Filaments (Material) Overview
Filament is a spool of Material, material types are listed below.
Each filament from different manufactures will have different characteristics, in terms of printability as well as post-print performance. The below information is a general guide, you might find a filament that doesn't match the below norms. For print settings please see FILAMENT GUIDE NAVIGATION.
The most common filaments have a 1.75mm or 2.85mm diameter.
Also see Material (Filament) Testing.
- PLA:
Most commonly used
Easy to print
No odor
Cheaper
Brittle, Lass than ABS
Not heat resistant - PETG:
Easy to print like PLA
Less Brittle than PLA
More heat resistant than PLA, Less than ASA
More expensive, cheaper than ASA per kg, but not cheaper per meter.
Worse with Stringing - PCTG:
- ABS:
Harder to print
More Brittle than PLA - ASA:
Similar to ABS
UV resistant (more than ABS)
Less warping
Less odor than ABS
More heat resistant than PETG
Better with Overhangs
Worse with Bridging
More expensive - PVA:
- Soft PVA:
- Flexible:
TPU - Nylon (PA):
- Nylon X:
- Wood Filament:
- Metal Filament:
- HIPS:
- PC (Polycarbonate):
Requires high temperatures to print - PP:
- Antimicrobial Filament:
- Glow In The Dark:
- Foaming Filament:
- PVB:
Easy to print
Easy to Smooth.
Supporting Documentation
Videos:
- The 3D Filament Tier List: 50 Materials Ranked Mercilessly!
- I Tested (Almost) EVERY FILAMENT on Amazon: Every Single Filament Part I
- How to Use EVERY 3D FILAMENT
- The BEST 3D printing material? Comparing PLA, PETG & ASA (ABS) - feat. PRUSAMENT by Josef Prusa
- 3D Printing Filament Comparison Guide // 3D Filament Guide
- How I tune in new filaments!