3D Printing Filament Vocab/Guide 1

3D Printing Filament Vocab/Guide

PLA

 (Polylactic Acid) is one of the two most commonly used desktop 3D printing materials. It is the 'default' recommended material for many desktop 3D printers, and with good reason - it is useful in a broad range of printing applications, has the virtue of being both odorless and low-warp, and does not require a heated bed. It is also one of the more eco-friendly 3D printer materials available; it is made from annually renewable resources (corn-starch) and requires less energy to process compared to traditional (petroleum-based) plastics.

Soft PLA

Also known as 'flexible' (Polylactic Acid), it is useful for printing rubber-like parts that can bend or flex. It is compatible with almost all desktop 3D printers.

ABS

(Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is another commonly used 3D printer material. Best used for making durable parts that need to withstand higher temperatures. In comparison to PLA, this plastic is less 'brittle.' It can also be post-processed with acetone to provide a glossy finish. When 3D printing with this filament a heated printing surface is recommended, as this plastic will contract when cooled leading to warped parts. Leos are made from ABS.

Nylon

(Polyamide) Nylon is an incredibly strong, durable, and versatile 3D printing material. Flexible when thin, but with very high inter-layer adhesion, it lends itself well to things like living hinges and other functional parts. The filament prints as a bright natural to white with a translucent surface, and can absorb color added post process with most common, acid-based clothing dyes. The filament is extremely sensitive to moisture, so taking drying measures during storage and immediately prior to printing. 

PET

(Polyethylene Terephthalate) is an industrial strength filament with several great features. Its strength is much higher than PLA, it is FDA approved for food containers and tools used for food consumption, it barely warps, and produces no odors or fumes when printed. This filament is not biodegradable, but it is 100% reclaimable. It is known for its clarity and is also very good at bridging.

TPE

(Thermoplastic Elastomer) A flexible 3D printing material that feels and acts much like flexible rubber. This filament can be used to make parts that can bend or must flex to fit their environment - stoppers, belts, springs, phone cases and more. This extremely flexible 3D printer material will allow you to create 3D prints that will have the properties of a soft rubber, making it even more flexible and elastic than our Soft PLA filament.

TPU

(Thermoplastic Polyurethane) is an elastic, oil/grease resistant, and abrasion-resistant material with a Shore Hardness of 95A. This plastic has several applicable uses including automotive instrument panels, caster wheels, power tools, sporting goods, medical devices, drive belts, footwear, inflatable rafts, and a variety of extruded film, sheet and profile applications. It is also commonly used in mobile phone cases.

PVA

(Polyvinyl Acetate) filament prints translucent with a slightly yellow tint and is primarily used as a 3D printing support material because it is water-soluble, meaning that it will dissolve when exposed to water (and so MUST be kept dry prior to use). It is most often used with 3D printers capable of dual extrusion: one extruder printing a primary material (such as ABS or PLA) and the other printing this dissolvable filament to provide support for overhanging features.