With technological advancements, 3D printers are becoming increasingly important for complex tasks. However, to accomplish this mission, this equipment requires an essential consumable. These are filaments that replace traditional ink cartridges. You’ll find several on the market. Discover here three types of filaments most commonly used for 3D printers.
PLA filaments
Made from corn starch, PolyActic Acid filament is a biomaterial that has very little impact on the environment. It is the most widely used biodegradable plastic for all types of 3D printing due to its ease of use.
Yes! To use PLA, you don’t need a professional and very expensive printer. It is also a material that does not print at a high temperature, you just need to heat it between 180° and 220°C. PLA is a consumable that allows beginners to familiarize themselves with a 3D printer without constraints. So, if you want to buy spools of 3D filament for the industrial sector, PLA is the first to take.
It comes in various colors and is suitable for various applications such as printing finished objects, utensils, prototypes, etc. It is a non-toxic and fast-cooling material with strong interlayer adhesion.
ASA filaments
Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate (ASA) filament is an interesting alternative to Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) filament for 3D printers. It is more resistant to climatic conditions, which allows its use outdoors.
This biomaterial, useful for the automotive industry, is often found in two diameters: 1.75 mm ASA filament and 2.85 mm ASA filament. However, it is more difficult to print than PLA filament. To achieve good interlayer adhesion and quality bed adhesion, it must be printed in a closed enclosure. Of course, precautions must be taken to prevent its toxicity and eliminate nanoparticles.
ASA filament is a strong, rigid, heat- and chemical-resistant material. Unlike ABS, it exhibits less distortion. However, avoid overcooling it during printing.
HIPS filaments
High-impact polystyrene filament, also known as HIPS, is a 3D printer consumable that requires special handling precautions. Due to the particles, odor, and smoke it releases when melting, it requires an exhaust system to vent the air to the outside.
Still, it’s a very useful material with a good finish. It’s also more impact-resistant than other filaments. With its high printing temperature, HIPS is a biomaterial that must be handled by professionals.
Due to its solubility in certain products, it is used to create complex supports on parts made from other filaments such as ABS. Therefore, a professional 3D printer is required for its printing if you want to achieve the desired quality for your final product.
Ultimately, there are several types of filaments for 3D printers. The most popular are PLA, ASA, and HIPS filaments.
