Different Types of Filament

Multiple colors of 3d printing filament spools lined up in a row

PLA Filament

When you first get into 3D printing, you may be immediately overwhelmed by the multitude of choices of different types of plastic filament that are available. Fear not, most of these types are for very specific purposes, and you may never have a need for them! The most commonly used type of 3D printer filament called polylactic acid, more commonly referred to as PLA. This is the best choice for any beginner trying to get into 3D printing. It is relatively easy to work with and does not have some of the complexities of many other filaments. Also, since it the most widely used, it also has the most colors available. There are also different types of PLA that exist, with PLA+ being a stronger version that will hold up to more stresses when printed as well as hyper PLA which is more suited to the faster print speeds of modern printers.

Other Types of Filament

While PLA is the most commonly used 3D printer filament is PLA there are many other types. For more detailed information, please see the video below. Some of the other main types include ABS, PETG and TPU. ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a much sturdier plastic than PLA, but is more difficult to use. It needs much higher print temperatures and is more prone to warping when cooled to quickly. PETG(Polyethylene terephthalate glycol) is a nice middle ground between PLA and ABS. It has sturdiness similar to that of ABS, but does suffer from warping as much. Lastly is TPU(Thermoplastic polyurethane). TPU has the unique characteristic that it is a flexible plastic that is meant for impact-absorption