18 3-D Printer Filament Types And Uses Comparison Guide
Which is the best 3D printer filament PLA or ABS? What are the properties of the best 3D printer materials?
If you do, then you will find an answer here. A 3D printer plastic, also known as the filament for 3D printing, serves as the 3D printer ink.
3D printer filaments come in different types and your filament choice might depend on the object that you are trying to build. 3D printers can accommodate one or more types of filaments.
If you want to learn the different types of filaments and support material for 3D printers on the market, their purposes, and edges against each other you are on the right page!
Check out below to find the different 3D printing supplies and discover the best 3D filaments for your 3D printers.
Contents [show]
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3D Printing Filament
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Price Check
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Special Properties
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Usage
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Printing Temperature
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Bed Temperature
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Bed Adhesion
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Availability
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Glow in the Dark
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| ABS |  |
Making durable parts that need to withstand higher temperatures, Easy to print with, strong plastic, | Legos, instruments, sports equipment, Objects that might be dropped, knife handles, car phone mounts, phone cases, toys, wedding rings | 210°C – 250°C | 80°C-110 °C | Kapton Tape / Hairspray | 1.75mm/3mm | Yes |
| PLA | Click Here to Shop PLA Filament | Odorless, Low-warp, Eco-Friendly, Less energy to process | Food containers, such as candy wrappers, and biodegradable medical implants, models, prototype parts | 190°C – 230°C | 60°C – 80°C. | Blue painter’s tape/ Hairspray | 1.75mm/3mm | Yes |
| PVA | |
Non harmful, non-toxic, and environment friendly, Easily be dissolved in water under normal temperature, Easily stripping. | paper adhesive, thickener, packaging film, in feminine hygiene, adult incontinence products, in children’s play putty or slime, freshwater sports fishing, | 180°C – 230°C | 45 °C | Blue Painters Tape | 1.75mm/3mm | No |
| PET | |
FDA approved for food containers and tools used for food consumption, barely warps, no odors or fumes when printed | phone cases and mechanical parts that require flexibility and impact resistance, jewelry, props, and electronics | 230-255 °C | 55 °C-70 °C | Blue Painters Tape | 1.75mm/3mm | No |
| PETG | |
Extremely durable and prints without odor. Has superior impact resistance that is superior to PET. Low shrinkage, no warping and not brittle. | Protective components like phone cases and mechanical parts that require flexibility. Food containers like cups and plates. | 220°C – 245°C | 70°C – 75°C | Blue Painters Tape | 1.75mm/3mm | No |
| PETT | |
Colorless, Water Clear, FDA approved, Recyclable, Strong and Flexible | Food containers like cups and utensils, Soda pop bottles, | 210°C – 230°C | 45 °C | Blue Painters Tape | 1.75mm/3mm | No |
| HIPS | |
Biodegradable, Great 3D Support material, low-cost, | costumes, models, miniature figurines, prototyping | 220-230 °C | 50 °C-60 °C | Kapton Tape/Hairspray | 1.75mm/3mm | No |
| Nylon | |
strong, lightweight, durable, flexible, wear-resistant, 100% thermoplastic | machine parts, mechanical components, structural parts, gears and bearings, dynamic load, containers, tools, consumer products and toys. | 210°C – 250°C | 60 °C-80 °C | PVA Based Glue | 1.75mm/3mm | No |
| Wood | |
Versatility, Real wood scent, Durability, contain real wood fibers | wooden box, wooden figurine, tables, chairs, cups or the likes. | 200°C – 260°C | 90°C-110°C. | Blue Painters Tape | 1.75mm/3mm | No |
| Sandstone | |
No plastic feeling, Printed objects can be coloured and easely grinded, Stics well on print bed, No heated bed necessary, Near zero warp | Architecture models, landscapes, | 165°C – 210°C | 20 °C-55 °C | Blue Painters Tape | 1.75mm/3mm | No |
| Metal | |
highly durable, not soluble, little shrinkage during cooling | Jewelry, statues, home hardware and artifact replicas. | 195-220 °C | 50 °C | Blue Painters Tape | 1.75mm/3mm | No |
| Magnetic Iron PLA | |
High Durability, Magnetic Look, Magnetic properties | Fridge magnets, sensors, actuators, magnetic stirrers, and educational, DIY projects. | 185 °C | 20 °C-55 °C | Blue Painters Tape | 1.75mm/3mm | No |
| Conductive PLA | |
Very low warping, Not Soluble, Print low-voltage electronic circuits, | low-voltage circuitry applications, touch sensor projects, | 225°C-260 °C | 90 °C-110 °C | Kapton Tape/ Haispray | 1.75mm/3mm | No |
| Carbon Fiber | |
Highly Durable, Soluble, Low Warpage, Good layer adhesion | Frames, supports, propellers, tools, mechanical parts, protective casings, shells, high durability applications | 195°C-220 °C | 50 °C | Blue Painters Tape | 1.75mm/3mm | No |
| Flexible/TPE | |
Flexible 3D printing material, excellent abrasion resistance, smooth feeding properties, Durability | Toys, novelty items, wearable, phone cases, visual products. | 210°C-225 °C | 20-55 °C | Blue Painters Tape | 1.75mm/3mm | No |
| Glow In The Dark | |
Minimal Warping, Glow in the Dark properties, durable, not soluble, low shrinkage during cooling | children’s toys, novelty items, wearables, phone cases, visual products. | 185°C-205 °C | 70 °C | Blue Painters Tape | 1.75mm/3mm | Yes |
| Amphora | |
High strength and very high toughness, FDA food contact compliance, Odor Neutral processing, Styrene free formulation | Desktop items, Mechanical Parts, | 220°C – 250°C | 60 °C- 70 °C | Blue Painters Tape | 1.75mm/3mm | No |
What is a 3D Printer Filament
What are 3D printing filaments? A 3D filament is a 3D printer plastic that is used to make three-dimensional printing. In 3D printing, the most popular filaments are ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) and PLA (Polylactic Acid).
However, there are more filaments for 3D printers out there other than PLA or ABS. Some of them are heat resistant, food-safe, and chemical resistant. Perhaps, you already read or hear some of them. Meanwhile, others might be new to you.
Check out the next sections to learn the 3D printer filaments available on the market. Some of them make great support material for projects that need one.
What filaments do 3D printers use?
There are many filaments available in the market. They have different qualities and properties. Some are tough, flexible, and heat-resistant. Meanwhile, others are weak, brittle or with adhesion issues. They are also available in various diameters and layers. Here are the types of 3D printing filaments that you can choose from.
#1. ABS 3D Printing Filament
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene a.k.a. ABS filament is the most popular or commonly used 3D printer filament. In fact, it is used in a wide variety of applications because it is tough and high impact-resistant.
This filament is also strong and slightly flexible, which makes it a good material for 3D printing. In addition, it can be easily extruded, which makes it very easy to print.
To read the rest of this article about 3-D printing filaments, please click HERE to go to allthat3d.com
