Guides
Practical, real-world guidance for choosing, printing, and maintaining 3D printer filaments.
Featured Guides
- How to Choose PLA Filament for Your 3D Printer
A beginner-friendly guide covering diameter, tolerance, weight, PKU, print quality, and more.
- What Is PKU (Price per Kilogram)?
Learn how PKU reveals the true cost of filaments and why it's better than comparing price per spool.
How to choose the right filament
Selecting the right filament for your project involves balancing several factors. Here's a systematic approach:
- Match the filament to the project (visual prototype, functional part, mechanical stress, outdoor, etc.).
- Check printer compatibility (1.75 mm vs 2.85 mm, recommended materials from the manufacturer).
- Consider ease of printing (PLA easiest, PETG medium, ABS and others more demanding).
- Factor in mechanical properties (impact, stiffness, flexibility, temperature resistance).
- Think about post-processing needs (sanding, painting, gluing).
- Balance cost vs performance.
Core filament types and properties
PLA (Polylactic Acid)
- Very easy to print, low warping.
- Rigid, good surface quality.
- Low heat resistance (starts deforming above ~60 °C).
- Great for prototypes, visual parts, figurines.
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate-Glycol)
- Balance between strength, toughness and ease of printing.
- Better impact and chemical resistance than PLA.
- Good layer adhesion, slightly more stringing.
- Good for functional parts, brackets, enclosures.
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
- Higher heat resistance and impact strength.
- Needs heated bed, enclosure and ventilation (fumes + warping).
- Suitable for technical parts exposed to heat and stress.
Other materials (Nylon, TPU, PC, composites)
- Nylon: very strong and slightly flexible, moisture-sensitive.
- TPU: flexible/elastic, ideal for gaskets, phone cases, vibration dampers.
- Polycarbonate (PC): very strong and heat-resistant, demanding to print.
- Wood/metal-filled: mostly decorative, need hardened nozzles.
Recommended print temperatures
| Material | Nozzle temperature (°C) | Bed temperature (°C) |
|---|---|---|
| PLA | 190–220 | 40–60 |
| PETG | 220–250 | 50–80 |
| ABS | 220–250 | 90–110 (around 100 is ideal) |
PLA: high part cooling, prints well in open printers.
PETG: reduce cooling, tune retraction and speed to control stringing, ensure good bed adhesion.
ABS: print in an enclosure with good ventilation, lower cooling, avoid drafts to reduce warping and cracking.
PLA vs PETG vs ABS at a glance
| Property | PLA | PETG | ABS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | Very easy | Moderate | Harder (needs enclosure and tuning) |
| Impact resistance | Fair | Very good | Good |
| Heat resistance | Low | Medium | High |
| Flexibility | Low | Medium / high | Medium |
| Post-processing | Easy (sanding, basic painting) | Moderate | Easy (sanding, painting, machining) |
| Odor / fumes | Almost none | Low | Noticeable – ventilation required |
| Outdoor use | Not recommended | Yes, with proper settings | Yes |
Storing and handling filaments
- Store spools in sealed bags or dry boxes with desiccant to avoid moisture, especially PETG, Nylon and TPU.
- Keep them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
- Symptoms of moisture: popping sounds while printing, rough surface, weak layers.
- Dry wet spools in a filament dryer or low-temperature oven (around 40–45 °C) following manufacturer guidance.
Pro tips for better results
- Always check the filament's diameter tolerance (±0.02 mm is a good target for precise printing).
- Print temperature towers when you try a new brand or spool to find the optimal nozzle temperature.
- For functional parts, prefer PETG or ABS; for visual pieces and fast prototyping, PLA is usually enough.
- Replace very old or repeatedly wet spools if drying no longer restores print quality.