3D Printer Filament 101

If you are new to 3d printing and wondering about different filament types, please read this section first.

  • ABS and ASA filaments need to be enclosed, require a hot end that can get at least 240C, and need a heated bed that can get over 100C in order to print reliably and with quality.  I also recommend using a bed adhesive, like Vision Miner Nano Polymer, to help minimize curling/warping.
  • Nylon is a very good, but slightly flexible filament that requires high temps to print successfully. I also recommend using a Garolite bed surface, or a heavy amount of glue stick with PEI. Some have also had success with blue painters tape. Nylon also needs to stay as dry as possible, and ideally should be actively dried while printing.
  • TPU filaments are one of my favorite to print. The softer filaments (less than 95A shore hardness) can be difficult unless you are using a Direct Drive extruder, or a tightly constrained Bowden extruder. Be sure to use a glue stick between on the bed surface, especially when printing on PEI- otherwise you risk over adhesion and damaging the surface when removing the printed part.
  • PETG is generally easy to print, and similar to PLA, but can be tricky to dial in. Ensure that your filament is as dry as possible before printing. If it has been sitting out in the open air, there’s a good chance you will have excessive stringing and may not have good layer adhesion. Similar to TPU, it’s a good idea to use a glue stick on your PEI build surface to reduce adhesion. If you are using a textured PEI there is less risk of over adhesion.
  • PLA is generally the easiest filament to print, and is a great filament to start with. I’ve had the best success printing PLA on smooth PEI build surfaces, but it is fine on textured if you have an adhesive.

My Favorite Filaments

Here is a list of my favorite filaments! Many of these are affiliate links, which help my channel out if you click and purchase. It costs you nothing additional.