What type of 3D printing filament should you buy?

All-time answer: Polylactic Acid (PLA) is the all-time all-circular filament for making models, especially if you lot're going to finishing them. It's forgiving, easy to apply, and tin can be made to look astonishing when painted.

MatterHackers: Build series PLA ($twenty)

It'south the easiest of the filaments to use

Polylactic Acid (PLA) is probably the most famous of the 3D Printing filaments, and for adept reason. The composition of the plastic ways it tin can be printed at relatively low temperatures, 190-215 Celsius (or 374-419 Fahrenheit), and it doesn't require a heated build plate. Thank you to these low temperatures, almost all 3D printers are capable of printing PLA. Information technology'due south also very forgiving when information technology comes to making mistakes.

The low temperatures likewise ensure that it'southward possible to manipulate PLA after you have printed it. This allows you lot to impress objects flat so twist them into my interesting shapes. I used this belongings when I made Wonder Woman gauntlets for a friend; I printed them flat then warmed them up with a hairdryer and molded them to fit her forearms.

There are other materials out there that are stronger similar PETG, or more than flexible like Ninjaflex, but both of those are extremely picky and it tin can take a long fourth dimension to go right. PLA, on the other hand, is much easier to use and information technology takes piffling time to get it up and running to make excellent prints.

Information technology's easy to paint or finish

PLA is used the globe over for prototyping, cosplay, and making fun little prints yous don't really intendance well-nigh. It tin be sanded very easily — start with a low grit, around 120, and work up to iv,000 wet sand to get the all-time finish — and once primed, information technology tin can be painted with just about any pigment you can think of. I apply spray pigment for most of my models merely the Groot pictured in a higher place was painted with acrylics and varnish.

Because PLA is sensitive to UV calorie-free and heat, it's of import to paint it or add some type of protection if y'all're going to get out it exterior in the elements. Some people say it won't final outside at all but I've seen 5-year-old PLA printed models that however await great because they were painted showtime. You can fifty-fifty amalgamate a model in the oven if you're careful to further strengthen its construction and go far last longer.

It'south recyclable and biodegradable

A little-known fact most PLA is that it'due south biodegradable. Since it's made from biological proteins — it'southward pretty much just corn — it will rot under the right circumstances. If yous chop it upwards nice and small-scale and put it in a mature compost heap information technology tin have equally little as half-dozen months to biodegrade fully. This ways when people complain at yous for all your failed prints you can tell them you're actually very environmentally friendly!

While PLA is technically recyclable, you lot can't really put in your curbside recycle bin. Yous tin can contact your local trash company, withal, and ask them where you tin can take it to be recycled. If you have the coin and time, you lot tin purchase a slice of equipment that volition cook down your one-time PLA and so extrude it out to exist used again in your 3D printer.

Our option

Build Series PLA

An affordable yet versatile filament

The build series PLA is perfect for getting an excellent impress quality that finishes actually easily. It has fantastic dimensional accuracy and MatterHackers makes certain it's affordable as well.

I love the Build Series PLA from MatterHackers. It sands only a little amend than normal PLA and has an almost matte finish that really helps the sanding and finishing of a print. It always makes some excellent finished models.

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