The Ultimate 3D Printing Filament & Materials Guide
ByMichael DwamenaReading Time: 41 minutes
3D printers are versatile in the fact that they can use numerous types of materials to create a desired object. The materials you can use include plastics, metals, ceramics, powders, resins, and much more.
The most popular material you’ll see is plastics, more so PLA and ABS because of their ease of use and compatibility with most 3D printers in the market. The higher end 3D printers open your ability to print with more materials but they can get expensive.
Many 3D printers are limited in what types of materials they can print, some only being able to print one type of material (usually PLA).
Plastics
Most 3D printer users will make use of thermoplastics to extrude layer by layer into a final object. They melt at fairly low temperatures compared to other materials out there, so they are easier to work with.
Thermoplastics are described as being plastics which respond in a certain way to heat. They have something called a ‘glass transition’ temperature, meaning they become liquid at a certain temperature rather than burning, allowing them to be molded into a product and later recycled.
Do keep in mind, there are some plastics out there that have very high melting points depending on how they were produced.
PLA (Polylactic Acid/Polylactide)
What is PLA?
PLA is a thermoplastic polyester made from renewable resources such as sugar cane and corn starch, making it biodegradable. It is the most common filament when it comes to 3D printing, due to it’s ease of use, safe non-toxic properties and relatively low price. It was discovered in 1932 by heating lactic acid under a vacuum while removing condensed water. Over time, new materials as well as techniques have been added to give PLA different properties such as high density.
PLA is usually used as a base material for other recreational or exotic filaments, such as ones infused with metal or wood, conductive, and glow in the dark filaments.
Examples of Use
PLA has so many applications it’s hard to list them all, being the most popular filament out there, so you know it has wide versatility in most industries out there. PLA is widely used for prototypes, desk toys, role-playing figurines, cosmetic prints, food packaging, candy wrappers, disposable tableware, hygiene products, medical implants, and so much more.
Advantages
Environmentally-friendly
Beginner-friendly
Non-toxic
Little to no smell when heated
Ability to print under high speed and resolution
Little warping or shrinking issues
Great for smaller parts
Many variants which are hard, soft, flexible or glow in the dark
Doesn’t require a heated bed
Inexpensive
Disadvantages
Known to clog or jam printer nozzles
More prone to water absorption, making it brittle and difficult to print
ABS is also a thermoplastic polymer, the second most popular filament out there, which previously was the most popular until PLA took over. The properties of ABS is one of durability, but being more difficult to print with. ABS is what you’ll find in a lot of common items such as the classic LEGO bricks and keyboards.
ABS has a higher melting point compared to PLA so it can withstand higher temperatures. The downside to this however, is it’s more likely to warp when it cools so you must use a heat bed. ABS is known to have quite harsh fumes so it’s important to print it in a well-ventilated area, as well as with a good filtration system.
Cheap ABS can be inconsistent to print with due to being somewhat crumbly. Once you have a good quality ABS with the right temperatures, it is fairly easy to print like most materials out there. There is a good post-processing solution with ABS with acetone to give it a smooth and presentable finish.
Examples of Use
ABS is commonly used for automotive components such as bumpers, protective headgear, musical instruments, LEGO bricks, pipes, interlocking parts such as gear, prototyping, electronic housing, toys, luggage, kitchen appliances, jewelry, vases, keyboard keys,
Advantages
Strong, durable material
High resistance to heat, as well as wear-and-tear
Ability to give it a smooth, glossy finish in post-processing
Ideal for mechanical parts that are difficult to break
Inexpensive
Strong resistance to corrosive chemicals and physical impacts
PET is a recyclable, colorless and harmless plastic mainly used to make plastic bottles. It’s actually the most used plastic in the world because of it’s packaging of various products.
PET’s original state is clear, but when it’s exposed to different temperatures it can quickly change its transparency.
Due to certain properties, PET is not as widely used in 3D printing but it’s close variations such as PETG and PETT are.
These variations have an added molecule in it’s production process which gives it different properties, many of which are beneficial to it’s use.
For example, PETG is a clear thermoplastic which can be molded after printing, and has the added benefit of being more durable.
Examples of Use
PET has many uses, but it’s main purpose seems to be used for packaging purposes due to it’s strength and resistance to vapour. It’s often used in phone cases, and parts that require impact resistance and flexibility such as mechanical parts.
PET is used to make bottles, vases, boxes and many of types of containers.
Advantages
Safe to use for food
Waterproof
Has a glass-like appearance
Does not produce odor or fumes while printing
Easy for 3D printing
Flexible material, even more so than ABS
Durable and shockproof
Works with a wide range of temperatures with little issues
Disadvantages
May take some tweaking to find the right temperature for printing
PETG is a great all-rounder filament, as well as the most common variation of PET, being PET mixed with glycol. It is an extremely strong filament, even more so than PET and has great durability.
The layer adhesion of PETG is outstanding, and is known to be almost unbreakable due to it’s property of bending rather than snapping like other normal plastic objects.
You don’t get much warping with PETG, as well as smells and it bridges very well.
It is pretty easy to print with once you have your settings tried and tested. The crystallization effect that is common with heated up PET is prevented with the PETG variant so it stops the material from becoming brittle.
The outer walls of the material is also made to become much softer and flexible so it’s easier to hold.
PETG is known to be a good combination of PLA and ABS in terms of it’s properties due to being more flexible and durable than PLA and easier to print than ABS.
Examples of Use
PETG is used for objects that experience constant or sudden stress such as protective parts, mechanical components and 3D printer parts. It’s used for many food containers, plastic bottles, phone cases, cups, plates.
PLA+ is an enhanced version of PLA which gives it more durability, and makes it less brittle.
There aren’t actually too many differences between PLA and PLA+ but its a bit more complicated due to it’s formulation, where modifiers and additives are piled on along with standard PLA to create the filament.
Formulas across the board for PLA+ vary so you’ll get a few differences but the same type of results for the most part.
PLA plus is usually marketed as being more durable, having better layer adhesion, less brittle and being stronger. It’s supposed to be the combination of PLA and ABS, taking the best features from each, and merging them into one widely desired filament.
It’s almost as easy as standard PLA to print, and many people have compared it’s strength to ABS, or even stronger in some cases.
Countless videos of PLA+ show its durability, using stress tests with tension and pressure from tools to see how hard it is to break compared to normal PLA. It shows it having more flexibility.
It’s printing temperatures are usually slightly higher than normal PLA, but shares most of the easy to print features. Depending on what brand of PLA+ you have, it can take some trial and error with the settings to get successful prints.
Other differences include the glossy surface finish, the ability to print overhangs with less problems and less stringing.
Examples of Use
Same as PLA, being prototypes, desk toys, role-playing figurines, cosmetic prints, food packaging, candy wrappers, disposable tableware, hygiene products, medical implants, and so on.
Advantages
Stronger than PLA
Environmentally-friendly
Beginner-friendly
Non-toxic
Little to no smell when heated
Ability to print under high speed and resolution
Little warping or shrinking issues
Great for smaller parts
Many variants which are hard, soft, flexible or glow in the dark
Doesn’t require a heated bed
Inexpensive
Disadvantages
Known to clog or jam printer nozzles
More prone to water absorption, making it brittle and difficult to print
Nylon is a synthetic polymer filament that is popular in the 3D printing space. It is a versatile, cost effective filament with great properties such as being flexible, strong, lightweight and wear-resistant.
When it comes to the main factors of a 3D printing filament, Nylon is known to be one of the best out there.
Due to it’s strength and high melting temperature, Nylon is great for mechanical and functional parts. A big downside to Nylon however, is it’s tendency to absorb moisture rapidly. It’s reported to be able to absorb 10% of it’s weight in a 24 hour period.
The best fix for this is having an efficient filament storage method, usually being an air-tight container with moisture removal products placed inside.
When you get your settings correct for Nylon through trial and error, it’s inter-layer adhesion is great. Nylon in it’s normal form prints in a bright white color with a semi-transparent surface.
It’s great at absorbing colors in the post-processing stage with different types of dyes.
Nylon is widely used to combine with other filament such as ABS, carbon fiber, and glass to create a stronger filament due to it’s durable properties.
There are actually 8 different types of Nylon, differing in melting points, water absorption, temperature resistance and more.
3D printing only uses a few types of Nylon due to their ideal properties.
Examples of Use
Nylon has many different applications, mainly being for mechanical components, machine parts, gears and bearings, consumer products, toys, tools, containers,
Due to Nylon’s strength, durability and flexibility are it used in a variety of applications. This material is ideal for machine parts, mechanical components, structural parts, gears and bearings, dynamic load, containers, tools, consumer products, and toys.
It’s commonly used for hinges and functional parts that need strength.
Advantages
High strength, durability, and flexibility
Less brittle than PLA or ABS
100% thermoplastic
Can re-melt and use again without loosing bonding properties
Disadvantages
Very high melting temperature of at least 240°C
Hot-ends contain materials like PEEK and PTFE
When heated will break down and emit toxic fumes
Sensitivity to moisture
Adhesion and warping issues are common
Needs to be dried to maintain it’s strength and a good finish
HIPS is a co-polymer filament which is actually stronger than ABS and PLA, but maintains a rubber-like elasticity.
It’s widely used for support material for prints. Since 3D printers sometimes require underlying structure to print something with overhang, HIPS comes in handy and has the added bonus of being able to be dissolved using Limonene.
It’s usually coupled with ABS in a dual extrusion 3D printer because unlike other most other filaments, ABS doesn’t get damaged by Limonene, and it has similar printing temperatures.
HIPS can be used as a primary filament as has an elasticity like rubber, while maintaining a strength similar to polystyrene. It’s a great all-round filament which stands up to wear and tear and is easy to print with.
HIPS is a pretty underrated filament in 3D printing.
Examples of Use
HIPS is good for models which require internal supports for very detailed prints or prototypes with several overhangs.
Protective packaging, containers, CD cases, medicinal trays
PVA is primarily a plastic support material which is actually water-soluble, making it a great application for dual extrusion 3D printers. The key advantage of PVA over HIPS is that it can be printed with more materials than just ABS and it’s easy to print with.
There is something to keep in mind when using PVA, which is you do have to be careful when storing it, because any moisture in the air can easily damage the filament, ending in poor printing. The usual prevention is sealed boxes with dessicants such as silica pouches, which should extend the life of your PVA spool by a lot.
PVA isn’t for parts that require high strength, as it’s more so for items which are to be used temporarily.
It has a lower printing temperature than HIPS and is great to support filament which prints at similar lower temperatures.
It’s important to use high quality PVA to avoid possible issues such as inconsistent melting, irregular flow of material, clogged extruders and blobbing.
Examples of Use
Due to being water soluble, it has great uses in laundry products and dishwasher detergent pods. It’s used in eye drop pods, bags of fishing bait (sports fishing), paper adhesive, packaging film, feminine hygiene, adult incontinence products, children’s slime.
Polycarbonate is a transparent plastic material which is one of the stronger 3D filaments out there. It’s known property is it’s durability and having great resistance to impact and heat (up to 110°C).
To illustrate how strong this material is, it’s actually used in commercial products such as bullet proof glass.
Polycarbonate has the ability to bend somewhat, not as much as Nylon, so it doesn’t shatter or crack under pressure. It is unfortunately hygroscopic (absorbs water from the air) so it requires particular care, similar to PVA.
Being the extremely strong plastic filament, it does require a 3D printer with capabilities to get very hot (up to 300°C) so it’s not a filament that beginners tend to print with.
The same high temperatures it has to reach to print with is what gives it it’s thermo-stability so it has great heat resistance, ideal in many mechanical products.
If you have a 3D printer which can handle the heat, it’s a great material to print with. It’s not as popular as other plastic filament but it definitely has a place in 3D printing.
Examples of Use
Polycarbonate is great for parts that require strength, durability and the ability to thrive in a high temperature environment.
These can be mechanical, automotive or and electrical parts such as electronic display screens, RC or drone parts, or even bullet proof glass and scuba masks.
It’s transparent quality gives it rise to many commercial products, especially in lighting projects for screens.
Some use it for plastic fasteners and molding trays.
Advantages
Great impact and heat resistance
Very durable and strong
Has flexibility so won’t shatter easily
Transparent
Disadvantages
Requires an all-metal hotend capable of reaching up to 300°C
ASA is a plastic material developed as an alternative to ABS, but with extra features such as increased durability, improved weather resistance and resistance to UV light, so it can be applied for parts used outdoors.
ABS had a tendency to turn yellow under outdoor conditions, but with the improvements of ASA, it stays it’s original white color for a lot longer.
The settings of printing ASA are almost the same as ABS, barring a different printing temperature.
ASA is mainly used in the automotive industry, as it’s a strong, durable and very resistant material. It’s pretty easy to print with and has the added benefit of less warping compared to ABS.
You just have to adjust your cooling fans to a good level (around 10%), because ASA needs to cool slowly and can crack easily if your fans are too strong.
Enclosed printing chambers work wonders when printing ASA as you can keep a good steady temperature, while keeping out external drafts, so make use of one if you can.
Examples of Use
For anything from birdhouses to custom garden gnomes and replacement outlet covers, look no further than this 3D printer filament.
If you’re printing something designed for outdoor use, ASA should be your go to 3D printing material.
Best used for outdoor clips, planters, fixtures, other outdoor parts.
Advantages
More durable than ABS
Warps less than ABS
Resistant to adverse weather conditions and UV light
Good temperature resistance.
Disadvantages
Requires careful printing conditions such as low fans or may get brittle
TPE is a flexible, durable plastic copolymer that can withstand stresses that ABS and PLA cannot handle. It has a soft and stetchy, rubber-like property that makes it ideal for many common products found in medical supplies, household appliances and automotive parts.
It has great impact-resistant qualities and good elasticity.
TPE is actually known as the class of copolymers and mixtures, but is also used to identify many types of filament that 3D printer users print with. It can be a difficult filament to print with due to extrusion issues, but there are alternatives that address this.
TPU is the usual flexible material that 3D printer manufacturers and users go with, which will be the next material on this list.
Using this material, you are able to create parts that have the properties of soft rubber, even more flexible and elastic than Nylon.
On the other hand, the flexibility means that you need to use lower print speeds so your filament doesn’t bind in the extruder.
You can control for the level of flexibility in your prints by changing infill settings, the less infill you set, the more flexible your print will end up.
Examples of Use
Due to it’s properties, TPE is used in variety of ways where parts need to bend, move and adapt to their environment. This includes belts, springs, phone cases, stoppers, birdhouses, replacement outlet covers, custom garden gnomes, and much more.
Advantages
Flexible and elastic
Impact-resistant
Great durability in many environments
Disadvantages
Prone to give extrusion problems
Need to use low print speeds to avoid clogging
Price Range – $50 – $110
Printing Temperature – 210°C – 230°C
Heated Bed Temperature – 20°C – 40°C
Ease of Use Rating – 3
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)
What is TPU?
TPU is actually a specific type of TPE, but a version which is adapted to give it great 3D printing properties and making it easier to print with.
It’s a slightly more rigid, but still flexible version of TPE and is more durable so it has a good ability to keep its level of elasticity in a cold environment. It has a good ability to create elastic, rubbery, impact resistant parts.
The modern TPU filament gives you a higher chemical resistance, lower shrinkage and great resistance to abrasion. The great levels of adhesion as well as the flexible properties of TPU means it has a wide variety of applications.
It has a good ability to take impact and wear over time, so objects that you know will bend, compress, and stretch are perfect to be made with TPU.
Examples of Use
TPU is great for prototyping, toys, wearables, phone cases and for objects made to withstand a harsher environment.
It’s used for other items such as bumpers, caps, stoppers, drive belts, caster wheels, power tools, medical devices, inflatable rafts, sporting goods, footwear and much more.
Advantages
Can easily control flexibility with infill settings
Polypropylene is a thermoplastic which is flexible, tough, food-safe, chemically resistant, light, moisture resistant and much more.
This is why it has such a wide variety of applications such as packaging, textiles, automotive parts, bank notes, engineering plastics and living hinges, due to it’s unique ability to not break when constantly bent
It is one of the most commonly produced plastics in the world today. Some reports state it’s global market produces around 45 million tons, equalling a consumer market of $65 billion.
It’s quite similar to PLA but has better impact resistance, flexibility, and great resistance to absorbing moisture.
In some cases, PP doesn’t stick too well to print surfaces, but with the right surface, bed temperature and extrusion temperature, PP can give you some excellent prints.
The main trade-off with using PP is it’s printing difficulty, from it’s tendency to warp heavily to it’s bad layer adhesion.
If it wasn’t for such issues, PP could easily take over PLA for being the most popular 3D printing filament out there, as it has so many beneficial properties to it.
Many household products you will have made actually made of PP.
Examples of Use
Polypropylene is used in a variety of applications. It includes packaging for consumer products, plastic parts for various industries including the automotive industry, special devices like living hinges, and textiles.
PP is used a lot in medical devices and chemistry equipment as it has good chemical resistance. Carpeting, reusable containers, stationary products, technological products such as loudspeakers, and laboratory equipment make regular use of PP.
Advantages
Chemically resistant
Fatigue resistance
Good elasticity, making it difficult to break or snap
Very tough and durable material, so it is less effected by wear and tear.
Wide range of applications
Relatively high melting point (good for microwaves or dishwashers)
Easy to customize with dye
Disadvantages
Very hygroscopic, so storage and drying of the material is essential
PEEK is a high performace, semi-crystalline thermoplastic with exceptional mechanical and chemical properties, as well as a great resistance to a variety of environments.
It’s a durable, grey material which offers self-lubrication, corrosion, hydrolysis, weather, flame resistance and much more.
This poly is well-known for it’s thermal stability (resists temperatures up to 260°C), wear resistance and is the only variety of it’s kind that has available for mass production. It’s recognized as the polymeric material with the best performace of all.
PEEK really has great strength and bio-compatibility, meaning it can be used confidently in the medical field. In the recent PEEK handbook, Tosh finds that an immune response to PEEK is very rare.
Sterilisation of PEEK equipment is made easier due to it’s resilience to high temperatures and chemicals.
Ensinger Plastics finds Medical-grade PEEK at the forefront of materials, with the main features ranging from sterilisation and radiation resistance, to bio-compatibility.
PEEK is roughly 70% lighter than comparable metals with similar properties, but it does require a very high temperature to print it (up to 400°C).
Examples of Use
PEEK has one of the widest ranges of applications of any one material due to it’s exceptionally high performance and resistance. It’s used in the medical field, food industry, automotive, aeronautics industries, electronics, cable production, and in space.
PEEK has uses in the oil and gas industry also and is an ideal choice for low-volume manufacturing where specialist designs are required to create intricate prototypes, using metal and conventional methods.
Advantages
Very good chemical resistance
Very good resistance to sterilisation
Good radiation resistance
High stress crack resistance
High dimensional stability
Excellent bio-compatibility
High strength and functional performance
Used in a wide variety of fields with several applications
Good layer adhesion
Lightweight
Impressive impact strength
Disadvantages
Very expensive
Hard to print without a lot of experience
Requires extremely high printing temperature
Prints a lot better with a heated chamber
Requires a fairly slow printing speed
Low flexibility
You usually need a great performing 3D printer to print it
Metal filament is a mixture of usually PLA or ABS as the base material and metal powder to give it a bulkier and shinier aesthetic for your prints.
The filament is actually several times denser than standard PLA or ABS, and comes in a variety of types from brass and stainless steel, to gold.
Most metal filaments tend to be around half metal power, half PLA or ABS, but there are metal filaments which are up to 85% metal.
If you have a specific look you are interested in, many of these finished metal prints can be post-processed with polish, tarnished or weathered to create detailed effects.
You usually want metal prints for aesthetics, and sometimes for function but they aren’t designed to handle too much stress. You can still use them for tools, grates or finishing components
Replacing the nozzle of your 3D printer when using metal filament might be a required often, because the filament are more abrasive, resulting in increase wear and tear for your nozzle.
Some metal filaments on the market are simply just metal colored rather than blended with metal, so do keep this in mind before you purchase the incorrect filament you were after.
Carbon Fiber
What is Carbon Fiber Filament?
Carbon fiber is well-known for it’s high strength, low density, and high rigidity.
A mixture of materials is a great way of combining the properties of one material with another. Carbon fiber filament does this perfectly, resulting in an extremely durable, tough material but still at a light weight.
A compound which uses carbon fiber has great structural prowess and a wide range of applications, as it can withstand the wear of a harsh environment.
Mechanical components are the biggest adopter of carbon fiber and when PLA-reinforced it creates a filament which has great strength, layer adhesion, and low warping.
Items that are built not to bend are perfect for this filament but the downside is it’s high abrasiveness, meaning it can create problems with your printer’s nozzle.
Even a small amount of printing with carbon fiber filament can cause issues so it’s important you either are willing to replace your nozzle regularly, or install a hardened steel nozzle on your printer.
A simple brass nozzle won’t work so great, and will gradually have it’s diameter size increased the more you print.
In some cases, 3D filament manufacturers have combined carbon fiber with nylon (Nylon 12) to give it very high performing capabilities (durability and low-friction).
You won’t find many 3D printing materials as tough as this specialist filament, so if you require serious strength, it’s a great option to go with.
Examples of Use
Carbon fiber is widely used in industries such as aerospace, automotive, ground transportation and sporting equipment such as bikes, boats, rackets, springs, and golf clubs.
Enthusiasts of modelling commonly use carbon fiber filament for model cars or planes. It’s also used for the bodies of drones, propellers, remote control car frames and a lot more.
Advantages
It actually prints pretty well
Extremely durable and tough
Doesn’t require a heated bed
Minimal shrinkage and warping in cooling stages (low thermal expansion)
Great immunity to severe environmental conditions
Good heat tolerance
Disadvantages
Requires a strong nozzle, coated with a harder material
Quite expensive
Abrasive materials are used to create it
More likely to damage your printer nozzle with constant use
Hard to form into small details
Difficult to repair a specific part of carbon fiber
Price Range – $90 – $300
Printing Temperature – 195°C – 220°C
Heated Bed Temperature – 40°C – 60°C
Ease of Use Rating – 4
Titanium
What is Titanium?
This is one of the most frequently used metals in 3D printing due to it’s strength, lightness and versatility.
It’s known as one of the hardest metals out there, definitely when considering it’s strength to weight ratio. It’s widely used for it’s mechanical properties but on an industrial scale rather than at home, or in an office. It’s used in binder jetting processes, and in powder bed fusion.
Titanium is a very durable metal as it isn’t prone to corrosion, and has a very high melting temperature compared to other metals, but it’s price is several times higher than the usual metals that are dealt with.
Titanium is usually printed using the technique of Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) which is when lasers melt particles together on a print bed. They use titanium alloys
Unfortunately, titanium is highly reactive, and can easily explode when in its powder form. It needs to be 3D printed in an argon gas atmosphere or in a vacuum to counteract this.
Traditional CNC machines aren’t capable of producing the complex and precise designs that Titanium 3D printers can. With layer precision and layer thicknesses as low as 30 microns, it does a great job with production which spreads it’s applications far and wide.
Examples of Use
Applications of titanium 3D printing has been most enthusiastically welcomed in the aviation industry, as GE estimates they can reduce the weight of an aircraft by 1,000 pounds. The medical industry has taken serious strides, where a damaged skull was restored using a 3D printed titanium mesh.
Prosthetic cranial implants have been 3D printed and successfully implanted. Even titanium horse racing shoes have been created and bike manufactures have considered creating a titanium bike. Other industries include aerospace, automotive, tooling industries and prototyping.
Advantages
Great complexity in designs, including deep grooves and cavities
Excellent mechanical properties and preserves strength in the manufacturing process
Production accuracy is great, with tolerances around 50 microns
Bio-compatible and bio-adhesive so it can be used in surgical implants safely
Disadvantages
Very expensive compared to other metals
Requires specialist equipment and methods to print with
Will take quite some time before it’s used in a domestic space
The powdered form of titanium is extremely dangerous and can explode if not handled correctly
Needs to be printed in a vacuum or argon gas atmosphere
Price Range – $500
Printing Temperature – N/A
Heated Bed Temperature – N/A
Ease of Use Rating – 1
Aluminum
What is Aluminum?
Aluminum is a light and versatile metal, very popular in 3D printing applications, and is usually used in a variety of aluminum-based alloys. It’s quite similar to titanium in terms of it’s properties and by how it’s also printed using DMLS tehcnology.
It has a unique combination of properties which makes it desirable to many applications. One of the attributes that makes aluminum stand out from many other materials is it’s high strength to weight ratio.
Due to its lightness and versatility, aluminum is a popular metal for 3D printing applications. It is used primarily in a variety of aluminum-based alloys. It’s quite robust and is well-known for it’s high thermal resistance.
Examples of Use
Aluminum is widely used in several industries, including biomedical, automotive, and aerospace. It’s also used for casings for laptops and phones, and sports equipment. It’s mostly recommended for functional parts which require high strength, accuracy and a low weight.
Aluminum has a durability and is ideal for outdoor use as it has great resistance against corrosion. Mechanical parts such as tools, fixtures, bikes, drone accessories and structural components are great applications for aluminum.
Advantages
Great thermal conductivity
Very hard and durable over the long-term
Can produce complex designs, some impossible using traditional manufacturing methods
Great corrosive resistance
Good electrical and thermal conductivity
Disadvantages
Difficult to print and requires specialist equipment
Can’t be printed with normal 3D printing methods, requires DMLS
Price Range – $250 – $310
Printing Temperature – N/A
Heated Bed Temperature – N/A
Ease of Use Rating – 1
Stainless Steel
What is Stainless Steel Filament?
Stainless steel is one of the more affordable materials with 3D printing metals. One of it’s main qualities is it’s excellent strength, making it useful in several industrial and artistic design applications. Types of steel alloy contain nickel and cobalt, making it is very durable and hard to break, while having great elastic properties. It’s great for large objects so ideal for industrial uses.
Stainless steel PLA filaments are PLA blended with steel fibers to create a heavier, authentic steel finish. The stainless steel filament is made with fine steel powder, infused with a bronze material. This filament usually prints like PLA, but slower.
After printing, they can be sanded and polished to make great looking, beautiful prints. Wet sanding is a great technique you can use to get that super smooth surface finish you desire.
If you leave your stainless steel print unpolished, it has the authentic look of cast metal fresh from a mold.
It’s a great filament for printing faux metal prints, but it does have high abrasion, so you’ll need to have some kind of hardened nozzle before printing.
Examples of Use
Stainless steel filament has a wide range of applications, and is perfect for cosmetic printing such as jewelry, costumes, robots, props, figurines, busts, and sculptures.
Advantages
Cheap and affordable compared to most metals
Very strong and durable
Aesthetically pleasing metallic finish
Doesn’t need a high temperature extruder
Disadvantages
Prints slower than your usual PLA
High abrasiveness so requires a wear-resistant nozzle
Printed parts can be fairly brittle
The bridging and overhangs on these prints are poor
Can cause partial clogs over time
Price Range – $120 – $160
Printing Temperature – 195°C – 220°C
Heated Bed Temperature – 50°C
Ease of Use Rating – 4
Copper/Bronze/Brass
What is Copper/Bronze/Brass Filament?
Copper, bronze and brass filament are similar to the other metal filaments where they use between PLA as a base, with a bronze-fill as the blend to create it. It contains real copper or bronze particles and works smoothly with desktop 3D printers. They are strong, affordable materials which are popular for printing models.
They are both perfect for a rustic-type finish and gives an authentic metallic look. You can post-process these pieces to get a professional, smooth print with the help of sanding and polishing. Coarse steel wool is great to polish the surfaces of your prints and getting rid of visible print lines. Finishing up with a copper polish will get your prints to shine bright.
These copper, bronze and brass filaments are around three times heavier than your standard PLA, adding to the authenticity of your prints. It’s especially great when printing artistic pieces or jewelry.
It doesn’t require a heated bed, but would print better with it. For bed adhesion, it’s advised to use blue painter’s tape, gluesticks or kaptop tape.
An upside to this filament combination is that heat travels through the filament effectively, so your filament will heat easier and cool down faster after being extruded from the nozzle. It works well for any overhangs in your designs.
Pure copper and bronze are used in 3D printing usually in the scope of investment casting or lost wax casting but not really in DMLS like other metals. This is because they aren’t a good fit for industrial uses, and better suit the artistic industry with arts and crafts.
Examples of Use
These metals produce metal-like objects so they are great for artistic, rustic pieces, jewelry, replicas, statues, tableware, and ornaments. Some other common uses of these 3D printer metals are home hardware objects, tokens, models, and figurines
Advantages
Strong and durable
Can get different finishes by adjusting temperature and speed
Low shrinkage and warping during cooling
Increased density and weight
Great results possible in post-processing
Doesn’t require a heated bed but is recommended
Disadvantages
Prints slower than your usual PLA
High abrasiveness so requires a wear-resistant nozzle
Can cause partial clogs over time
Nozzle temperature needs to be fine-tuned
The flow rates need to be regulated
Price Range – $50 – $80
Printing Temperature – 190°C – 220°C
Heated Bed Temperature – 50°C
Ease of Use Rating – 4
Silver & Gold
What is Silver & Gold?
Silver and gold are of course, well known materials which are used in 3D printing for their luxurious, aesthetic properties. These are very expensive to print with, among the priciest 3D printer materials out there.
These are not printed with your standard FDM printers, like many other metals, but with DMLS printers. These printers aren’t accessible to the average consumer, as they are in the 6-figure price range, require the expensive silver or gold powder, and are difficult to print without the basic knowledge and experience.
Also, don’t be fooled, many filament have a gold colour to them, but don’t actually contain any gold.
Objects can be created using silver and gold in a wax mold, which is then filled with the molten material. Another method of printing with these precious metals is powder bed fusion, otherwise known as DMLS. It can be challenging due to making sure that the precious powder management is at an optimal level, as well as maintaining the aesthetic properties of the material.
Some objects are too complicated to create traditionally, even by skilled craftsmen, this is where 3D printing comes in. The limitations of 3D printing silver and gold is much lesser, so you can create a wide variety of models. There are 3D printing services such as Shapeways, which specialize in making these items more accessible to the average consumer out there, but expect it to be relatively pricey, unless you are going for something gold-plated.
Examples of Use
Precious metals such as gold and silver are mainly used for creating unique rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and many types of jewelry. These range from weddings, gifts to fashion accessories for wealthy people.
Advantages
Can create objects impossible by traditional methods
Gives people the luxury of customised jewelry – from online to home
Widens your choice of types of jewelry, from karats to plating etc.
Disadvantages
Very expensive
Cannot produce very big parts
Fine powder is hazardous if breathed in
Price Range – $600 – $50,000
Printing Temperature – N/A
Heated Bed Temperature – N/A
Ease of Use Rating – 2
Cobalt Chrome
What is Cobalt Chrome?
Cobalt chrome, or cobalt chromium is a very high strength metal alloy which is used in several areas in the 3D printing field, slowly taking over the usual manufacturing methods.
It’s made mainly for the biomedical field, high-temperature engineering and aerospace. Parts built with cobalt chrome have exceptional mechanical properties, temperature resistance and corrosion resistance.
It has properties of bio-compatibility, making it perfect for use in the dental field to produce dental prosthesis, implants and much more.
Cobalt chrome has many benefits in many industries and is processed using the Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) method like many other 3D printed metals. It’s a pretty tough material so it’s not usually machined with CNC but cast in methods just like silver and gold.
Examples of Use
There are many uses of this material such as high-temperature engineering applications, medical and dental implants, aerospace, automotive, even in gas turbines. Cobalt chrome has been used to create many groundbreaking products, while reducing the costs for the patients. People suffering from bone or joint deterioration can benefit from it’s use in dentistry and has been used for several decades.
In the aerospace industry, cobalt chromium has been used to create turbine technology, jet engines and aerospace components that require high resistance. It’s even been used in parts of a rocket engine.
Other items it can create are cases, holders and adaptors, as well as many smaller, intricate parts.
Advantages
Very high strength
High temperature & corrosion resistance
Good thermal conductivity
Excellent mechanical properties
Can produce complex geometries
Functional prototypes and end products
Functional prototyping and testing
Bio compatible
Disadvantages
High Cost
Complex designs with intricate details
Fine-detail models with smooth surfaces
Moving and assembled parts
Hard to do larger models
Prone to having cavities within the design, unless certain techniques are used
Non-recyclable
Not food safe
Non-biodegradable
Price Range – $200 – $250
Printing Temperature – °C
Heated Bed Temperature – °C
Ease of Use Rating – 2
Iron
What is Iron Filament?
Iron filament is a base material of PLA or ABS infused with iron powder. What it does is gives a metallic, grainy finish and in some cases gives it magnetic qualities. These are exotic 3D printer which are able to stick to magnets, but it doesn’t have a magnetic field itself.
You can get a rusty look to your iron filament prints by using a wire brush to expose iron particles to the air. After, you can spray vinegar onto your print and let it dry. Repeat the spraying process a few times, with a mix of 16oz hydrogen peroxide, 2oz vinegar, and 1 Tbs of salt in a spray bottle. This should speed up the rusting process until you get the look and feel you desire.
Post-processing is an important part of metal printing, so make sure you use a range of techniques such polishing, wet sanding, or rock tumbling to achieve the effects you are after.
Being a metal infused filament, it does have a high abrasion level so it’s recommended you use a hardened steel nozzle before printing.
The final prints should be heavy and tough, just like iron.
Examples of Use
This type of 3D printer filament is great for decors such as fridge magnets and the likes. This is also used to make sensors, actuators, magnetic stirrers, and educational and DIY projects.
Many people use this filament for cosmetic prints such as busts, accessories, or metal props.
Advantages
Strong and durable
Very little shrinkage during cooling
Not soluble
Disadvantages
Not that flexible and depends on the structural design
Requires fine-tuning of nozzle temperature, flow rate, and post-processing
Need a heated bed
Not food safe
Material is relatively expensive
Price Range – $65 – $180
Printing Temperature – 195°C – 220°C
Heated Bed Temperature – °C
Ease of Use Rating – 3
Resin
Resin is used in SLA 3D printers and is a light-reactive thermoset material, meaning it sets when UV lights hit it. What happens when resin is exposed to specific wavelengths of light, it joins together on a molecular level, resulting in a chemical reaction bringing the monomers and oligomers to form objects.
SLA parts are known to have the best accuracy, detail, resolution and smooth suface finishes of the 3D printing technologies out there. It’s main advantage is how versatile it is. Resin manufacturers have the ability to formulate resin to mimic the mechanical, thermal and looks of the usual thermoplastics you see used in 3D printing.
In the past, resin was always quite expensive, but recently it’s prices have been getting more competitive with filament, but still not at the level to make it so popular.
Resin does require more post-processing work with chemicals to get the materials to reach it’s highest strength, stability and functionality.
Design freedom can be limited due to the required structure to support prints during the process.
General Purpose Resin
Many companies produce 3D printing resin for SLA machines, many of them being generic brands to make a specific line of products for their systems. These are just standard resin to make objects with no particular special features or propertiest, other than their colors and variance of transparency. These used to be quite limited when SLA printers first started out, but have now expanded at amazing rates!
Paintable Resin
These are resin that have a smooth surface, and are designed to look beautiful when painted.
Transparent Resin
The objects made from transparent resin are created using a hardened liquid. The final material should come out as hard, water-resistant, strong and transparent. It’s suited best for models that need a smooth, transparent, quality surface.
High-Detail Resin
These objects are created from a photopolymeric liquid and is ideal for smaller or intricate visual models where high detail is desired.
Rapid Curing Resin
ELEGOO has a rapid resin which is designed to drastically reduce printing time with it’s great fluidity. It has good stability and a guarantee of hardness for worry-free printing to get great results. They boast of low volume shrinkage during the process and a high precision of your print model with a smooth finish.
High-Performance/Hard Resin
Many resins used in 3D printing have been noted to be fragile, which exposes the thinner parts of prints to cracking and snapping. Because of this, manufacturers have put some emphasis into the structural capabilities of resin rather than its aesthetic quality. Tougher resins have been created to address this using high resolution resins, and it displays high resistance to bending and wear, properties similar to ABS.
Castable Resin
This is widely used for dental or jewelry applications of resin 3D printing as it creates a model of a part to be made from a cast. It will allow you to create detailed designs using investment casts and metal to pour into the cast.
Flexible Resin
Flexble resin manufacturers are on the increase, but there aren’t many stepping up. It’s a great material to use for elastic products, but keep in mind it doesn’t have the most durability so it’s probably not best for something functional. It can be used for grips and handles.
High-Temp Resin
Best used for functional prototyping in applications where there will be high heat. These have high heat deflection temperatures of 289°C
It has no flexibility and is prone to snapping so it’s not recommended to use it in some applications such as parts under a load or snap-fits and living hinges. It would be good for molds and inserts, heat resistant mounts, housings, fixtures and hot flows of air, gas and fluid.
High temperature resin does require more laser power and usually needs supports. It’s prone to adhesion issues if you print directly on the build platform.
Other
Wood
What is Wood Filament?
If you are interested in printing objects that have the look and feel of wood, it’s very possible by using wood filament. It is a specific blend of PLA, infused with wood fiber, so it’s not actually wood, but definitely shares some of it’s properties.
Wood filament blends come in a range of types such as: Cedar, Ebony, Birch, Pine, Willow, Cherry, Coconut, Olive, Bamboo, Cork and many more! Some are more common than others, but there are differences which make some better than others in certain ways. With wood filament, you sacrifice properties such as flexibility and durability for looks and feel.
It has to be printed quite carefully, at a temperature which doesn’t accidentally burn the filament, as it can end with a darker, caramelized look to it. You want to make sure you remove your filament from the extruder after you’ve finished printing with it, because the filament can burn in the nozzle and clog it up.
The good thing is your ability to improve the appearance of your printed objects after it’s done. You can easily sand, cut and paint your finished objects because it has wood-like properties.
It isn’t something necessarily used for it’s functional abilities, but more for it’s aesthetics.
Wood filament is usually made by using PLA or another material as it’s base, then mixing it by using powder forms.
Examples of Use
Wood filament is used best with items for their looks. These include display items such as desk, shelf or table objects and includes figurines, awards, bowls, vases and much more. Many people use it for wooden busts, tikis, sculptures and objects that are too complex to achieve by chiselling.
Advantages
Prints have a wooden feel and smell, but with the easy printing properties of PLA
Has real wood fibers
Best used for display models
Can adapt printed color by adjusting the temperature, the higher, the darker.
Disadvantages
Loses quite some functionality for it’s looks
Softer and weaker than PLA
Prone to breaking or shattering due to less flexibility
Price Range – $20 – $80
Printing Temperature – 200°C – 240°C
Heated Bed Temperature – 35°C – 60°C
Ease of Use Rating – 3
Sandstone
What is Sandstone Filament?
This is another unique 3D printer filament that will give you results just like you desired, It’s a combination of PLA with fine chalk powder, which has the effect of providing you a texture and color just like stone.
If you want a smooth or rough finish, you can adjust the extrusion temperature to give you these different surface finishes (165°C for smooth, 195°C for rough). You can really get a professional glossy look or a matte finish with this material so the final product has great potential.
Examples of Use
Sandstone filament is ideally used in a museum, landscape display, structural parts or in an architectural environment. It’s got a faux-stone type of look and the durability of plastic.
Advantages
Gives a unique sandstone finish and aesthetic
Doesn’t require a heated bed to use
Very minimal shrinkage and warping at the cooling stage
Good layer adhesion
Easily colored and grinded
Sticks well on print bed
Disadvantages
Not durable and less flexible
Brittle and prone to snapping and breaking
Material is not food safe
Must take care to keep in dry environment
Price Range – $50 – $125
Printing Temperature – 165°C – 210°C
Heated Bed Temperature – 20°C – 50°C
Ease of Use Rating – 4
Ceramics/Clay
What is Ceramics/Clay Filament?
Ceramic filament is a unique combination of ceramic power and a polymer, creating a filament which has real ceramic properties. LayCeramic is the ceramic filament, created by Matter Hackers and it has the capabilities of normal clay. It has a shiny appearance, as it’s sealed with porcelain and silica, then glazed.
The printed product in a 3D printer can be used in a kiln as you would with other ceramics. When your object is put into a kiln, it causes the object to shrink roughly 20%-25% due to sintering.
Using a kiln with an object printed with ceramic filament isn’t a requirement, but it’s part of the clay sculpting process.
In order to successfully print with ceramic filament, you’ll need some upgrades to your printer such as installing a full metal hotend and having a filament warmer since the filament is brittle.
You’ll also need a 3D printer that has a 3mm extruder installed, since it only comes in the 3mm filament size. Due to the brittle nature of the ceramic material, manufacturers could not produce it at the 1.75mm level.
Examples of Use
You can use ceramic filament just as you would any other ceramic materials, but with more complex shapes. It’s widely used to create mugs, ashtrays, pottery, sculptures, roofing tiles and much more. Home decor and tableware items are a perfect fit for this filament.
Advantages
Can actually be used in kiln like normal clay/ceramics to achieve a ceramic texture
Excellent temperature resistance
Food safe
Disadvantages
Very brittle material which requires care beforehand
Recommended to use a filament warmer, but not essential
Needs an all metal hotend
Price Range – $60 – $200
Printing Temperature – 255°C – 275°C
Heated Bed Temperature – 25°C – 45°C
Ease of Use Rating – 2
Wax Filament
What is Wax Filament?
Wax filament is used in such a way that it creates a mold, to allow prints in materials such as tin, silver, brass or some other metal.
It’s a process called ‘investment’ casting or ‘lost-wax’ and works in the following steps:
Create a wax mold which is a replica of what you want your finished metal product to look like.
Coat the mold in plaster then let it dry
Get your wax-plaster object, and place it in an oven at a high temperature so that wax melts away.
You now have a negative space in the plaster where your metal product can be created.
With your 3D printer wax filament, the first step it made simpler, because you would usually have to care the mold from pure wax.
Keep in mind, when using wax filaments, they are a material much softer than usually 3D printer filament, so extra care is needed when handling it. You may need to modify your extruder, as well as include a strong adhesive on your print bed.
This method of printing wax gives people a greater flexibility to create complex and detailed designs, which can fit into an investment casting piece.
It will definitely take some time to get used to printing with this type of material, and getting the work right, but once you do, the reward is great.
Examples of Use
Advantages
Structurally strong when in the mold-making process
It will keep its shape when surrounded by concrete
Some brands make it easy to print comparable to PLA
Disadvantages
Must cool the filament quickly or it can curl pretty badly
Can be hard to print with depending on brand
Expensive
Prone to clogging if not handled correctly
May require an extruder change
Can produce quite bad smells
Price Range – $50 – $90
Printing Temperature – 140°C – 230°C
Heated Bed Temperature – 70°C – 90°C
Ease of Use Rating – 3
Concrete
What is Concrete Filament?
This is a composite filament, usually made with 50% powdered stone and PLA filament as it’s base. The final product results in a 3D printer filament, with features surprisingly similar to actual concrete, in density and looks. Objects printed with concrete filament have a smooth, matte stone-like surface, with distinctive natural gradient linings.
Since the base filament is PLA, it’s usually easy to print and very durable with the stone-filling addition. It’s roughly 37% heavier than PLA and gives your filament amazing aesthetic properties.
Examples of Use
Has ideal uses in industries such as architectural, design and archaeology.
Advantages
Natural unique gradient color linings
Suitable to use with common desktop 3D printers
Exceptional tactile feeling
Can be post-processed with fine sandpaper and water
Disadvantages
High abrasiveness due to stone powder so it can damage hotends
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