This article will mention some of the essential things you should know about each best 3D printer filament: what they are, under which temperature they are suitable, and their properties. Why discuss this? Knowing them will help you produce the best, most neat, and most durable projects. The filaments include;
Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) is a class of plastic made when a polyaddition reaction occurs between a diisocyanate and one or more diols. They are semi-flexible and are used in engineering applications, in scenarios where performance is more valued than aesthetic quality.
With TPU they are mainly represented by names like two numbers and a letter, for instance, TPU 95A. This representation refers to material hardness on a measuring scale like the shore scale. Meaning the filament rates 95 on the Shore A hardness scale. Here are some general features of TPU;
- With Snapmaker’s TPU featuring a Shore Hardness of 95A, it is elastic and flexible, hence can stretch more than three times the original length.
- It can withstand friction, rubbing, or grazing over time; therefore, it is an ideal filament for printing durable parts like tires.
- In 3D printing, it is known that even a little bubble fails everything. Therefore, Snapmaker strives for perfection to deliver a product quality that you can trust, and this includes filament.
- TPU filament works well with Snapmaker 2.0 3D printer and is compatible with most FDM 3D printers on the market.
Polylactic acid (PLA) is the most famous material in FDM 3D printing and is suitable for various applications. The recommended print temperature of PLA is 190 degrees Celsius to 210 degrees Celsius. A temperature of 50-60 degrees Celsius for the build plate is ideal, though you can still choose to print on a cold build surface. What are some of its general features?
- Its diameter is mostly 1.75 mm (±0.03 mm), ensuring high precision and superior quality of finished products.
- Snapmaker’s PLA is made of corn starch-synthetic polymer material, biodegradable plastic hence environmentally safe.
- They come in different colors, like gray, yellow, white, red, and blue. The selection of colors will depend on your projects.
Polyethylene Terephthalate glycol (PETG) from Snapmaker, one spool is 1 kg. It is compatible with most 3D printers. It combines the functionality of ABS and the reliability of PLA, making it one of the best filaments. Its specification includes;
- Snapmaker’s PETG weighs 1 kg, has a length of 315 m / 344.49″ and a density of 1.26 (g/cm squared)
- It is suitable for printing temperatures of 230° C to 250° C.
- The heated bed temperature is recommended to be 60° to 80° C.
- Its tensile strength is 18 (230° C / 2.16 kg) / (230° C / 4.76 lbs)
- Spool size is 200 x 65 mm / 7.87 x 2.56”
- Diameter of 1.75 mm
- The printing speed is user-designed.
- The elongation at break is 2.5%
- Its general features include;
- It is admired for being highly resistant to heat, is durable, and shows high rigidity and flexibility.
- It proves to be low warping and very easy to print.
- It is resistant to chemicals and tolerant to various chemicals and detergents.
- It is widely applicable and compatible with most 3D printers.
- It is one of the best filaments, with high dimensional accuracy of 1.75 mm (±0.03 mm)
It is vital to have insight into filaments’ features and properties. To see and read previous comments about the filaments, visit the website; go through each filament’s specifications and reviews. After that, choose one that best suits your requirements.