If you shop around, you may find that some places price their filament for less.
The standard ABS or PLA spool will last you for quite a few 3D prints.
When you look at conductive or metal-infused ABS or wood fiber-based thermoplastics, it can get more expensive.
Most 3D printer manufacturers sell their own3D printing materials, optimized to their printer.
Still, it’s possible for you to buy on the secondary market, too.
Walmart, Amazon, eBay, and other merchants stock and sell 3D printer material.
New materials are continually becoming available as the needs of 3D printers and their applications expand.
This list provides an excellent place to explore your options.
These 3D materials supplies are predominantly for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) style printers.
These printers are common hobbyist and small business 3D printersyou’ll see ABS and PLA as the primary materials.
The folks atShapewaysput together a guide to the materials that they offer.
There’s a matrix to help you figure out which material is right for you and your print.
Even if you’re not using their service, it’s still a great resource.
The Latest Filaments for FFF/FDM 3D Printers
Extrusion 3D printersare widely used by consumers and small businesses.
These printers generally allow you to print in ABS or PLA plastics of numerous colors.
However, as the market grows, more options are being offered that go beyond color.
This is something you don’t want to happen while you are printing.
PLA is more challenging to use but has almost no shrinkage.
you might find both of these at almost any consumer retailer that sells 3D printing materials.
Walmart and Amazon carry these materials.
To use either of these, you set the printer as if it were printing ABS.
Filaflex
Another flexible filament is Filaflex byRecreus.
Their website has excellent pointers for printing with a flexible filament.
If you have a double extruder, Filaflex will combine with ABS or PLA.
HIPS
Lulzbotis a 3D printer company that has some unique offerings in the filament department.
HIPS is a beginner-level high-impact polystyrene with ABS qualities.
It comes in a variety of colors and dissolves in limonene.
Other offered print materials include PVA (water-soluble), nylon, and polycarbonate.
Some of their filaments require its use.
Some of the materials offered are for experienced 3D printers only and come with special instructions for printing.
They also offer carbon fiber filament, a PC-ABS alloy, and a conductive filament.
The filament you print has the properties of the item mixed with it.
For example, after printing with bronzefill, you could polish the piece to a bronze-like finish.
It’s also heavier and doesn’t feel like plastic.
Some of these unique materials require specific nozzles or treatment.
Another exciting recent development is color-changing ABS filament.
Their twisted filament has color variation within the roll, which is another excellent option.
Also of note is3D Printing Systems’crystal high-impact ABS.Afinaalso offers color-changing filament in its specialty line.
The3Ders.orgsite has news and data on new materials almost as soon as the materials appear in the market.
