JUMPING INTO THE WORLD OF 3D PRINTING

FILAMENTS/MATERIALS

Now you’re a little more informed about the types of printers available, what do you need to get them running? Well, your filament—or material—choices are certainly not in short supply, so let’s take a closer look.

Filaments are essentially spools of plastic, like a cable reel. They are typically sold in 750g and 1kg spools, and are available in a variety of different types of plastic and colors. Specifically for use on an FDM printer, each type of plastic has its own unique qualities. There are now even woodbased, flexible, and carbon filaments available, so there will certainly be something to cover your use case. Below are what we consider to be the three most common types of FDM filaments, plus a little look at resin.

MOST PEOPLE have at least heard of 3D printing by now. Not everyone, however, fully understands what it is, how it works, what can be created, its limitations, or even how 3D printing is driving technological advancement throughout the world and changing our everyday lives. 3D printing has exploded in popularity over recent years, and with the technology becoming more affordable, it’s now more accessible than ever. 3D printing is an ever-growing platform for many hobbyists, enthusiasts, and professionals alike, and is a technology that offers a feature set like no other.

Brighten up your prints with a wide range of filament colors.

We are talking about a technology that is being used in a vast variety of fields, from product prototyping and construction to medicine, including customized prosthetics, orthotics, and more. It’s a process that is truly changing people’s lives for the better and, in most cases, is driving to reduce the by-products and waste created in manufacturing.

PLA

We want to guide you through the fundamentals of 3D printing, and how to get started, should you be in the market for a 3D printer. Maybe you just want to tinker, replace a broken part that can no longer be purchased off the shelf, prototype an idea, or simply play around and print cool things. No matter what your use case, delving into 3D printing can be a little daunting—trust us, we’ve been there. So, let’s get started with the basics….

Polylactic acid is one of the most common filaments available. It’s also a plant-derived plastic, which makes it a great renewable source of filament. However, given its natural characteristics, PLA does degrade over time in sunlight and with exposure to moisture, but for indoor use, or for projects that require little to no structural strength, PLA is the perfect material. PLA also requires a lower print temperature than other filaments—around 200 C—which can save on energy costs.