3D Printing Basics: 3D Printing Consumables

Filaments & Their Properties

In FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) technology, filament is the primary material used to create objects. Depending on the project’s needs, we can choose different materials with specific properties, strengths, and ease of printing.

Below, we present a detailed list of the most common filaments, their advantages and disadvantages, properties, printing temperatures, and an indicative price per kilogram.

🔹 PLA (Polylactic Acid)

📌 The most popular and beginner-friendly filament!

✅ Pros:
✔️ Environmentally friendly (biodegradable).
✔️ Low printing temperature (easy to use).
✔️ Available in many colors and textures.
✔️ Doesn’t produce strong fumes during printing.

❌ Cons:
✖️ Sensitive to heat (deforms easily).
✖️ Not very impact-resistant.
✖️ Not flexible, prone to breaking.

🔧 Properties:

• Printing temperature: 180-220°C
• Bed temperature: 50-60°C (optional)
• Cost: ~€18-30/kg

📌 Example uses: Decorative objects, educational projects, prototypes, models.

🔹 PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)

📌 Combines PLA’s ease of use with ABS’s durability!

✅ Pros:
✔️ More durable and flexible than PLA.
✔️ Resistant to moisture and chemicals (great for outdoor use).
✔️ Doesn’t produce toxic fumes.
✔️ More heat-resistant than PLA.

❌ Cons:
✖️ Difficult adhesion to the print bed.
✖️ Can cause stringing (thin filament strands).
✖️ Requires controlled printing conditions.

🔧 Properties:

• Printing temperature: 220-250°C
• Bed temperature: 70-90°C
• Cost: ~€22-35/kg

📌 Example uses: Functional parts, enclosures, durable components.

🔹 ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)

📌 Ideal for high-temperature and impact-resistant prints!

✅ Pros:
✔️ Impact-resistant and tough.
✔️ Doesn’t deform under high temperatures.
✔️ Can be easily sanded and painted.
✔️ Suitable for mechanical parts.

❌ Cons:
✖️ Produces toxic fumes (requires good ventilation).
✖️ Warping issues (requires a heated bed and enclosed chamber).
✖️ Needs a closed printer for stable temperature control.

🔧 Properties:

• Printing temperature: 230-260°C
• Bed temperature: 90-110°C
• Cost: ~€25-40/kg

📌 Example uses: Durable parts, engineering models, automotive applications.

🔹 TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)

📌 The filament for flexible and rubber-like prints!

✅ Pros:
✔️ Extremely flexible and impact-resistant.
✔️ High wear and abrasion resistance.
✔️ Resistant to water and oils.

❌ Cons:
✖️ Difficult to print due to flexibility.
✖️ Can’t be used in very high temperatures.

🔧 Properties:

• Printing temperature: 210-250°C
• Bed temperature: 30-60°C
• Cost: ~€30-50/kg

📌 Example uses: Tires, protective cases, phone covers, hinges.

🔹 Nylon

📌 Great for ultra-durable prints and mechanical components!

✅ Pros:
✔️ High tensile and impact strength.
✔️ Excellent wear resistance.
✔️ Ideal for moving parts.

❌ Cons:
✖️ Absorbs moisture (needs dry storage).
✖️ Requires very high printing temperatures.

🔧 Properties:

• Printing temperature: 240-270°C
• Bed temperature: 80-110°C
• Cost: ~€50-70/kg

📌 Example uses: Gears, durable mechanical parts, tools.

🔹 ASA (Alternative to ABS)

📌 Similar to ABS but more resistant to weather conditions!

✅ Pros:
✔️ Resistant to UV exposure (sunlight).
✔️ Perfect for outdoor applications.
✔️ High heat resistance.

❌ Cons:
✖️ Harder to print than ABS.
✖️ Requires good ventilation.

🔧 Properties:

• Printing temperature: 230-260°C
• Bed temperature: 80-110°C
• Cost: ~€40-60/kg

📌 Example uses: Outdoor parts, aerodynamic components, high-temperature applications.

🏆 Which Filament Should You Choose?

📌 For beginners: PLA or PETG
📌 For strength and durability: ABS or ASA
📌 For flexibility: TPU
📌 For mechanical parts: Nylon
📌 For outdoor use: ASA or PETG

🚀 Hope this guide helps you choose the right filament for your next 3D printing project! 🚀

High Performance & Specialized Applications

For those looking to push beyond the limits of standard PLA, PETG, ABS, and TPU, there are exotic and advanced filaments that offer unique mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties. These materials are used in industrial, medical, aerospace, and engineering applications.

Below is a list of the most well-known exotic filaments, their characteristics, uses, printing challenges, and indicative prices per kilogram.

🏆 1. Carbon Fiber Reinforced Filament (PLA, PETG, Nylon, ABS + Carbon Fiber)

📌 Reinforced with carbon fibers for high strength and low weight!

✅ Advantages:
✔️ Excellent rigidity and fracture resistance.
✔️ Lightweight and highly durable.
✔️ Reduced thermal expansion, minimizing warping.

❌ Disadvantages:
✖️ Highly abrasive material, requires hardened steel or ruby nozzle.
✖️ Stiff and brittle, lacks flexibility.
✖️ High cost.

🔧 Properties:

• Printing temperature: 230-280°C
• Bed temperature: 80-100°C
• Cost: ~€70-120/kg

📌 Use Cases: Drone frames, mechanical parts, automotive parts, aerospace applications.

🔥 2. PEEK (Polyetheretherketone)

📌 One of the strongest materials in the world!

✅ Advantages:
✔️ Resistant to extremely high temperatures (up to 250°C!).
✔️ Chemical and solvent resistance (used in aerospace and medical industries).
✔️ Superior mechanical strength.

❌ Disadvantages:
✖️ Requires an industrial 3D printer (very high temperatures).
✖️ Extremely expensive.
✖️ Very difficult to print (requires a heated chamber).

🔧 Properties:

• Printing temperature: 360-450°C
• Bed temperature: 120-160°C
• Cost: ~€300-600/kg

📌 Use Cases: Medical implants, aerospace components, high-temperature parts.

🚀 3. PEI (Ultem) – Polyetherimide

📌 Aerospace-grade material with high strength and thermal stability!

✅ Advantages:
✔️ Handles very high temperatures.
✔️ Chemical resistance against strong solvents.
✔️ Stronger than ABS and PETG.

❌ Disadvantages:
✖️ Very expensive and difficult to print.
✖️ Requires a high-temperature chamber (150°C+).
✖️ Limited availability in the market.

🔧 Properties:

• Printing temperature: 350-400°C
• Bed temperature: 120-160°C
• Cost: ~€150-400/kg

📌 Use Cases: Aircraft components, medical devices, military applications.

🛡️ 4. HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene) – Dissolvable Support Material

📌 Primarily used as support material for ABS!

✅ Advantages:
✔️ Dissolves in D-Limonene, easy to remove.
✔️ Good impact resistance.
✔️ Perfectly compatible with ABS.

❌ Disadvantages:
✖️ Requires a special solvent (D-Limonene) for removal.
✖️ Reduces adhesion to the print bed.

🔧 Properties:

• Printing temperature: 230-250°C
• Bed temperature: 90-110°C
• Cost: ~€30-50/kg

📌 Use Cases: Supports for ABS prints, models with complex geometries.

🌊 5. PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol) – Water-Soluble Support Material

📌 Support structures that dissolve in water!

✅ Advantages:
✔️ Easily removed with water.
✔️ Ideal for complex prints with PLA.
✔️ Leaves no marks on the final print.

❌ Disadvantages:
✖️ Highly hygroscopic (absorbs moisture, must be stored in dry conditions).
✖️ Expensive.

🔧 Properties:

• Printing temperature: 180-220°C
• Bed temperature: 50-60°C
• Cost: ~€40-70/kg

📌 Use Cases: Supports for PLA, medical applications.

🔩 6. Metal & Wood Infused Filaments

📌 PLA infused with metal or wood for unique effects!

✅ Advantages:
✔️ Wooden or metallic texture and appearance.
✔️ Can be polished or painted.
✔️ Does not require an industrial printer.

❌ Disadvantages:
✖️ Wears down standard nozzles quickly.
✖️ Requires slow printing speeds.

🔧 Properties:

• Printing temperature: 180-220°C
• Bed temperature: 50-60°C
• Cost: ~€50-90/kg

📌 Use Cases: Decorative items, artistic creations, architectural models.

🏆 Which Exotic Material Fits Your Project?

📌 For extreme strength: Carbon Fiber, PEEK, PEI
📌 For dissolvable supports: PVA, HIPS
📌 For artistic projects: Wood/Metal Infused PLA
📌 For extreme temperature & chemical resistance: PEEK, PEI

🚀 Experiment with these cutting-edge materials and take your 3D printing to the next level! 🚀

🔥 What is Heat Deflection Temperature?

The heat deflection temperature is the temperature at which a material starts to soften and lose its shape.

To understand this better, think of a piece of wax. If you hold it in your hand, it stays solid. But if you leave it in the sun or bring it close to a fire, it will start to melt and deform. The same thing happens with the plastics we use in 3D printing!

🚗 Why Does PLA Melt on a Car Dashboard?

PLA, the most common 3D printing material, has a heat deflection temperature of around 55-60°C.

✅ What does this mean?

• If you leave a PLA print inside your house, it will stay exactly as you printed it.
• If you leave it outside in the sun during summer, it might start softening and warping.
• If you put it on your car's dashboard, where the temperature can reach 70-80°C, it will definitely bend or melt!

🔧 How Can You Avoid This?

If you need something more heat-resistant, you can use other materials like:

✅ PETG (Heat Deflection Temperature: ~75°C) – More heat-resistant than PLA, but can still soften under extreme heat.
✅ ABS (Heat Deflection Temperature: ~100°C) – Ideal for objects exposed to high temperatures.
✅ ASA (Heat Deflection Temperature: ~105°C) – Resistant to both heat and UV radiation, perfect for outdoor use.

Common Materials:

• PLA → ~55-60°C
• PLA+ → ~60-65°C
• PETG → ~70-80°C
• ABS → ~95-105°C
• ASA → ~100-110°C
• TPU (Flexible Material) → ~60-80°C (depending on hardness)
• Nylon → ~90-120°C
• PC (Polycarbonate) → ~120-150°C
• PP (Polypropylene) → ~90-100°C

Exotic Materials:

• Carbon Fiber Reinforced PLA → ~60-70°C
• Carbon Fiber Reinforced PETG → ~75-85°C
• Carbon Fiber Reinforced Nylon → ~100-120°C
• PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone) → ~143-150°C
• PEKK (Polyetherketoneketone) → ~150-160°C
• ULTEM (PEI – Polyetherimide) → ~180-210°C
• PVDF (Polyvinylidene Fluoride) → ~140-150°C
• PPSU (Polyphenylsulfone) → ~200-220°C

🚀 Conclusion:

If you need a print that can survive inside a car during summer, don’t use PLA! Instead, choose ABS or ASA to prevent it from warping in the heat. 😊