A simple guide to 3D Printing materials
Are you asking yourself, 'What type of filament do I need?', 'What type of things can I 3D print?' or 'What 3D printing resources are there?' Then read below find some helpful information that will assist, inspire and offer you the advice you need for your next 3D printing project. Whether you are new to 3D printing or an expert, in this rapidly changing field, there's always something new to learn.
Suitable for all FDM 3D printers. Polylactic acid (PLA) filament is a plastic printing material, known for its ease of use. It can be biodegradable or long-lasting depending on the manufacturing process, additives and copolymers.
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It is a popular material due to its low melting point, low thermal expansion, high strength and good layer adhesion. This means it is less likely to warp and no heating bed is required, making it good for experts and those new to 3D printing. Whether you are looking to print a 3d dragon, model or tool it’s ease of use and great colour options make it the perfect choice for your project.
Polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified (PTEG) is a thermoplastic polyester. It is an adaption of PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) where the ‘G’ stands for glycol. This gives it greater strength, impact resistance and durability. It is better suited to higher temperatures and is one of the most popular 3D printing filament materials.
Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) is a polymer that has the advantages of plastic but also has the elasticity of rubber. It is part of a group of flexible filaments such as TPU, TPE or TPC. It is often used in the production of footwear, cables, automotive parts and medical devices. Due to its great abrasion and oil resistance, softness and elastic qualities it is able to withstand high weight loads. It also has good weather resistance and UV stability. It typically operates most effectively between -40°C and 120°C.
ABS filament
ABS filament is an industrial grade thermoplastic polymer, it is a combination of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene monomers. It is popular with FDM 3d printing because of its mechanical strength, high heat, chemical and UV resistance. It provides the ability to print faster even at higher temperatures. This makes it a popular filament for model printing, with excellent durability and flexibility. It is able to take most shapes and hardens evenly.
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Used in many industries like, automotive, medical, construction and aerospace it has many applications. These include, for the production of functional prototypes, creating gears, bearings and leavers or for manufacturing storage containers, phone cases, gadgets or kitchen utensils.
Chose ABS filament if you are looking for a material with high stability to produce durable 3D prints.
Wood filament
A material that has the look and feel of wood, however it is not actual wood. Usually it is a combination of wood fibres that have been added to a PLA base material. This means that printing temperatures usually have to be reduced compare to standard PLA.
Glow-in-the-Dark Filament
A Phosphorescent filament, that enables it to shine in the dark. Phosphorescent particles are usually added to either PLA or ABS filaments. When exposed to the light the material will absorb the light rays and glow in the dark. For the best results using thicker printed walls will produce a stronger glow.
3D Printing external resources
For some 3D printing inspiration here are few useful sites that offer downloadable designs. Some STL files are even Free to download or only cost a small amount.
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They offer a variety of categories to explore, blogs and contests and even if you don’t download a 3D print design, it is a useful site to get a few ideas of future projects you could work on.
