by-products,  come in the ratio of 70:30 of PLA and wood. Therefore, best used with desktop 3D printers that provide the wooden-like finish. They are various types of wood filaments namely LAYWOO-D3, ColorFabb’s Woodfill series, and Timberfill.
Buy Now

Advantages/properties

• The natural look of wood and a biodegradable filament
• Similar PLA properties
• Different extruder temperature provide different colors, hotter the darker
• No warp and shrink
• Less abrasive compared to other composite filaments.
• Therefore, as pleasant wood-like smell.

Disadvantages/Issues

• Less strength than natural wood.
• Hence, it is inflexible and brittle makes PLA better filament
• Easily breakable material
• There should not be any sharp turns while working with the filament.

Applications

• Best for landscape and architectural designs.
• Fux-stone, model train scenery can be printed with this filament.
• Wood burns when exposed to high temperature
• Filaments are more expensive than PLA
• Use large-sized nozzles to reduce wear and tear.

Price Starting from : $25 for 1.75mm/1kg spool

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 220 to 250°C.

Conductive filament

The filament is modified PLA with a conductive carbon particulate with low voltage and low current circuitry not being that technical. The filament helps in making smaller circuit boards on the printer bed. These filaments may consist of sensors and some LEDs( Light-emitting diode). The filament is present for both PLA and ABS users. As the name, it has a conductive nature. Hence, works well with all the 3D printers.

Buy Now

Advantages/properties

• More flexible than the PLA
• Conductive in nature with small power circuitry.
• No heated bed is required but gives better results with it.

Disadvantages/Issues

• As less layer adhesion
• The filament is more expensive
• Less flexible and durable compared to PLA
• Repeated binding may break the material and shrinks during cooling.

Applications

• Most of its applications may come in the field of electronics i.e., small circuit boards.
• Best for functional prototypes, integrated circuits and electronic components like sensors, LED, and low voltage projects
• Best for Arduino projects.

Price Starting from : $17.99 for 1.75mm/1kg spool

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 215 to 230°C.

Lay ceramic

As the name gives ceramic or clay finish to the print. The filament has similar properties that of the natural clay when burned and glazed provides strength and gives the elegant look to the object. While using this filament requires extra settings or additional upgrades to the printer for a better print.

Buy Now

Advantages/properties

• The filament is durable and brittle in its nature
• Can be fired in the kiln to get that ceramic look and can apply glaze
• The Kiln can take the filament to make more amazing objects

Disadvantages/Issues

• Takes more time to heat and cool
• The printed objects are hard in nature
• More expensive

Applications

• Therefore, best used for making mugs, flower pots, model roofing tiles, ashtrays, sculptures, or pottery.

Price Starting from : $200 for 3.mm/1kg

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 265 to 275°C.

Carbon Fiber Reinforced PLA

As the name, the filament is a mixture of PLA and small carbon fiber strands, designed to fit through the nozzle easily. The carbon contained in the filament provides more rigidity and enhances the structural support to the object to be printed. The 3D printer user who requires stiff and rocky like nature of the objects can use this filament. Drone builders and RC Hobbyists may fall in love with this filament.

Buy Now

Advantages/properties

• No warp and excellent layer adhesion property
• Provides better print quality and no heated bed is required
• High strength, durable, ductile and stiff
• Little string during the cooling process

Disadvantages/Issues

• Not flexible in nature
• Contains abrasive strands
• Wear and tear of printer nozzles more with brass
• Requires investment in a printer nozzle

Applications

• Drone bodies, propellers, and RC car frames can be made with great ease.
• Frames, supports, and tools can also be made,
• Various materials like protective casing, mechanical parts, and highly durable objects can be formed.

Price Starting from : $60 for 1.75mm/1kg

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 190 to 230°C.

ColorFabb BrassFill, CopperFill, and BronzeFill

The filament is metal combined with PLA gives absolutely the metal finish look. Therefore, these are tougher to print than MH build PLA filaments, due to metal integrated with plastic prints are heavier but are more authentic in nature. The objects printed can be polished, painted, and sanded that gives a beautiful, unique and elegant look even unpolished objects are classy, matte, with a dull appearance and dusky look amaze people. Therefore, what’s in your mind that can be a desired outcome when polished. The temperature can reach to 14oo °C or above.

Buy Now

Advantages/properties

• An aesthetically appealing metal finish.
• Therefore, no heated bed is required.
• Heavier than other filaments due to its metallic nature.
• High durable and strength
• Hence, no, shrink while cooling

Disadvantages/Issues

• Expensive filament
• Therefore, require a wear-resistant nozzle
• Printed parts are very brittle in nature.
• Very poor overhangs and bridging property.
• Over-time partial clogging can be seen.
• Heavy objects when printed with it.
• To obtain a smooth finish need to rock tumbling, polishing, or wet sanding needs to be done.

Applications

• Used for cosmetic prints of busts, jewelry, or sculptures.
• Perfect for printing props, costumes, figurines, and robots.
• The filament can also be used by designers as well other than hobbyists looking to make faux metal prints.
• Replicas for Museums
• Best for hardware products.

Price Starting from : $25 to 50 for 1.75mm/1kg

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 190 to 220°C.

Proto-Pasta Stainless Steel and ColorFabb SteelFill

The filament is a mixture of the steel strands and PLA, thus these are tougher than the MH build filament. Even these can be sanded and painted to get a better look like the above filaments even with an unpolished look the prints get the cast metal from the mold. Therefore, it has high abrasion to brass nozzle you will need to install a hardened steel nozzle before printing. They print like PLA but slower than PLA.

Buy Now

Advantages/properties

• An aesthetically appealing steel finish.
• Therefore, no heated bed is required.
• Heavier than other filaments due to its metallic nature.
• High durable and strength
• Hence, no, shrink while cooling

Disadvantages/Issues

• Expensive filament
• Printed parts are very brittle in nature.
• Very poor overhangs and bridging property.
• Over-time partial clogging can be seen.
• Heavy objects when printed with it.
• To obtain a smooth finish need to rock tumbling, polishing, or wet sanding needs to be done.
• Not easy to print with for the inexperienced

Applications

• Used for cosmetic prints of busts, jewelry, or sculptures.
• Perfect for printing props, costumes, figurines, and robots.
• The filament can also be used by designers as well other than hobbyists looking to make faux metal prints.
• Replicas for Museums

Price Starting from : $25 to 50 for 1.75mm/1kg

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 200 to 220°C.

Magnetic Iron PLA

As the name, it has all the magnetic properties as that of the magnet. The filament is a mixture of standard filaments and iron powered due to which magnetics stick to the filament and provide a dusty and gunmetal look to the printed objects. The temperature needs to be 10-20 degrees lesser than what is required for the MH build PLA filament. To get a rusty look you need to spray several times the mixture of hydrogen peroxide of 16oz, the vinegar of 20oz and 1Tbs of salt let it dry and you will get the desired look.

Buy Now

Advantages/properties

• It provides a rusty and worn look to any print.
• Therefore, no, shrink while cooling
• Extremely durable and has great strength
• The filament is not soluble in nature.
• Hard and heavy prints can be achieved.

Disadvantages/Issues

• Expensive filament
• Due to high abrasion needs to install hardened steel nozzle.
• Heavy objects when printed with it.
• To obtain a smooth finish need to rock tumbling, polishing, or wet sanding needs to be done.
• Hence, not easy to print with it for inexperienced

Applications

• Used for cosmetic prints of busts, accessories, or aged-metal props.
• Therefore, best used for various DIY projects, sensors, and educational tools, etc.
• Home uses it is just like a novelty material.

Price Starting from : $70 for 1.75mm/1kg

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 195 to 220°C.

PORO-LAY Series

The filament is made from a rubber-elastomeric polymer and a PVA-component. Therefore, there are various types of filaments namely Lay-Felt, Gel-Lay, and Lay-Fomm 40 and 60. These filaments can be characterized as highly porous and flexible filaments.

Buy Now

Advantages/properties

• These filaments are highly flexible and porous in nature
• Also, have a sponge, jelly, foamy and soft in nature.
• When soaked in water dissolves PVA material and left with the rubber-elastomer.
• Unique and experimental uses.
• Lightweight objects even they are large in size.

Disadvantages/Issues

• Printed objects will be soft and sponge in nature.
• Not used for hard and stiff prints
• Hardware components can not be printed
• Expensive filament.

Applications

• Therefore, best used in filters, permeable membranes, jellyfish models, stamps, or intricate sponges depending on the material.
• Can be used in making of artificial paper and future cloths
• Used for the rubber-like, sponge in nature applications such as ink-reservoirs, bio-cells, micro-foam, and elastics.
• Also used for tissue and orientated objects making.

Price Starting from : $160 for 1.75mm/1kg

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 220 to 230°C.

Specialty filaments

Like the name, these are special kinds of filaments. Now let’s look at the various types of specialty filaments and their special features.

Polycarbonate(PC)

The filament is more strong, impact and highly resistant in nature. Polycarbonate is a tough and highly durable thermoplastic.

Buy Now

Advantages/properties

• Hence, very resistant to any temperature
• It is flexible and can bend without crack
• Transparent in nature
• No soluble

Disadvantages/Issues

• Should store in a dry place
• Above all not for food components
• Expensive than standard filaments.

Applications

• Most commonly used in RC parts or drone parts.
• Therefore, it can be used in applications related to electrical, mechanical, or automotive components.
• Due to its optical clarity can be used in lighting projects or for screens.

Price Starting from : $120  for 1.75mm/1kg

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 210 to 290°C.

Bendlay

The filament as exciting new features and that is extremely translucent and flexible in nature. Hence, 91% of light passes through the filament. Therefore, it is also flexible and elastic. The other modified version of it is Butadiene.

Buy Now

Advantages/properties

• Flexible, transparent and provides strength to the material.
• Absorbs less water compared to ABS
• Food safe
• High interlayer adhesion
• Less warping
• Unbreakable and easy to print

Disadvantages/Issues

• Acetone will make it crushy.
• Suffer from whitening when bend.
• Harder than ABS

Applications

• Best used in food packing and food industry.
• Best used ornate cups, containers, or translucent objects.
• Therefore, it can also be used in medical devices.
• Hence, it can be used in the making of containers and utensils.

Price Starting from : $100  for 1.75mm/1kg

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 225 to 245°C.

Moldlay

As the name, it is mainly used for molding which as wax-like properties. The filament is stiff and rigid at the room temperature when heated with 170 10 180 degrees starts to extrude. The prints can be made not only for permanent mold but also for lost wax molding purposes. Therefore print takes the long process usually in the traditional form but thanks to Moldlay it consumes time.

Buy Now

Advantages/properties

• No warping
• No heated bed required
• Easy to print
• Inexpensive to print the objects

Disadvantages/Issues

• Softer than any other filament
• Feed gear may not work
• Melted wax is runny in nature so won’t deposit correctly

Applications

• Therefore, it can be used for molding purpose
• Designed for silicone molding or completely vaporizing for investment casting.

Price Starting from : $80  for 1.75mm/1kg

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 175 to 195°C.

Continuous Fiber 

Continuous fiber filaments are designed for the ready to use products other than most 3D printing materials are meant for rapid prototyping and testing models.

Buy Now

Advantages/properties

• Strong, durable and ready to take abuse.
• When comes in contact with a strong base filament like Nylon with Continuous fiber provide a professional and beautiful finish

Applications

• Best used for production parts, drone bodies, or even manufacturing molds.

Price Starting from : $50 to $100  for 1.75mm/1kg

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 245 to 265°C.

Support filaments

These filaments are water-soluble and also act as support filaments with other filaments while using dual extruders. Support filaments are necessary to obtain the best prints or prefect without any overhangs.

PVA filament

The filament is a well-known support material when printing with ABS or PLA filament. The full name of PVA filament is Polyvinyl Alcohol. The filament is transparent with slightly yellow in color and most often used with dual extrusion printers one with the primary material and on the other hand, this dissolve filament provides support to avoid overhangs.

Buy Now

Advantages/properties

• Acts as a support material
• Biodegradable, durable and non-toxic
• Water-soluble
• Best with PLA due to similar heating temperatures
• Difficult printing makes easy

Disadvantages/Issues

• Dissolves in water easily
• Should be kept in a dry place
• Expensive material than other filaments.

Applications

• Best used for models with internal supports or supports for incredibly detailed models with many overhangs.
• It can be used in thickener in paper adhesives, in personal hygiene products, as a mold-release agent, kid’s putty, and freshwater fishing products.

Price Starting from : $80  for 1.75mm/1kg

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 190 to 220°C.

HIPS

High Impact Polystyrene is similar to ABS and best support material. It is bright, white and biodegradable in nature. It also acts as secondary as that of PVA and liquid hydrocarbon dissolves the filament as soon as possible. The filament is well dissolved in limonene.

Buy Now

Advantages/properties

• Acts as a support material
• Biodegradable, durable and non-toxic
• Best with ABS

Disadvantages/Issues

• A heated bed is required without it difficult to print.
• Common issue while printing is curling and adhesion.

Applications

• Used for models with internal supports or supports for models with many overhangs.
• The food industry uses for packing, medicinal trays, signs, all kinds of kid’s toys, and much more.
• The filament can be manipulated in many ways as required.

Price Starting from : $25  for 1.75mm/1kg

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 220 to 250°C.

LAYaPVA

The filament is a support material that quickly dissolves in water. And as best viscosity when heated at a temperature of 230-degrees. Of the LAY-AWAY Support Series, LAYaPVA dissolves the fastest.

Buy Now

Advantages/properties

• Therefore, it is stiff and water-soluble
• Act as support material
• Dissolves quicker than normal PVA

Disadvantages/Issues

• Dissolves in water easily
• Should be kept in a dry place
• Expensive material than other filaments

Applications

• Therefore, best used for models with internal supports or supports for incredibly detailed models with many overhangs.

Price Starting from : $160 for 1.75mm/1kg

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 220 to 250°C.

LAY-CLOUD

Hence, the best support material for flexible filaments and when overexposed to water it becomes gelly and soft. Therefore, when heated with a 240-degree temperature to achieve the best viscosity.

Buy Now

Advantages/properties

• The filament is stiff and water-soluble
• Therefore, act as the best support material for flexible filaments.

Disadvantages/Issues

• Hence, dissolves in water easily
• Should be kept in a dry place
• Therefore, expensive material than other filaments

Applications

• Therefore, best used for models with internal supports or supports for incredibly detailed models with many overhangs.

This guide to 3D Printing is about the remaining filaments which were left in the previous guide. Hence, it is all about the guide to 3D printer filaments. There is one more upcoming part of this that will help you choose better.

Importance of 3d printer filament

Hence, when it comes to a 3D printer, filament plays the main character as a thread in sewing the clothes. Therefore, filament acts as a thread along with 3D printers to build real-world objects. So it becomes very important to know what is it made of, what different types of filaments, what its cost, what are its benefits or applications, its advantages, and disadvantages, which is the best 3D printer filament, where to store a filament and, can filament be recycled let’s go on a tour of all these topics one by one in this guide.

Hence, you can now wisely choose which is the better filament for your 3D printer after understanding all the above-mentioned points related to the 3D printer filament so that you can enjoy printing what you want to print without any issues.

Do you know what is 3D filament made of?

3D filament acts as ink to the 3D printer so now let’s take a look at how it’s made. The filament is made up of plastic that undergoes 3 processes namely heating, extruding, and cooling plastic to form several nurdles. The filaments are usually made of thermoplastics that have different melting point properties when needed to print.

The diameter of the filament depends on the pull rather than the push through the nozzle after the plastic has been heated up. The diameter does not take the diameter of the extruder nozzle. And even the width is the same process as that of the diameter. Most all the filaments are 1.75 mm or 3mm in diameter.

The filaments come in a variety of colors and with different properties. But the plastic nurdles are always white and clear to produce various colors of filaments and with unique properties, several pigments or additives are added while melting the plastic.

List of 3D printer filaments

In this, I’m gone discuss the different types of 3D printer filaments. The filaments are differentiated into 5 types based on their properties. Namely standard, flexible, composite, specialty, and, support filament. When you get a 3D printer to home the first question that arises to mind is which filament to buy. so let’s discuss them one by one.

Standard Filament:

As the name standard filament, t is the most commonly used filament. All 3D printers are mainly capable of using these filaments which the 2 famous filaments are PLA and ABS filaments. Now let’s go through all the standard filaments.

PLA ( Polylactic Acid): It is one of the most commonly used filaments for most desktop 3D printers. And popular among Professionals and amateurs. It is also famous as an “Eco-friendly 3D printer filament” because it is made of organic renewable resources like cornstarch and sugarcane which do not produce pollution or contribute to global warming. Glow-in-dark colors and translucency are the special features/effects of this 3D printer material.

Buy Now

Advantages/Properties

• PLA doesn’t require a heating bed, doesn’t have a contagious smell, and due to its pleasant nature, many of them prefer it.
• On the other hand, it is easier and safer than any other printer.
• It is faster than any other printer with less wrap so it is best for beginners.

Disadvantages/issues

• ABS is stronger or solid than PLA
• The filament is more difficult to print when it comes in contact with moisture
• Inclined to clogging the printer nozzle.

Applications

• PLA filaments are mostly used in the field of Medicine for various surgical implants including pins, rods, screws, and mesh as they all break down in the human body.
• Also best used for cosmetic prints, prototypes, desk toys, and low-stress applications.
• Another few examples are where PLA is used in food packaging, disposable tableware, and diapers.

Price Starting from : $19.98 t0 $ 50 for 1.75mm/1kg spool

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 180 to 230 °C.

ABS(Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene): ABS is another most popular 3D printer material. Due to its high melting point, it becomes soft when melted so that it can take any shape and gets cooled quickly becoming more stiff, ductile, and tough to break.
Buy Now

Advantages/Properties

• Easy material to work due to it’s easy to extrude from the printer’s nozzle
• Most flexible, lightweight, stiff, ductile, durable, and strong nature makes it preferable than any other printer with wear resistance and heat tolerance.
• Nontoxic, water-resistance, and cheapest among all the 3D filaments.
• Post-processed with acetone to provide a glossy look.

Disadvantages/issues

• ABS is a non-renewable resource made of petroleum
• When heated up produces an unpleasant odor
• Requires high heated bed to print the material
• It requires ventilation because of its awful chemical odor.
• UV radiations break down ABS which loses its color and becomes brittle after long-term use in an outdoor environment
• ABS is not good for home users.

Applications

• ABS can be used in various fields such as automotive parts, moving parts, musical instruments, kitchen appliances, electronic housings, and various toys, like LEGO.
• ABS to make plastic wrap, water bottles, and cups are some other applications

Price Starting from $22.9  for a 1.75mm/1kg spool

Link: http://bit.ly/2nzudfh

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 210 to 250 °C.

PRO Series PLA: The filament is the formulation of PLA for better and high-quality finished 3D printed products for professional use. These PLA are produced with more precise specifications and a tolerance of  ± 0.05mm. It has all the similar properties of PLA.

Advantages/Properties

•  A visually distinct finish and a more vibrant, opaque color than PLA filament.
• PLA doesn’t require a heating bed, doesn’t have a contagious smell, and due to its pleasant nature, many of them prefer it.
• On the other hand, it is easier and safer than any other printer.
• It is faster than any other printer with less wrap so it is best for beginners.

Disadvantages/issues

• ABS is stronger or solid than PLA
• The filament is more difficult to print when it comes in contact with moisture
• Inclined to clogging the printer nozzle.

Applications

• PLA filaments are mostly used in the field of Medicine for various surgical implants including pins, rods, screws, and mesh as they all break down in the human body.
• Also best used for cosmetic prints, prototypes, desk toys, and low-stress applications.
• Another few examples are where PLA is used in food packaging, disposable tableware, and diapers.

Price Starting from : $19.98 t0 $ 50 for 1.75mm/1kg spool

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 180 to 230 °C.

PRO Series ABS: The filament is the formulation of the ABS for the more beautiful, glossy, and, opaque finish with high-quality, precision 3D printed products. These ABS are produced with more precise specifications and a tolerance of  ± 0.05mm. It has all the similar properties of  ABS.

Advantages/Properties

• Easy material to work due to it’s easy to extrude from the printer’s nozzle
• The most flexible, lightweight, stiff, ductile, durable, and strong nature makes it preferable than any other printer with wear resistance and heat tolerance.
• Nontoxic, water-resistance, and cheapest among all the 3D filaments.
• Post-processed with acetone to provide a glossy look.

Disadvantages/issues

• ABS is a non-renewable resource made of petroleum
• Therefore, when heated up produces an unpleasant odor
• Requires high heated bed to print the material
• It requires ventilation because of its awful chemical odor.
• UV radiations break down ABS which loses its color and becomes brittle after long-term use in an outdoor environment
• ABS is not good for home users.

Applications

• Hence, ABS can be used in various fields such as automotive parts, moving parts, musical instruments, kitchen appliances, electronic housings, and various toys, like LEGO.
• ABS to make plastic wrap, water bottles, and cups are some other applications

Price Starting from $22.9  for a 1.75mm/1kg spool

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 210 to 250 °C.

Tough PLA:  The filament is stronger than the normal PLA with heat resistance up to 60°C.  Therefore, ABS comes with its problems of overhangs, wrapping, and interlayer adhesion but this filament is slightly modified from the normal PLA and ABS which makes it the best for large printers. It still supports all the printers and also provides full geometric freedom while designing.

Advantages/Properties

• The tough and impact strength of its similar to ABS making it a much better filament for practical printing purposes.
• Ease of printing and reliable nature make it better for larger volume printing.
• Combining it with PVA is more beneficial and gives more complex curves, internal details, and harsh overhangs 3D print beautifully.

Disadvantages/issues

• The filament is more difficult to print when it comes in contact with moisture
• Inclined to clogging the printer nozzle.

Applications

• Used to produce strong plastic parts, large models, and complex geometries.

Price Starting from : $19.98 t0 $ 50 for 1.75mm/1kg spool

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 210 t0 230°C.

ColorFabb nGen: The filament doesn’t require to refine print settings again and again so you can print once you set up the printer for a long time without any disturbance so it is good for beginners. Gives a frosty and crisp look when printed with it.

Advantages/Properties

• Print materials with a wide range of temperatures and speeds you can spend more time printing rather than refining its settings.
• Due to its high heat resistance flows nicely into the nozzle and doesn’t clog often.
• Best printed on a heated bed and has less wrapping due to similar adhesion.
• Good interlayer adhesion and low odor while printing.

Disadvantages/issues

• More expensive than any other filament
• The brittle nature makes printed materials easily breakable.
• Hairy prints, pillowing, and filament seeping/oozing may occur during printing

Applications

• Best for printing durable parts avoiding print failure.
• Mind-boggling ability to print parts with many bridges successfully where other 3D printer materials have failed.

Price Starting from : $30.00 t0 $ 50 for 1.75mm/1kg spool

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 220 to 240°C.

Glow-In-The-Dark: As the name says Glow-in-the-dark glows in the dark like a twinkling of stars at night in the sky. Therefore, it requires normal settings as that of PLA and ABS. The material printed out of it glows to the brightest when it is dark and emits all the vibrant colors in which it is printed. For more glow add more perimeters to your prints. These filaments are found in three categories of filament PLA, ABS, and TPU.

Buy Now

Advantages/Properties

• Properties are similar to normal PLA don’t require a heated bed, eco-friendly, easy to use, renewable, safe to use, and durable.
• During the cooling process has low shrinkage.

Disadvantages/issues

• Not safe for food products
• It is abrasive and has frayed out the nozzle for this you can install a hardened steel nozzle.

Applications

• Mainly used to produce children’s room decor products and ceiling stars.
• Used for light cover switches and novelty decoration products
• For Halloween themes, it is the best filament.
• Best friend for artistic people.

Price Starting from : $18.00 t0 $ 50 for 1.75mm/1kg spool

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 180 to 240°C.

Nylon (polyamide): This is a synthetic polymer that especially has unique features compared to PLA and ABS, it is undoubtedly stronger, impact, durable, and versatile than the popular filaments. There are various kinds of nylon filaments explained below.

Advantages/Properties

• Flexible, strong, impact, and durable
• 100% thermoplastic in nature
• Less brittle than ABS and PLA
• Products can be moved for sale after printing without sanding, polishing, scraping, or pesky acetone vapor baths.
• Easily colored/dyed

Disadvantages/issues

• Nylon should be preserved in a dry area free from moisture because it is very sensitive.
• At the start, the filament may wrap while printing.
• Printed parts are less precise due to shrinking while cooling
• Max lifetime of 12 months of nylon of various brands

Applications

• High interlayer adhesion makes it perfect for living hinges and other functionally strong parts.
•  Also ready to print tough functional parts, wear parts, and production-ready prints.
• Hence, well-suited for various consumer products, tools, mechanical components, machine parts, structural parts, containers, and much more.

Price Starting from: $40.00 t0 $ 50 for 1.75mm/1kg spool

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 210 t0 250°C.

NylonX: Polyamide with chopped carbon strands this filament comes out with amazing properties which are better than the normal Nylon filament. In addition, its matte finish look provides the most elegant look and standardizes the richness of the products.

Advantages/Properties

• Nylon combined with micro-particles of carbon makes the filament stiffer, impact resistance, and high strength.
• As for stability and rigidity, the products are much more likely to wrap compared to ordinary nylon.
• Eliminates the post-print processing.
• Strong like carbon and durable like nylon.
• Products can be moved for sale after printing without sanding, polishing, scraping, or pesky acetone vapor baths.
• Easily colored/dyed

Disadvantages/issues

• NylonX should be preserved in a dry area free from moisture because it is very sensitive.
• At the start, the filament may wrap while printing.
• Printed parts are less precise due to shrinking while cooling
• Max lifetime of 12 months of nylon of various brands

Applications

• An engineering-graded filament that gives you the durability of nylon and stiffness of carbon is always ready for home products 3D printing and also ready to print tough functional parts, wear parts, and production-ready prints.

Price Starting from: $39.99 t0 $ 50 for 1.75mm/1kg spool

Extrusion Temperature: Vary between 210 t0 260°C.

I hope this guide to 3D printing filaments part I might help you to choose the filaments. This is not the end there are other parts coming up in the future.