The most popular and simplest-to-use 3D Printers use FDM technology: Fused Deposition Modeling. In FDM, a spool feeds thermoplastic filament through an extruder that heats, melts, and extrudes the plastic through a thin nozzle. So for a FDM 3D printer, filament is equivalent to toner in laser printers.
Overview
Filament is typically sold in spools of 1kg and with a filament diameter of 1.75mm. It is available in many different colors, can be shiny, transparent, or matte. Quality sellers shrink-wrap spools in air-tight plastic bags to protect them from moisture.
Once you open the bag, you need to make sure you keep your filament dry. Most materials are hygroscopic, so they absorb humidity over time which can severely degrade print results. That’s why it is crucial to store your filament appropriately.
Materials
Filament can be made out of different plastic materials which influences the looks (shiny, matte, transparent), the strength, and the UV resistance. Each material has its own melting point, and it is important to print a material at the correct temperature. If the temperature is too low, the filament does not melt in the print head, causing clogging and interrupted prints. If the temperature is too high, the filament gets too soft, causing stringing and bad print results.
PLA
The most popular material is PLA (polylactic acid) because it is affordable, requires relatively low temperatures to melt (so it works in cheap printers, too), and beginners can produce great-looking results right away without the need of tweaking and optimizing a lot of print settings.
PETG
PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol is the same material that is used in one-way plastic bottles. It is another very popular filament type which requires only slightly higher temperatures. It is even more affordable and has a better UV resistance (important for prints that are intended to be used out-doors). On the downside, PETG prints do not look as good as PLA prints: they are typically very shiny and often layer lines are clearly visible.
Filament Materials
PLA and PETG are just two out of a great number of filament materials that can be used in FDM 3D printing.
Here is a quick orientation:
| Filament Type | Print Temp (°C) | Pros | Cons | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | 190-220 | Easy to print, widely available, biodegradable, low warping | Brittle, limited heat resistance (~50°C) | $$ |
| PETG | 220-250 | Strong, durable, chemical-resistant, low warping, semi-flexible | Stringing issues, slower to print than PLA | $ |
| ABS | 220-250 | Tough, durable, heat-resistant (~100°C) | Warps easily, requires heated bed/enclosure, fumes require ventilation | $ |
| TPU | 210-240 | Flexible, durable, impact-resistant | Difficult to print at high speeds, requires precise extrusion settings | $$$ |
| ASA | 240-260 | UV/weather-resistant, durable, similar to ABS | Prone to warping, requires enclosure, emits strong fumes | $$ |
| Nylon | 240-270 | Very strong, flexible, abrasion-resistant | Hygroscopic (absorbs moisture), tricky to print, requires heated bed | $$$ |
| PVB | 200-230 | Smooth finish (polishable with isopropyl alcohol), low warping | Sensitive to moisture, not as strong as PETG or ABS | $$$ |
| HIPS | 230-240 | Excellent support material for ABS (dissolvable in Limonene) | Not ideal as primary filament, requires heated bed | $$$ |
| Polycarbonate (PC) | 260-310 | Extremely strong, impact- and heat-resistant (~150°C) | High warping, requires high-temp printer, enclosure, and dry storage | \(\) |
| PVA | 190-210 | Water-soluble support material for PLA and PETG | Expensive, absorbs moisture, not for primary prints | \(\) |
| Carbon Fiber Reinforced | 220-270 | Strong, stiff, lightweight (enhanced PETG/PLA/ABS with carbon fibers) | Abrasive (requires hardened nozzle), brittle, expensive | \(\) |
| Polypropylene (PP) | 220-250 | Lightweight, chemical-resistant, food-safe | Warps easily, difficult to adhere to the bed | \(\) |
| Wood-Filled PLA | 190-220 | Aesthetic wood-like finish, sandable | Abrasive, can clog nozzles, weaker than standard PLA | $$ |
| Metal-Filled PLA | 190-220 | Metallic appearance, adds weight to prints | Very abrasive (hardened nozzle needed), heavy, costly | $$$ |
| Glass-Fiber Reinforced | 240-270 | Stiff, strong, heat-resistant | Abrasive (hardened nozzle required), requires high-temp printer | \(\) |
| PEEK | 360-400 | Extremely strong, heat/chemical-resistant (high-end engineering) | Requires industrial-grade printer, very expensive | \(\)$$ |
| PEKK | 340-380 | Similar to PEEK, excellent mechanical/chemical properties | Requires industrial-grade printer, costly | \(\)$$ |
| Conductive PLA | 210-230 | Conductive (for low-voltage circuits, sensors) | Low conductivity, brittle, more expensive than standard PLA | \(\) |
| Magnetic PLA | 200-220 | Magnetic properties for specialty applications | Limited strength, abrasive, brittle | \(\) |
| Flexible PLA | 210-230 | Semi-flexible alternative to TPU, easier to print | Limited flexibility compared to TPU | $$$ |
| UV-Responsive PLA | 200-220 | Changes color under UV light | Limited use, aesthetics only | $$$ |
| Glow-in-the-Dark PLA | 200-220 | Glows in the dark, great for decorative parts | Abrasive, weaker than standard PLA | $$ |
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(content created Dec 13, 2024)