Which Type of Filaments can be Used in 3D Printer ?

There are many forms of filament and more being created every year. Filament comes in a variety of sizes (usually 1.75mm or 3.0mm) and dozens of different colors. You can get filament that has a slight sheen or even a flat (think matte) filament that glows in the dark, and even filament that has small bits of metal flake to make it appear to sparkle in the light. Indeed, you can build up quite a pallet of colors to express your creativity.

Filament is normally wound on a plastic or wooden spool. The most common types of filament are plastics called polylactic acid (PLA) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Each type of filament has certain heating properties and requirements for build platforms. The size of the extruder feed mechanism and the size of the hot end will determine whether you can use 1.75mm or 3.0mm filament. The material used to make the extruder body and the heating characteristics of the hot end will also factor into which filament you can use. Lastly, whether the printer has a heated print bed will also determine which filament you can use. Recall a heated print bed helps the filament adhere to the print bed. Filaments that require a heated print bed (those that perform best with a heated print bed) are ABS, HIPS, nylon, and PC. PLA and other filaments with a lower melting point typically don’t require a heated print bed. However, it can be shown to help with PLA. If you are planning to build a printer or want to be able to print with a number of filament types, you should look for a printer that has a hot end that can heat efficiently to 265 degrees Celsius (or higher), and has a heated print bed option. Another, less frequently cited, criteria is the sort of gases that the filament exudes when heated. Some filament produces a noticeable odor when heated. Some have an odor that is neither harmful nor noxious (to some), whereas others have an odor that can cause irritation for those with sensitivity or are allergic to certain chemicals. Some filament, like ABS, can be extruded in an open environment and are not susceptible to air movement that can cause the object to cool too quickly (none can withstand the effects of the air currents from a house fan, for example). Cooling ABS too quickly can cause print failures. Other filament, like PLA, retains heat and requires a small fan to cool . Following is the List of All Filaments :

• Polycarbonate
• Aliphatic polyamide Nylon
• High-impact Polystyrene
• Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
• Polyethylene terephthalate
• Polyvinyl alcohol
• Laywoo-D3
• Polylactic acid

All These Filaments are Discussed in Detail as Follows :

Polycarbonate

3D printer Polycarbonate filament, also known as PC filament, is a strong thermoplastic material used in 3D printing. Polycarbonate filament has many uses in everyday applications. It is a good electrical insulator while having heat-resistant properties. 

Aliphatic polyamide Nylon

Nylon, also known as polyamide, is one of the most popular and versatile 3D printing materials on the market. A synthetic polymer, nylon is abrasion resistant, tough and possesses greater strength and durability than both ABS and PLA thermoplastics.

High-impact Polystyrene

HIPS, or High Impact Polystyrene, is a dissolvable support material that is commonly used with ABS. When being used as a support material, HIPS can be dissolved in d-Limonene, leaving your print free of any markings caused by support removal.

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is used by 3D FDM or FFF printers and comes in the form of a long filament wound around a spool. Operating the 3D printer is fairly simple: the ABS strand is guided into an extrusion head or extruder that heats the ABS plastic to its melting point in order to liquefy it.

Polyethylene terephthalate

PET filament is a great filament to use for 3D printing. It has the same strength as ABS filament but it is as easy to use as PLA filament. It is waterproof and is safe to use for food. 3D printing is a fun activity where you can design different objects and then print them.

Polyvinyl alcohol

Polyvinyl Alcohol, is a soft and biodegradable polymer that is highly sensitive to moisture. When exposed to water, PVA will actually dissolve, which makes it a very useful support structure material for 3D printing.

LayWOO-D3

LayWOO-D3 is a wood-based 3D printing filament. It is a wood/polymer composite. This filament contains 40% recycled wood and harmless binding polymers. LayWOO-D3 has similar thermal durability with PLA. While your 3D prints are rooted in technology, they can also achieve a more natural appearance when printed with LayWOO-D3 wooden filament.

Polylactic acid

Polylactic Acid, commonly known as PLA, is one of the most popular materials used in desktop 3D printing. It is the default filament of choice for most extrusion-based 3D printers because it can be printed at a low temperature and does not require a heated bed.