Choosing a filament for your next 3D print can be hard, but there's no need for it to be too complicated. Here are some of the tips and tricks I use for choosing the best filament type for my next project.
Being that there are over 20 different types of filament in the 3D printing world, it can be overwhelming to narrow down the best types. Below are the top 10 most common examples:
PLA (Polylactic Acid): PLA is one of the most popular 3D printing materials due to its ease of use, biodegradability, and low odor. It's derived from renewable resources like corn starch or sugarcane.
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene): ABS is a strong and durable thermoplastic that is more heat-resistant than PLA. It's commonly used in applications that require toughness and impact resistance. However, it emits potentially harmful fumes when melted, so it should be used in a well-ventilated area.
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol): PETG is known for its durability, strength, and chemical resistance. It's a good choice for mechanical parts and objects that need to withstand moderate temperatures.
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane): TPU is a flexible filament that is resistant to abrasion, oils, and grease. It's commonly used for printing elastic parts, such as phone cases, shoe insoles, and flexible hinges.
Nylon: Nylon filaments are strong, durable, and resistant to abrasion. They have good impact strength and flexibility, making them suitable for functional prototypes and mechanical parts.
PLA+: PLA+ is a modified version of PLA that offers improved strength, flexibility, and temperature resistance compared to standard PLA.
Woodfill, Metal-fill, and other Composite Filaments: These filaments contain a mixture of PLA or other base materials with particles of wood, metal, or other materials. They can produce prints with unique textures and properties, such as wood-like or metallic finishes.
ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate): ASA is similar to ABS but offers better UV resistance, making it suitable for outdoor applications.
PC (Polycarbonate): PC is a strong and heat-resistant filament that is used for parts that require high impact resistance and temperature resistance.
HIPS (High-Impact Polystyrene): HIPS is lightweight and easy to work with. It's commonly used as a support material for printing complex geometries with ABS.
We're gonna be focusing on the top 3 types of filaments because those are the most commonly used in everyday 3D printing, this is your PLA, ABS and PETG filament types.
This filament is best utilized for prototyping. It is very easy to use, non-toxic, and has relatively low costs. Generally, people use it for creating new concept models and iterating their creative designs. It has a very wide range of colors and textures from silky to matte, and glow-in-the-dark to marble. Great for the fun everyday prints like decorative objects, such as figurines, vases, and sculptures, PLA is gonna be your go-to filament.
Known for its durability and strength, ABS is best suited for printing functional components, such as gears, enclosures, and automotive parts. Because it is able to withstand high temperatures up to 100 degrees Celsius, this filament is highly resistant to impact and high stress environments. People often use this filament for mechanical prototypes that live in those high temp / high stress environments because of all the capabilities it has. This filament can be used as replacements for those gears and other useful parts at a lower cost compared to other metals commonly used. You also have the ability to post process this material to achieve a glossy smooth surface, by using acetone vapor, making it ideal for replacements of aesthetic parts or products.
Somewhat similar to ABS, PETG is yet another extremely durable filament type due to the high tensile strength and waterproof abilities. What also makes it unique compared to other filaments is its flexible capabilities. Often used for printing mechanical parts, brackets and other similar structural components, it can handle moderate loads and temperatures, up to 50-80 degrees Celsius. It is also uniquely chemically resistant and maintains dimensional stability under different temperatures making it ideal for prototypes that may come into contact with liquids or other chemicals. It is naturally transparent which is unlike other filaments, that are often opaque, but it does come in different colors if need be.
In conclusion, the world of 3D printing offers a diverse array of filament materials, each with its own unique properties and applications. From the user-friendly PLA to the robust ABS and the versatile PETG, these filaments cater to a wide range of needs across industries, hobbies, and educational settings.
PLA stands out for its ease of use, making it perfect for prototyping, decorative items, and educational models. ABS, with its durability and post-processing capabilities, finds its place in creating functional parts, mechanical prototypes, and aesthetically pleasing products. Meanwhile, PETG shines in applications requiring strength, chemical resistance, and transparency, making it ideal for mechanical parts, containers, and enclosures.
Whether you're a hobbyist experimenting with designs, an engineer developing prototypes, or an educator inspiring minds, the choice of filament material can significantly impact your 3D printing projects. Understanding the characteristics and applications of PLA, ABS, PETG, and other filament types empowers creators to unleash their creativity and bring their ideas to life in the exciting world of additive manufacturing.
]]>In the dynamic world of 3D printing, innovation never stops. Bambu Lab, a renowned name in the industry, has recently unveiled a game-changing duo, the A1 Mini 3D Printer and the Multicolor AMS Lite. Let's delve into the details.
Product Features
Active Flow Rate Compensation: The A1 Mini redefines flow control in 3D printing by incorporating a high-resolution, high-frequency eddy current sensor to monitor nozzle pressure. Bambu Lab's advanced algorithm dynamically adjusts the flow rate based on these measurements, ensuring precise extrusion.
Active Flow Rate Compensation: The A1 Mini transforms flow control in 3D printing through the integration of a cutting-edge, high-resolution eddy current sensor that continually monitors nozzle pressure. Our sophisticated algorithm adapts the flow rate in real-time, guaranteeing exact extrusion.
Plug-N-Play: The A1 Mini arrives at your doorstep fully assembled, calibrated, and squared to perfection. Setting it up for your inaugural print is a breeze and typically takes just 20 minutes.
Active Motor Noise Cancelling: The A1 Mini can fine-tune parameters to accommodate slight variations among individual drive motors, effectively mitigating undesirable motor noise.
Bed Slinger, with CoreXY Speed and Quality (High-Speed Precision): The A1 Mini boasts a robust construction with full-metal rails, a rigid frame, nozzle pressure sensor, accelerometers, a powerful MCU, and, most importantly, an advanced motion control system that seamlessly combines these elements to produce a high-quality 14-minute benchy print right out of the box, adhering to all speed benchy rules, all without the need for specialized filaments.
Sync with Bambu Studio and Bambu Handy: Take charge of your printer from afar by using Bambu Studio or Bambu Handy for remote control and monitoring. Additionally, utilize the built-in camera to capture captivating timelapse videos.
A1 Mini Tech Specs
If you're looking for something a little larger that can handle multiple materials including carbon fiber, you should check out the A1 Mini's beefier and older brother, the X1 Carbon Combo 3D Printer.
]]>The UltiMaker S7, the latest addition to the award-winning UltiMaker family of professional 3D printers, takes the 3D printing experience to the next level. Over 25,000 customers currently innovate with the UltiMaker S5 every day, making it one of the market's best-loved professional 3D printers. The UltiMaker S7 builds on this success by incorporating the latest technology, including an integrated Air Manager, a flexible PEI build plate, and autonomous bed leveling. This allows users to 3D print high-quality parts and models more easily and reliably than ever before.
Key features of the UltiMaker S7 include a smooth PEI-coated flexible build plate that allows for easy removal of parts with 25 magnets and 4 alignment pins. The integrated Air Manager on the UltiMaker S7 is independently tested to remove up to 95% of ultrafine particles from every print, providing peace of mind for air quality and boosting print quality thanks to its fully enclosed build chamber. Additionally, the UltiMaker S7 features a new inductive print head sensor that more accurately probes the build plate and automatic tilt compensation that removes the need for thumbscrew bed calibration. This allows users to start a print and walk away, confident in a perfect first layer.
The UltiMaker S7 also includes a 1080p camera that allows users to check on their print remotely via the UltiMaker Digital Factory. This camera is mounted higher to give a better view of the first layers, and a continuous video feed update is coming later in 2023. The UltiMaker S7 also adds 5 GHz Wi-Fi compatibility, which cuts through interference to improve network stability, resulting in a more reliable wireless signal. This is especially useful for companies that only allow connections via the 5 GHz band.
The UltiMaker S7 was designed with compatibility in mind, allowing users who own an UltiMaker S5 to use their entire digital library of S5 print files on the S7 without the need for reslicing and validating new files. Not only that, the material handling station previously reserved for the S5 is also compatible with the S7, making it a perfect drop-in replacement or upgrade. Installation of the S7 is also a breeze, taking only about 30 minutes from unboxing to power on, and the new digital unboxing guide makes it easy to start 3D printing high-quality parts and models right out of the box.
The UltiMaker S7's innovation doesn't stop there. Their teams are dedicated to delivering regular firmware and software improvements to ensure that the 3D printing experience is one of the best in the industry. New S7 updates are already planned, including faster, touchless build plate probing, continuous video monitoring, and metal 3D printing compatibility, ensuring that the UltiMaker S7 you use next year will be better than the S7 you buy today.
BCN3D Technologies is thrilled to announce the launch of the new generation of their Epsilon Series 3D printers. The quintessential Epsilon Series has been a top contender in the 3D printing solutions market since its debut in 2020, and the new generation takes it to the next level with improved performance and capabilities.
The new generation of BCN3D features new and improved electronics, which allow for more efficient printing. BCN3D has made several improvements to its electronics to increase efficiency, including a new ventilation system that extracts hot air from the interior to lower internal pressure, new TMC2226 motor drivers that are more silent and efficient with better engine torque, and a new custom-made main board that is simpler and more efficient. Additionally, the iconic black frame has also been remodeled for a sleeker look, and the chassis has been made more robust to ensure the correct parallelism of the axes.
The new generation of Epsilon Series printers also features XYZ autocalibration, which can reduce printing set-up time from 40 minutes to just 6. The New Generation of Epsilon is capable of autonomously determining optimal calibration without any user intervention. This alignment reduces human error and guarantees proper first layer adhesion every time.
In addition, BCN3D Technologies is introducing the Epsilon Material Bundles, allowing customers to bundle their printer with the BCN3D Fiber & Metal Pack and print a wide range of materials with elite mechanical properties, including thermoplastics, fiber-filled filaments, and metal-filled filaments.
Another noteworthy feature of the new generation is the local network access. This allows users to send files, monitor, pause and cancel print jobs remotely via an internal web server that can be accessed via the printer's local IP address. This new feature greatly enhances the capability of the BCN3D Cloud for those with security concerns. The new BCN3D Cloud Private plan is dedicated to large corporations that must be absolutely certain that their specific privacy and security requirements are being met.
The new generation of Epsilon Series printers is the result of listening to customer feedback and incorporating their suggestions to improve the dependability and performance of the printers. The new generation of Epsilon Series (W50, W27, W50 SC and W27 SC) is available for purchase here on our website.
In October 2022, NextDent announced their new LCD1 resin printer. It's a small sized DLP Printer-platform that uses LCD technology and delivers a complete workflow combined with their new NextDent Wash & Cure. It is designed to be an easy-to-use solution for customers new to 3D printing. Purchase or find out more information on the LCD1 3D Printer.
NextDent LCD1 3D Printer
Key specifications:
Specifications |
|
Technology |
FDM - LPD Plus |
Build Volume |
265x265x300mm |
Software |
Z-Suite (included) |
Extruder |
Dual Material Hotend |
Platform |
1x Perforated and 1x Glass, Heated |
Connectivity |
Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB |
Touchscreen |
4" IPS 800x480 |
Camera |
Yes |
Operation System |
Android |
Processor |
Quad Core |
Supported File Types |
.stl, .obj, .dxf, .3mf |
Layer Resolution |
100-300 microns (for 0.4mm 0.016 in nozzle) |
Minimal Wall Thickness |
400 microns (for 0.4mm 0.016 in nozzle) |
Maximum Printing Temperature (extruder) |
310° C (590° F) |
Dedicated Filaments |
Z-Nylon, Z-ABS, Z-Ultrat, Z-Petg, Z-Glass, Z-PLA, Z-Ultrat Plus, Z-Support Premium |
External Filaments |
Applicable |
Filament Diameter |
1.75mm (0.069 in) |
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