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What is 3D printing filament?

While different types of 3D printing materials exist, the most common on the market for consumers today is known as 3D printing filament. Thread-like in appearance (though much thicker), 3D printing filament is heated and extruded through a moving nozzle. The material is layered vertically until a 3D object with height, width, and depth is formed. From standard plastic to simulated metal or wood, there is a variety of 3D printing filaments to choose from.

It's extremely important to select the proper filament for your FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printer. Using a filament with the wrong diameter or settings will inevitably cause a print failure, if not a significant mess (or worse, printer damage). Down time, cleaning, and repair can be avoided once you understand which filament is best for your printer and purpose. All 3D printers have a unique set of temperature, speed, and functional ranges in their respective designs that you should review & consider when selecting filament.

Popular 3D printing filaments on the market today:

Of the many filaments available, certain materials are used more commonly than others. Today we'll be looking more closely at four of the most commonly used printing filaments: ABS, PLA, HIPS, and PVA.

ABS and PLA are used for a variety of 3D printed objects, are available in a wide range of colors, and are most often used for their versatile material properties, ease of use, and limited printing difficulty. While PLA and ABS share some overlap in characteristics, they differ. ABS is extremely durable, used for outdoor furniture, toys, consumer products, and other high impact applications. PLA is fairly strong, but may be more brittle depending on the object's geometry. PLA is also easier to print with, as it does not require a heated build platform as compared to ABS (though one can be helpful).