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Whether you're a hobbyist or a business owner, it's important to consider money when it comes to 3D printing. One of the major costs to consider if you're using a 3D filament printer is the cost of the 3D printing filament. The cost of your filament will have a significant impact on your production costs. You can control the costs of production by considering the cost of the filament you purchase. In this blog, we delve deeper into the cost of 3D filament and considerations to take when purchasing 3D filament.
The Cost of 3D Printer Filament
- PLA
Polylactic acid is a polymer made from renewable sources. This biodegradable polymer is sourced from sugar cane or corn starch. Because of this, it is relatively more affordable and more readily available than many other types of 3D printer filaments.
PLA comes in a wide range of grades and blends. If you're looking for standard PLA filament, you could spend anything between $15 and $30 per kg, depending on the manufacturer and retailer you purchase from. You can purchase special blends of PLA at higher prices. PLA is certainly the most affordable 3D printing material. It is also the easiest to use and can be pigmented easily. it is easy to see why this filament is such a hit with hobbyists and professionals alike.
- ABS
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene is also quite popular as a 3D printing material. This plastic is petroleum based. Like PLA, ABS is also quite affordable and is widely available. You can purchase ABS filaments for between $20 and $35.
ABS is known to produce toxic fumes when it is heated. If you're concerned about the odor and the fumes, you can opt for different versions of ABS that are designed to reduce emissions. These will be slightly more costly.
- PETG
This is one of the most versatile materials used for 3D printing. It is a variant of PET, the material used in making water bottles. PETG is resistant to heat, degradation, and chemicals. It is also quite strong. It is also food safe. You can therefore use it to make kitchen utensils.
PETG is also quite affordable. You can purchase PETG filament for between $20 and $25 per kg. However, if you're looking for the best PETG filament, you should be prepared to part with much more.
- HIPS
HIPS is often used to provide support to the model being printed. Hips are a soluble material with similar properties to ABS. This includes its printing temperature. It is therefore often paired with ABS. You can purchase HIPS for between $20 and $60 per kg. You would also need to purchase the liquid used to dissolve the HIPS supports. Lemonesol is priced at about $20 per 500ml bottle.
Reasons Not To Buy Cheap 3D Printer Filament
It isn't uncommon for people to opt for cheap 3D printer filament in a bid to save money. However, it is important to note that while you may save money in purchasing the filament, you may experience other issues that make purchasing better-quality filament at a higher price worth it.
- It will cost you more in re-printing
If you have ever tried using a cheap 3D printer filament before, you may have noted that these filaments often do not produce great results. These cheap filaments will cause problems such as jams during the printing process. This will mean that you will have to restart the printing process and discard the partial print. If these problems occur 50 percent of the time, you will end up wasting a good amount of your filament as a result. This will be costly in the long run.
- You will waste time un-jamming your 3D printer
Cheap filaments often cause jams in 3D printers. This is because they contain many impurities and are therefore not consistent in melting. When a jam occurs in your printer, you will have to stop the printing process and take some time to un-jam your printer. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to hours, depending on how much of the filament needs to be cleared from the extruder in order to get it to flow freely again. You may even have to dismantle the extruder. This will mean spending even more time clearing the jam.
This can be costly, especially if you are using your 3D printer for business. You will waste time that could have been used printing products that could earn you money.
- You will spend more money on repairs
It isn't always possible to clear jams in printers caused by the cheap filament. When the jam cannot be cleared, you will need to replace some of the parts in your printer. You may need to replace the print head or the extruder. The cost for this will depend on the model of your printer.
Repairs also mean downtime for your business. You will lose a lot of time waiting for the parts to arrive and replacing them. This is time that could have been spent in production.
Get Good Value for Your Money
3D printing filaments can be expensive or affordable, depending on your preferences. Popular 3D printing filaments such as PLA and PETG cost roughly the same. Your decision about which filament to go with for your project should not be based solely on cost. If you're considering different 3D printing filaments, it is important to consider what you will be printing in order to choose the right filament.
If you're working on a tight budget and are tempted to go with a cheap 3D filament, consider the impact of cheap 3D filaments as outlined above. You will find that it is worth it to spend a little more and purchase a quality 3D filament. You will not only get better results but also be spared the costs associated with clearing jams from your printer or replacing printer parts.
Use all the factors above in combination with the cost of the filament to determine which filament is best for you.