Discover top 8 3D printer filament types and uses

1. PLA (Polylactic Acid)

Popular for beginners, prints at low temps (190-225°C). Affordable, versatile, but brittle. Great for decorative items. Image credit -Google

2. ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadieneac Styrene)

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3. ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate)

[{"selector":"#anim-18322f2a-7045-4dad-9a6d-ed03d2dfd4fc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(2.283887364943178e-15%, -3.6165130319026094e-8%) scale(0.8928571428571429)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-735c471d-b4ab-4834-829c-efb990a65286","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1d0c5f5c-434e-479b-9d36-669183461243","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 97.76311%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-857345b9-66e1-41ca-93c6-fac26fbbe955","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55de6a86-740f-4385-b429-54f7d322d5bb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(119.58763%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-18bf2155-523b-48a2-aa8c-d50775da823c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7eb5940a-0fde-41d2-82ba-d58bebbe3624","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-120.53873%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image credit -Google Similar to ABS with added UV resistance. Strong and impact-resistant. More expensive, requires enclosure for printing.

4. PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)

[{"selector":"#anim-f4ef65c6-81c4-486f-be1f-5fc332b2a3d6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(2.283887364943178e-15%, -3.6165130319026094e-8%) scale(0.8928571428571429)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3cb7ab80-b904-4e46-8402-ebe6963aac4c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a49310a-1ebc-4342-97fd-76182affb5ad","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 97.76311%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-edcf60c8-3511-49fc-9575-d3f4e9234f93","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf8700d9-f132-4730-9f04-9ca60b087199","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(119.58763%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e905f9a7-65be-43b5-8100-a37d022ec375","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b6e4ee25-5d98-4afc-89cb-507217a3a755","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-120.53873%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image credit -Google Stronger than PLA, good for functional parts. Tends to warp, hydroscopic. Use glue stick on build plate to prevent bonding.

5. TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)

[{"selector":"#anim-db0ab80e-4f0d-40d8-ab1e-15316a6935cd [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(2.283887364943178e-15%, -3.6165130319026094e-8%) scale(0.8928571428571429)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6a1b7a56-6715-4e5b-95d5-3be94c23cc3d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-05a9f4fb-b07c-43ce-a70e-4f6343b781f6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 97.76311%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00c13101-6227-41bc-902f-1891225b2f87","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-82ef5f67-a24a-4fb3-9b87-45ad28f7e6d6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(119.58763%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-658acb4a-cb1e-4b59-bc42-ec6cf4d9ab47","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f71b7d8d-1f36-4bb4-a035-81c5824dda5b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-120.53873%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image credit -Google Flexible, rubber-like filament. Ideal for phone cases, protective items. Requires slow printing and direct drive extruders.

6. Nylon

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7. Carbon Fiber PLA

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8. Specialty Filaments

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