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3D printing has come a long way. Technology has become more readily available. Businesses and even hobbyists are now able to make use of 3D printers to create a wide variety of products. 3D printing filaments have also developed over the years. You are no longer restricted to one or two materials. There is a wider range of 3D printing filaments to choose from and a wide range of brands available in the market. Below, we discuss the specifics of how to identify the best 3D printing filament to meet your needs.
Popular Types of 3D Printing Filaments
There is a wide range of 3D printing filaments available today. One of the first things you need to consider when choosing filaments for your 3D printing is what type of material to use. Deciding on this will help you narrow down your choices and help you select the best brand for your printing.
Some of the most popular types of 3D printing filaments include:
- PETG
Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) is similar to the plastic that is used to make food containers and water bottles. However, glycol has been added to it to improve its printability. PETG is a tough material and is quite heat resistant. PETG filament is hygroscopic. Therefore, it is important to store it away from humidity. It offers great layer adhesion even when printing at low temperatures. It is ideal for functional prints that require high resistance.
- PLA
Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most popular types of printing filaments. This is mainly because it is easy to use and is one of the most affordable types of printing filaments currently available in the market. It is also compatible with most 3D filament printers and does not require special conditions such as a heated printer bed. It is the perfect material to use when you're just getting started with 3D printing.
PLA offers high tensile strength. Therefore it is best for printing rigid parts. However, prints warp when exposed to direct sunlight. Prints also deform permanently when placed under load at room temperature.
- ABS
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is a filament that has become increasingly popular over the years. This material offers good heat resistance and great performance at a competitive price. However, it can be difficult to work with when you are just getting started with printing as it has a tendency to warp. It is highly sensitive. You would need a heated bead and heated enclosure for best results. Like PETG, ABS is great for functional prints and is even often used for engineering applications.
What to Look for In a Good Quality 3D Printing Filament
There are many factors to consider when choosing printing filament for your projects. If you will be working on a wide variety of projects with various types of filaments, it is wise that you invest in a 3D filament printer that offers various functionalities and is compatible with various types of printing filaments. You can then begin your search for the best quality filaments.
There are a wide variety of 3D printing filaments currently available in the market. The following are some factors to consider when choosing filaments to ensure that you choose a high-quality one.
- Dimensional accuracy
3D printing filaments come in a variety of sizes. By size, here we are referring to the diameter of the printing filament. It is important to ensure that the filament you purchase has a consistent diameter throughout. If there are changes in diameter, this will affect the volume of material extruded during the printing process. Your printer may over or under extrude printing filament during the printing process. This will result in noticeable scarring on your print. It could even result in failure. Therefore, you want to purchase a roll from a brand known for dimensional accuracy.
- Cost
When it comes to 3D printing filaments, the most expensive filaments aren't always the best quality ones. In fact, many high-quality brands offer their filaments at reasonable prices. Therefore, you have to do your research to find a good balance between affordability and quality.
It is a good idea to compare prices for the same printing filaments from different brands. Read the reviews from customers as well as the product descriptions to determine which brand offers a good balance between cost and quality.
Avoid filaments that are unbelievably cheap. There is a good chance that these filaments will be a waste of your hard-earned cash.
- Color Variety
It is important to have options when it comes to printing filament colors. If you are able to find a printing filament in the color of your choice, it could greatly reduce the amount of finishing work you will need to do. Therefore, it is worth taking the time to search for a brand that can provide you with filaments in a wide variety of colors.
- The finish
This not only refers to the quality of the prints but also the aesthetic properties of the prints. You can read reviews from customers to find out about the printing quality of the 3D printing filaments you are interested in. There are also various independent reviews on different filament brands available online. Search for information on surface quality, layer adhesion, and more when researching the printing quality of different filament brands.
You should also consider other aspects, such as the texture of the prints. Many brands now offer hybrid filaments that feature other materials such as cork, wood, or bamboo added to the base material to provide a unique finish.
Conclusion
There are different types of filaments available in the market today. You should choose a filament that is suited for your application and is compatible with your 3D printer. When you have settled on the type of filament you will use, you can proceed to select a filament brand. Use the tips above to choose a filament brand that offers quality at an affordable price for the best results in 3D printing.