Where to Get 3D Printing Filament and What to Buy
Plastic Procurement Plainly Put
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| Which Plastic to pick?, 1 |
Printer Considerations:
The first question one must consider when deciding what filament to acquire should be "what filament does my printer need as configured?" Most printers are built to be reconfigurable to use different sizes of filament and nozzles with some work. Most printers released in the past few years have their extrusion systems (the mechanical parts which feed filament into the hot, melty bits [The Hotend]) set up to extrude 1.75mm filament and, for the most part, to change filament thickness requires a bit of hardware disassembly.
One should also consider what type of extrusion system they have on their printer. There are two common extrusion set-ups: Direct drive extrusion or a Bowden extruder. Direct drive extruders are located closely to the hot-end and are more effective at extruding accurately and are much better with flexible filaments compared to Bowden extruders whose features are being cheaper and less subject to wear over time. One should avoid flexible filaments with Bowden extruders until they are experienced! Additionally, does the printer in question have a dual-extrusion system? If not, avoid PVA or other support oriented materials as swapping filaments mid-print can be very tricky and lead to ruined parts. A dual extrusion system would allow the printer to operate with two types of filament at the same time which makes printing support filaments much more practical. Another dimension of consideration may be the maximum operating temperature of the hot end and of the heated bed for the printer in question. When considering a filament to purchase be sure its preferred melting conditions fit within the printers capabilities. Here at the La Quinta Creation station our printers have dual extrusion systems with direct drive extruders and hot ends capable of temperatures up to 300C. The print beds can achieve a heat of up to 110C. These features allow for selection among a wide range of filaments.
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| A Bowden Extruder |
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| Direct Drive Extruder and Hotend below, 2 |
One should also consider what type of extrusion system they have on their printer. There are two common extrusion set-ups: Direct drive extrusion or a Bowden extruder. Direct drive extruders are located closely to the hot-end and are more effective at extruding accurately and are much better with flexible filaments compared to Bowden extruders whose features are being cheaper and less subject to wear over time. One should avoid flexible filaments with Bowden extruders until they are experienced! Additionally, does the printer in question have a dual-extrusion system? If not, avoid PVA or other support oriented materials as swapping filaments mid-print can be very tricky and lead to ruined parts. A dual extrusion system would allow the printer to operate with two types of filament at the same time which makes printing support filaments much more practical. Another dimension of consideration may be the maximum operating temperature of the hot end and of the heated bed for the printer in question. When considering a filament to purchase be sure its preferred melting conditions fit within the printers capabilities. Here at the La Quinta Creation station our printers have dual extrusion systems with direct drive extruders and hot ends capable of temperatures up to 300C. The print beds can achieve a heat of up to 110C. These features allow for selection among a wide range of filaments.
What kind of filament to buy:
There are many, many different filament options and deciding between them can be a daunting and confusing task. The following list is hardly representative of the diverse selection of different formulations of plastics that are available for 3d printing, however it is likely effective enough to get a person started.
PLA: (Polylactic acid)
Printing temperature: 180-230C
PLA is the go-to choice for anyone starting out with 3D printing. It has low
requirements for temperature and does not usually require a heated bed. It does not usually warp significantly while cooling. PLA has mechanical properties which are sufficient to meet the the demands of many tasks one would ask of a 3d printed part, however it does degrade and embrittle when exposed to ultraviolet radiation for significant periods of time (I.E. sunlight). PLA filament is commonly available for purchase and comes in many different colors, light reflection qualities, and with many different additives which result in unique and interesting mechanical and aesthetic properties for final prints. PLA is also usually biodegradable and formed using renewable resources.
ADVANTAGES:
PETG: (Polyethylene terephthalate, glycol-modified)
Printing Temperature: 220-250C
Print Bed Temperature: 50-75C
PETG is another increasingly popular choice for 3D printing filament. PETG has mechanical and melting properties that lie somewhere between PLA and ABS, making it an effective general purpose filament. It does not tend to warp while cooling, however it is said to be sticky while printing which leads to considerations of use (it is not good as support material). It is also available in different colors and styles, like PLA. PETG even has a variant named PETT which is FDA-approved for use with food (though consider the other filaments the printer in question has already used before use with food). PETG is fully recyclable, though it is not biodegradable.
Advantages:
Printing temperature: 180-230C
PLA is the go-to choice for anyone starting out with 3D printing. It has low
requirements for temperature and does not usually require a heated bed. It does not usually warp significantly while cooling. PLA has mechanical properties which are sufficient to meet the the demands of many tasks one would ask of a 3d printed part, however it does degrade and embrittle when exposed to ultraviolet radiation for significant periods of time (I.E. sunlight). PLA filament is commonly available for purchase and comes in many different colors, light reflection qualities, and with many different additives which result in unique and interesting mechanical and aesthetic properties for final prints. PLA is also usually biodegradable and formed using renewable resources.
ADVANTAGES:
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| Printed in PLA |
- Commonly Available and Cheap
- Lower Printing Temperatures and Reduced Warping
- Available in Many Styles and Colors
- Biodegradable and Made from Renewable Resources
DISADVANTAGES:
- Mechanical properties not suited to every task (can be brittle and inflexible compared to other plastics)
- Lower printing temperatures also require lower heat applications for parts
- Biodegradable properties will decrease life of part if precautions are not taken
- Can absorb water from the air, necessitating storage consideration
- Mechanical properties make some forms of post-processing more difficult
PETG: (Polyethylene terephthalate, glycol-modified)
Printing Temperature: 220-250C
Print Bed Temperature: 50-75C
PETG is another increasingly popular choice for 3D printing filament. PETG has mechanical and melting properties that lie somewhere between PLA and ABS, making it an effective general purpose filament. It does not tend to warp while cooling, however it is said to be sticky while printing which leads to considerations of use (it is not good as support material). It is also available in different colors and styles, like PLA. PETG even has a variant named PETT which is FDA-approved for use with food (though consider the other filaments the printer in question has already used before use with food). PETG is fully recyclable, though it is not biodegradable.
Advantages:
- Mechanical properties well suited for most parts and tasks
- Available in different colors / varieties
- Recycleable
- More flexible than PLA
Disadvantages:
- Absorbs water from the air, requiring storage considerations
- May require extra considerations for removal from the print bed as PETG can stick firmly
- Lower hardness may encourage scratching
TPE/TPU: (Thermoplastic elastomers) / (Thermoplastic polyurethane)
Printing temperature: 210-230C
TPE refers to an entire class of plastics, for 3d printing we are more concerned with TPU specifically. TPU is a flexible, rubber like polymer that can be used to print parts with interesting mechanical properties like flexing hinges or parts which stretch. TPU is very handy for printing parts which need to flex to function: such as wearable items or wheels. The flexible nature of TPU can make printing difficult as it would prefer to flex than be pushed through an extruder at known, constant rates. This means that the features of your printer become important, TPU prefers direct drive extruders with slower print speeds.
Advantages:
Printing temperature: 210-230C
TPE refers to an entire class of plastics, for 3d printing we are more concerned with TPU specifically. TPU is a flexible, rubber like polymer that can be used to print parts with interesting mechanical properties like flexing hinges or parts which stretch. TPU is very handy for printing parts which need to flex to function: such as wearable items or wheels. The flexible nature of TPU can make printing difficult as it would prefer to flex than be pushed through an extruder at known, constant rates. This means that the features of your printer become important, TPU prefers direct drive extruders with slower print speeds.
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| Flexible TPU filament, 3 |
Advantages:
- Has rubber-like qualities which enable interesting mechanical uses.
- Tough and durable, resists frictional wear.
- Print bed heat is not a factor, allowing a wider range of co-polymer designs
Disadvantages:
- Can be difficult to print
- Is greatly aided by having a direct drive extruder
ABS: (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)
Printing Temperature: 210-250C
Print Bed Temperature: 80-110C
ABS is a very common plastic used in many industries and is commonly used in 3D printing as well. ABS's dominance in the field of 3D printing has been somewhat shaken by the increasing quality of PLA polymers as well as PETG however, especially considering the complications with printing ABS. ABS requires temperatures on the hotter end of the range of filament temperatures and is sensitive to changes in local atmospheric temperatures while printing. Additionally, it requires a heated bed to aid in the reduction of part warping while cooling. ABS releases potentially harmful gasses while printing which should be ventilated during longer prints. Despite these fussy qualities, parts made with ABS are tough, durable, and more flexible than they would be if made with PLA. The higher melting temperature of ABS also indicates it can be used for parts solving higher temperature problems. ABS parts will contract while cooling perhaps requiring special considerations regarding final dimensions.
Advantages:
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| Made of ABS, 4 |
- Commonly Available and in different colors and varieties
- Good mechanical properties for useful parts
- Higher temperature resistance than many common options
- Wide range of post-processing techniques available for final part work
Disadvantages:
- Requires many temperature considerations
- Fumes released during printing process should be ventilated or filtered if printing frequently or for long durations
- Warps while cooling, requiring design and print condition considerations
Where to buy Filament:
Thanks to 3D printings increasing popularity, there are many reliable places to buy 3D printing filament. Amazon is a marketplace with many different brands available, but be sure to double check that you are ordering what you think you are. Important details to double check are: the working temperatures of the filament, the amount of filament you are ordering, the color, and importantly the type of plastic. Ensuring you order the correct items is a good habit to adopt regardless of the supplier you choose. Be sure to order high quality filament: you will spend more money but less time on diagnosing issues as you may be more likely to not find the filament at fault. Hatchbox and the Amazon Basics brands are reasonable well regarded and can be found on Amazon.com. Additionally, quality filaments may be found from matterhackers.com as well as the website for the manufacturer of the 3D printer in question. If one is looking for a brick-and-mortar solution, look wherever 3D printers are sold locally. Barnes and Noble or Microcenters located nearby may have some selection to choose from.
Recap:
Online:
- Amazon
- Matterhackers
- Monoprice
- 3D printer manufacturers website
In Person:
- Microcenter
- Barnes and Nobel or wherever 3D printers are sold
Article by William
Credits:
https://www.matterhackers.com/3d-printer-filament-compare
Photos by me unless credited below:
1: Free use image from pixabay.com
2:https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/tool/mk8-direct-drive-extruder-7mm-pulley-adapter
3:https://live.staticflickr.com/8675/16061662823_8af124551b_b.jpg by creative-tools.com
4:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lego_Color_Bricks.jpg
Photos by me unless credited below:
1: Free use image from pixabay.com
2:https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/tool/mk8-direct-drive-extruder-7mm-pulley-adapter
3:https://live.staticflickr.com/8675/16061662823_8af124551b_b.jpg by creative-tools.com
4:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lego_Color_Bricks.jpg
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