Best 3D Printing Filament in 2023

3D printing is a booming industry with a bright future. Anyone involved in this industry has to understand that quality outcomes depend on both the printer and the filament. As it’s a basic necessity, many 3D printing industry players often ignore the importance of choosing the best 3D printing filament.

There are multiple filament types available in the market. Yet, many 3D printer users use the wrong or below-standard filament because they don’t know which filament will do well with your type of printer.

In this filament guide, you will learn about the importance of filaments for 3D printing, their key types, and the pros and cons of every type.

 Knowing 3D Printing Filament A Little Better

3D Printer Filament is the raw material for 3D printers. As it burns, a 3D model of an object is created. This is the thermoplastic feedstock used widely in fused deposition modeling 3D printers. There are multiple kinds of filament types, and variety exists.

Materials such as ABS, PLA, Nylon, PETG, and many more are used to manufacture 3D printing filaments. Some 3D filaments are also made by infusing two or more materials. For instance, wood mixed with Nylon or glass infused with carbon fiber.

Each 3D printing filament type has distinct characteristics and uses cases. It’s very important to pick the right type and right material to enjoy quality 3D printing. Next, we will explain the best 3D printing filament types that you can give a sure try in 2023.

Types of 3D Printing Filament

1.   PLA 3D printing filament

PLA or Polylactic acid 3D printing filament is one of the most common varieties. It has deeper market penetration because it’s easy to use and has non-toxic properties.

As it’s made from corn starches, no harmful chemicals are used in its making. Because of this natural composition material, it’s even considered a compostable filament. But it won’t decompose on its own.

It takes industrial equipment and great skills to decompose PLA 3D printing filament. Out of all the 3D printing filaments, it’s considered the safest of all because it works on very low heat, as compared to other options.

 What We Liked The Most

• Zero toxicity involved
• No emission of chemical smell
• Easy to work with
• Compatible with all the leading FDM printer
• A cost-effective option to consider

What We Didn’t Like 

• It demands a lot of sanding
• As it is designed to work over low temperatures, it can easily warp in high temperature
• It’s highly brittle

2.   ABS 3D Printing Filament

ABS stands for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene and is a widely used 3D printer material across the globe. When it came into being, it became quite a sensation for its amazing rigidity and robustness. It’s sturdy and heat resistant. Hence, it’s the ideal filament to use in extreme conditions.

But, it soon gets huge criticism because of its huge toxicity. As it burns, it emits styrene, a harmful VOC, which is not good for humans and nature.

To reduce the toxicity, industry experts recommend using it in a fully ventilated area. Also, it will work only when the 3D printer has a heated bed at a maintained temperature of 100 degrees Celsius.

What We Liked The Most

• It can bear wear and tear easily
• Sanding is easy with it
• Users can smooth it with acetone

What We Don’t Like

• It’s highly toxic
• Can’t be used in a closed environment
• The sound enclosure is required to get viable results

3.   PETG 3D Printing Filament

Up next, we have PETG or Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol 3D printing filament. If its chemical composition is concerned, it’s the same as the plastics used for soft drinks. As it also has great heat resistance and emits no harmful fumes, it’s an ideal ABS alternative. But it’s not very user-friendly.

What We Liked The Most

• Great finishing
• East Storage
• No harmful fumes
• Great robustness

What We Don’t Like

• As it works in high temperatures, its longer-term usage reduces the life of the printer

4.   TPU 3d printing filament

TPU or Thermoplastic Polyurethane 3D printing filaments are highly flexible and are used widely to make rubbery models. 3D prints that you get on phone rubber phone cases are done using TPU 3D printer filaments only. In addition, they are used to build connectors or flexible hinges for other materials.

They are not compatible with every 3D printer variety. They yield the best results with a direct-drive 3D printer like Prusa Mk3s.

What We Liked The Most

• Its flexibility
• Inability to warp in the heat
• Availability in fun and vibrant colors

What We Don’t Like

• Limited compatibility
• It’s terrible at making solid prints

5.   Exotics 3D Printing Filament

Lastly, we have exotic 3D printing filaments to recommend. They are not as common as other varieties as they are expensive. They are made by mixing PLA mixed with carbon fiber. To give them an exclusive feel, PLA is often mixed with glow-in-the-dark chemicals.

What We Liked The Most

• They come with the benefits of two materials, carbon fiber, and PLA
• They are fun to work with

What We Don’t Like

• You need to tweak the nozzle to use them
• They are costly

How To Test 3D Printer Filament

When you’re surrounded by so many 3D printer filament options, and each one claims to be better than others, it’s not easy to come to a decision. A detailed comparison of quality, performance, and accuracy is required to pick the best 3D printing filaments.

As one tries to test the viability of 3D printer filament, three main concerns are dimensional accuracy, winding precision, and printing quality. Let’s get familiar with all of them.

● Dimensional Accuracy

This is the most crucial test to perform when you want to pick the best 3D printing filament in 2023 and beyond. The purpose of this test is to check the filament’s consistency. Some poor-quality 3D printer filaments won’t have the same consistency in diameter.

This diameter change will force the printer to an over- or under-extrude filament that further results in a scarring or scratching-like effect on the model. If the diameter change is extreme, your entire printing project can fail. Hence, it’s very important the filament diameter remains consistent throughout the printing process.

You can measure the diameter accuracy by monitoring the diameter continuously. Start the test by taking a 5-meter piece filament piece from different parts of the filament roll. We suggest taking the section from the beginning, middle, and at end of the roll.

Now, divide the piece into four equal sections and measure the diameter of each section. Add all the measurements and divide the sum by 12, as this is the total number of measurements taken. This way, you will get an average diameter of the filament roll.

The ideal filament diameter is 1.75mm. If your findings are close to this, go ahead and use that filament.

Winding Precision

It’s a visual test done to ensure that the filament you’re using is working well with the spool. An ideal 3D printing filament causes no crossovers. Crossover on the spool will cause snags, and the printing will not be up to the mark. Winding precision is an easy test that anyone can perform without having any deeper technical understanding. Yet, it’s important to ensure quality printing.

Print Quality 

Of course, this test is done to check the quality of the print. You can take the help of a calibration test to perform it. You must look for any visible roughness and missing filament on the print. It could be because of the presence of moisture or any other contaminants that might have hampered the cooling and melting process during printing.

All you need to know about ASA 3d Printing Filament

The popularity of Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate (ASA) filament for 3D printing has increased as a result of its strong heat tolerance and UV stability. However, if you are unfamiliar with the material, it can be challenging to deal with, and the qualities might vary from brand to brand. ASA is a petroleum derivative and the material is an amorphous thermoplastic that is similar to ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene).

As Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate (ASA) maintains resistance even in adverse conditions, the use of ASA 3D printing filament is on the rise.

Thermal plastic ASA differs from the two most used polymers, PLA and ABS, in a variety of ways. First of all, ABS is highly prone to the warping effect, which occurs when printing parts with a lot of surface area because the corners are lifted. Additionally, it often turns discolored when exposed to more extreme environmental factors. With ASA plastic, these two drawbacks do not exist because it is significantly more UV radiation resistant. Compared to the two most popular filaments in the community, this one is simpler to print with. ASA can be employed in sectors like the automobile industry thanks to these properties.

Important Features of ASA for 3D Printing

The ASA 3D printing filament is very versatile. Therefore, if additional support is required for models with cantilevers smaller than 45 degrees from the horizontal plane, HIPS material could be incorporated. Additionally, using a minimal layer fan is advised. This will produce printed items of greater quality and prevent issues like cracking or 3D printer overheating.

 As a result, the fan will aid in the material’s solidification without causing a sharp change in temperature. Although the melting point range varies significantly depending on the 3D filament manufacturer, this thermoplastic melts between 245 and 260 degrees Celsius. To prevent deformation, it is practical to set the printer bed at a temperature of 80 to 100 degree Celsius.

Setting the distance between the printing bed and the extruder properly is crucial when using ASA to create 3D objects. The right setting will improve adherence to the surface and produce high-quality outcomes. In addition, it is important to draw attention to ASA’s intriguing qualities. It possesses good chemical resistance, glass transition temperature, and dimensional stability (mechanical resistance).

All these features make ASA simple to use, making it appropriate for creating functioning prototypes or end-use machine components that will be exposed to the elements more frequently.

Advantages of ASA 3D Printing Filament

After understanding the important features, it is time to look at the high-flying advantages of ASA 3D printing filament.

1.       ASA is water-resistant. It can endure being in contact with water for a long time before beginning to deteriorate. One of the best filament options for exposure to the elements and outdoor applications due to its great UV resistance.
2.       Although ASA doesn’t beat PC (polycarbonate) filaments in terms of tensile strength, it still outperforms the majority of other printing materials. It is among the most durable plastics due to its other strong mechanical attributes.
3.       A strong material with outstanding heat, UV, water, wear, and impact resistance is ASA plastic. With a glass transition temperature of roughly 112°C, it has greater heat resistance than the majority of printing materials. This means that until between 90°C and 95°C, you won’t notice much (if any) warpage in ASA.
4.       The filament for 3D printing made from ASA is matte. As a result, even without any post-processing, ASA parts appear smoother than prints made from PLA, PETG, or ABS and print quality is improved.
5.       ASA is quite strong and is simple to sand and post-process because of this. It possesses strong chemical resistance to a variety of chemicals, including oils, alcohols, and alkalis. It is acetone-soluble, though, so any contact with acetone will cause it to melt. As a result, you can smooth your prints with cold acetone instead of polishing them to quickly and simply erase layer lines.

Disadvantages of ASA 3D Printing Filament

Just like every material, ASA 3D printing filament has its share of disadvantages; let us have a look at them in detail

1.       Styrene, which is present in Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate (ASA), as its name implies, emits fumes during printing that can be dangerous if inhaled over a lengthy period of time. When printing with ASA, you should utilize an enclosed 3D printer and let the fumes escape, especially if your 3D printer is situated in a place where you or other people may be exposed to the fumes frequently.
2.       ASA is prone to shrinking and can distort the result of larger prints. You may reduce bed adhesion problems by printing in a hot room and, whenever possible, adding a skirt to your prints.
3.       ASA is slightly hygroscopic, which means that it absorbs moisture as other polymers do. However, it does mean that you will need to dry your filament before usage because it doesn’t degrade as much in the water as many other common 3D printing materials do. To ensure you receive the best results, most manufacturers provide recommended drying settings for their particular filaments.
4.       The strong heat resistance of ASA is often regarded as a benefit, but it also makes it considerably more difficult to work with than other filament kinds. It is considerably harder to prevent huge prints from cooling down too much during printing because it requires a greater nozzle and bed temperature than even ABS.

What are the primary applications of ASA 3D printing?

ASA 3D printing filament has strong wear and impact resistance. This is what makes it an excellent choice for manufacturing industrial parts that have continuous mechanical stress. Rapid functional prototypes, tools, and various jigs are also common applications for ASA plastic. Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate is an excellent choice for outdoor use because of its high heat and UV resistance.

Most ASA filament brands can reach 90°C with no visible deformation, which makes them an excellent choice for prints that will spend a lot of time in the sun or in a hot car. Thanks to its UV resistance, it can stay in direct sunlight without degrading. Some outdoor applications that users tend to use ASA filaments for are bird feeders and houses, planters, hose adapters, and more.

Let us understand what are the other areas where ASA material 3D printing can be used for:

It is great for printing 3D objects for outdoor applications, such as garden equipment automotive parts, and electrical parts. If you need filament for printing specifically outdoor objects, ASA is a perfect choice.

ASA has great mechanical properties. This makes it a great option for printing mechanical parts, such as bumper covers, grilles, dashboard holders, side-view mirrors,s and more.

ASA is great for prototyping as you can print parts and check whether they can last under exposure to heat, UV, and chemicals. The ASA has an advantage over other filaments like the ABS in this situation.

You can print some fantastic quality tool pieces using the ASA. The result will be durable and high-quality. You can easily print tooling objects like tool caddies, fixtures, and more.

ASA is good for printing lightweight ergonomic tools as well.

Top Printing Tips to get the best out of ASA Material 3D Printing

Because ASA can be a very delicate material to print on, print settings, including temperatures, are crucial to the quality of a print. The settings recommended by the maker of the specific ASA filament you’re using should always be the default.

The following tips help reduce common problems when printing with ASA:

-Confirm that your bed is on the proper surface.

-Use a bed adhesive such as ABS glue, Kapton tape, glue, or hairspray

-Use a containment

-Adjust the thermostat to avoid overheating

-After the first layer, reduce the cooling fan’s speed to a low setting (5-10%).

-Make sure the bed is level

-Test your temperatures (start with 250 °C/110 °C)

-Change the nozzle when switching materials

WHY CHOOSE ABS FILAMENT FOR 3D PRINTING? PROS & CONS

 

One of the most popular 3D printing thermoplastic materials, ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), is the preferred filament for various commercial and consumer applications. Though ABS could be difficult to 3D print, ABS is lightweight, stiff, durable, has low heat and electricity conductivity and offers excellent impact resistance that helps in efficiently absorbing the shock, making it a perfect fit for 3D printing.

Multiple times this thermoplastic copolymer can be melted to form liquid and then into solid on cooling without affecting its properties. It is a polymer of acrylonitrile, styrene along with polybutadiene. The chemical composition of ABS is bifurcated as 55% Styrene, 25% butadiene, and 20% acrylonitrile. Butadiene is a rubbery substance providing resilience even at low temperatures, whereas the shiny, water-tight surface of the plastic comes from styrene.

 Why choose ABS 3D Printing Filament?

ABS 3D printing filament offers various benefits to users and is the best choice for 3D printing. Read ahead to learn the importance of ABS 3D printer filament:

• It has excellent mechanical properties 

ABS has excellent mechanical properties such as high resistance to a physical effect, low melting temperature, and strong resistance to corrosive chemicals. These qualities allow it to withstand extremely high temperatures and to be used for applications that undergo wear and tear.

• Economical

Properties like thermal stability, printability, and adaptability make ABS filaments economical for creating medical field tools such as low-cost tool handles, surgical instruments, and medical prostheses, whereas low-cost architectural models and prototypes for research and engineering departments.  

Hardware Requirements:

ABS printing is worth considering for durable parts that can withstand high temperatures. Before 3D printing with ABS, check if your 3D printer fulfills the hardware requirements:

• Bed temperature is set between 95-110C
• Extruder temperature between 220-250C
• Part cooling fan not required.
• ABS Slurry for build surface.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ABS FILAMENT

ABS is a strong, structurally sturdy, and stiff plastic that resists external impact well. The popularity of ABS material across various industry sectors, be it commercial, domestic, or specialist sectors, largely depends on its versatility. Understanding how to print abs is vital to gain an excellent resultant object.

PROPERTY	VALUE
Technical Name	Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)
Chemical Formula	(C8H8)x. (C4H6)y. (C3HEN)z)
Glass Transition	105’C
Tensile Strength	46 Mpa
Typical Injection Molding Temperature	204-238’C
UL RTI	60’C
Flexural Strength	74 Mpa
Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT)	98’C at 0.46 Mpa
Shrink Rate	0.5-0.7%
Specific Gravity	1.06

 

• The amorphous thermoplastic polymer becomes soft and moldable when heated and returns to a solid state on cooling.
• ABS is a strong plastic that can be sanded and machined easily. It
  

• Softens at 90°C,
• Melts at 180°C
• Bonds firmly at 230°C.

• ABS passes three tests to be used for additive manufacturing.
• ABS needs high temperatures to print, allowing better filament flow and strong layer adhesion. It is advisable to set the extrusion temperature between 230°C and 260°C. Moreover, you should set the temperature of the heating plate between 80°C and 130°C.
• ABS is hydrophilic and should be kept in an airtight container or plastic vacuum bags for long-term storage. It absorbs moisture quickly, which leads to poor layer adhesion and brittleness, resulting in part breakage.
• ABS needs a heated platform for successful 3D prints. Even the room temperature should be kept warm.
• This opaque thermoplastic can be welded by chemical processes using acetone to offer smooth and shiny surfaces.

 

PROS and CONS Of ABS Filament: 

ABS is one of the most popular 3D printing filaments, but its uses have pros and cons. Though it is difficult to 3D print, when best practices are applied, the chances of common 3D printing issues with ABS, such as fumes and warping, are reduced.

PROS

• Great Mechanical properties

Durability, strength, impact, heat, and wear resistance are a few mechanical properties that make ABS filament an essential manufacturing-grade material. Compared to other 3D printing filaments, ABS can endure more stress, heat, and pressure.

• Excellent Bridging

ABS filament cools rapidly, allowing it to stretch both horizontally and vertically. This property works better with bridging.

• Easy to process

ABS can be machined, sanded, polished, drilled, and glued easily to get a perfect finish.

• Good Results

When 3D printing with ABS, check if the settings are right, along with perfectly dialed slicer settings, to get good results. Compared to other filaments, this oozes and strings less, giving the models a smoother finish.

• Versatility

ABS, known for its heat, chemical, and impact resistance, manifests perfect high and low-temperature performance, high structural strength, and stiffness making it worth using in widely used applications like prototyping and end-use parts.

Due to its outstanding electrical insulation properties, it is the most commonly used filament in the housing and casing of electrical components. Products manufactured in ABS are automobile dashboards, kitchen appliance housings, Lego building blocks, musical instruments, and much more.

CoNS

• ABS: Toxic Fumes

Due to ABS’s petroleum origin, ABS produces an unpleasant smell on heating, commonly known as burnt plastic, which releases toxic fumes. Due to this, the use of ABS is abandoned by most 3D pen makers. Thus, 3D printing requires proper ventilation. An open office environment with industrial HVAC could be beneficial. However, ventilation leads to another issue for ABS.

• Warping, Cracking, and Curling

A closed chamber machine is needed (specifically for large objects). At the same time, 3D printing in ABS filament allows the model to cool down slowly and evenly, preventing cracks from appearing between the layers. If it does not cool down properly, the object’s cooler fragment shrinks, releasing tension that may crack the thing leading to warping. Hence, it would be best to take proper precautions as ABS is sensitive to warping, cracking, and curling, which may result in print failures. 

The issue of warping is visible only after some printing happens. Hence, you need to monitor the print constantly. Usually, the problem persists on medium to large ABS parts. You can control the issue of warping and cracking through slicer settings to enhance the first layer adhesion of the print.

• Adhesion Issues

Due to high shrinkage (as mentioned above), the ABS filament does not stick well to the print bed. Also, 3D printing with ABS needs a high temperature, which is relatively high compared to the room temperature. Thus, for proper adhesion, you should raise the bed temperature to 100°C, or extra strong glue or ABS slurry (mixture of ABS filament and acetone) can be used on the glass bed.  

• Sunlight

ABS cannot withstand damage caused by direct sunlight. Thus, ABS is not a suitable filament when printing outdoor parts. 

Pro Tips for ABS Filament:

Here are a few tips to help you reduce the chances of common 3D printing issues when using ABS:

Use Brims and Rafts

Brims add rings of plastic around the object, whereas rafting actually prints on an entirely new plastic structure, allowing them to print swiftly.

Control Warping

Heat the build surface area to 110º C to overcome the issue.

Print in a properly ventilated area.

Avoid confined spaces, and if the space is small, consider opening a window allowing fumes to route outside. 

ABS APPLICATIONS

With the rise in 3D printing, the popularity of ABS has also increased. It is readily available and easily molded to create the desired object. Its typical applications include:

• Automotive instrument panels,
• Prototypes,
• Food processing components,
• Vacuum-formed parts,
• Plastic face guards for wall sockets,
• Protective housing for power tools,
• Decorative interior car parts,
• Protective headgear like helmets,
• Plumbing parts,
• Automotive instrument panels, 
• Protective bumpers

 

•  Best Practices and Pro Tips to Keep in Mind While Printing with ABS Filament: 

Printing with ABS 3D printer filament can be difficult sometimes, and thus we’ve got a few tips to keep in mind for a smooth experience. 

• Control Wrapping 

Wrapping is one of the common problems while printing with ABS due to temperature changes to the material, especially for the first layer, and the size change of the model leads them to separate from the bed. 

To prevent wrapping, use a proper build surface heated to 110º C. Moreover, you can also set the extruder temperature to about 10 to 20 degrees higher to reduce the risk of separation. 

Consider adding an enclosure around your print to maintain a high temperature while printing taller and large prototypes. 

• Using Brims & Rafts: 

When dealing with large, thin, and delicate parts, it is best to add a brim or raft to anchor them to the build platform and prevent warping. A brim will help you add multiple rings of plastic around your model to create an extra surface to hold down the edges of your part. Whereas raft will print a new plastic structure underneath your print that you can remove later. 

• Using a Well-Ventilated Area:
  

ABS 3D printer filament releases a strong odor with fumes that may harm your health, and thus it is recommended that when you are printing with the ABS 3D printer filament, you should go with an open and properly ventilated space. 

•  Alternatives to ABS 3D printer filament: 

Considering the toxicity and harmful effects of 3D printing ABS filaments, many people look for alternatives to ABS. 

PLA (Polylactic Acid) ranks at the top in ABS alternatives, as it is cornstarch-derived plastic and melts at a lower temperature. Other than PLA, you can also choose PC-ABS or ULTEM with their great heat resistance and impact resistance qualities. You can get even further options if you decide to print with Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) technology.

Conclusion 

In this guide, we learned about why 3D printer filaments are important and which all varieties are offered in the market. As the guide explained, each variety has its specific pros and cons.

You need to play smart and weigh them wisely as a user. No matter which 3D printer material you pick, ensure it’s of great quality.

Take the help of the above-mentioned tests to determine the quality of the filament. To find out more about 3D printer filaments, contact us today