3D Printing: Know Your Filament

Getting started with 3D printing is fun, you get to play with the printing process itself and you get the wanted item in the end. One problem is we tend to pay more attention to the choice of printer and then forget the materials need the same attention, if not more, same way as in the case of printing with paper.

In other words, if you’re counting on success, you have to choose quality materials. What this means is you should be careful when buying your 3d print supplies, where you buy them from and which you decide to buy. Choosing trustworthy suppliers is a must and so is choosing carefully from the commonly used filament types.

It all comes down to your budget and the properties you find most useful, so for that you have to know something about each of the filaments. Starting from basics, if you’re a beginner in 3D printing go for the ColorFabb nGen option: it can be put through a variety of temperatures (has high heat resistance), it doesn’t clog as much as other types and you won’t have to spend a lot of time adjusting print settings.

If you’re looking for something affordable yet the same temperature, or rather, heat resistance, more ductility as well as a wide range of post-processing then the ABS filament, one of the plastics known to be used since the beginning of 3D printing, is the one to choose.

Just beware of warping since cooled printing surface leads to it and stick to heated instead if you want the printed items to stand wear and tear. Wanting to get one of the 3d print supplies that are popular because of their many printing applications, knowing they’re suitable for different kinds of 3D printers, then opt for PLA.

It’s a great filament to work with even for beginners, more so as it’s low-warp, and it’s available in many colours. Along with this it’s both biodegradable and renewable too so if you’re eco-aware and into sustainability, this is the one for you. In case you’re into getting a professional result, you could still choose PLA but the PRO series.

Nylon is another versatile, popular and strong filament that’s also great because it doesn’t produce odour throughout the printing, however you have to be careful when moisture is around as it can lead to printing issues. If you’re interested in a fun material for kids, this is where the glow-in-the-dark steps in.

You’ll have joy creating toys and decorations yet to be on the safe side in terms of your printer, think of the nozzles and find something more durable like the steel option, as this is a filament that can wear them out.