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Is It Hard to Learn 3D Printing? | Compare to other 3D Hobbies

3D is a generally new practice as it was only created in the 1980s. It has been deemed as modern sculpture, allowing creators to print out their designs. Although 3D printing sounds easy enough, there is definitely a learning curve when it comes to this trade.

Learning the basics of 3D printing isn’t too difficult, although understanding all the different software and parts of a 3D printer can be strenuous. It can take months to understand how to use 3D printing and years to master, yet it is growing in popularity for hobbyists and innovators alike.

There are many factors to consider when it comes to 3D printing, so beginners need to understand what those factors may include.

Best 3D Printers and Software for Beginners

There are numerous types of software for 3D printers, some being much too advanced for those beginning in the hobby. As the number of 3D printers increases, it can be difficult to decipher which 3D printers or software are the best for beginners.

Software

Tinkercad is one of the best programs for beginners according to 3dprinting.com. The software has many tutorials that help amateurs navigate the innovative hobby. Tinkercad uses a “block-building concept” that makes it very user-friendly and easy to understand. The program is also free, making it perfect for those starting with 3D printing.

Blender is a popular software for 3D printing for its variety of features. It is also free of charge, making it a popular option for many hobbyists, whether they are amateurs or seasoned veterans. It has a steeper learning curve than Tinkercad and is ideal for creators that feel that they are ready to design more intricate items.

Blender is also known for how realistic its renderings are. This makes it easier for the creator to visualize their design before printing it out.

FreeCad has also been named as one of the best 3D printer software by 3dprinting.com. One of the best features of this program is that you can make an item of any size. The software also includes robotic simulations, and none of the design features are blocked by a paywall. FreeCad is also free software, so it is a program that beginners should consider looking into.

OpenSCAD is another free software that beginners should look into, especially if they are interested in programming. Rather than manipulating the shapes, the creator must enter codes in a script file to create their shapes and design. OpenSCAD also has a feature that allows the user to upload a 2D picture and then make it into a 3D creation.

With OpenSCAD’s strict programming features, it may be daunting for some users if they don’t know much about programming. Luckily, there are many other software options to choose from that allow creators to manipulate their rendering as much as desired.

Many more software programs are available for 3D printing. Take a look at 3dprinting.com for the wide variety of programs for 3D printing.

Printers

According to Best Reviews, 5 printers have been deemed as the very best in all of 2021.

PrinterPrice on Amazon.comWhere to Buy
Dremel DigiLab 3D45 3D Printer$1,688 USDProduct Link
FlashForge 3D Printer Creator Pro$549 USDProduct Link
Makerbot Replicator+ 3D Printer$1,963.48 USDProduct Link
Silhouette America Alta 3D Printer$199.99USDProduct Link
Ultimaker S5 3D Printer$6,355 USDProduct Link
Prices for the top 5 Printers on Best Reviews

The printer classified as “best of the best” is the Dremel DigiLab 3D45 3D Printer. It has been highly recommended by many experts and is known to be very dependable. It works with four different filament types. The Dremel is also known for being great at printing many parameters of designs with close attention to detail.

The only drawback to this printer is that it does not work properly without the official Dremel filaments. Other than this, the Dremel is a widely esteemed 3D printer that has a 4.5-star rating on Amazon with over 480 reviews.

The FlashForge 3D Printer Creator Pro was labeled as the “best bang for the buck” and is deemed as a customer favorite. It is known to be very reliable, stable, and produces high-quality work. FlashForge is also known to have great customer support with expert technicians via email. The price of this printer is better suited for smaller budgets that are beginning the hobby.

One complaint about this 3D printer is that it can be pretty difficult to set up. Thankfully, the online support team is easy to reach out to and can help anyone through the process.

Makerbot Replicator+ 3D Printer is one of the best options for beginners due to its user-friendly setup and companion software. One of the features that sets this apart from other 3D printers that are mentioned on this list are the cameras that monitor the progress of the item being printed. This is a great feature so that the user can be aware of whether or not the printer is working as expected.

Silhouette America Alta 3D Printer is a smaller 3D printer, but the price makes it great for beginners who are wanting to try out the hobby. Due to its small size, Silhouette America is known to print out objects quickly, but the 3D printer is limited to printing items at a maximum of 5 inches tall.

Out of all the 3D printers on this list, Ultimaker S5 3D Printer is known to create the largest scale and most detailed items. It also works with a wide variety of filaments. However, the price tag of $6,355 can be a major reason that people turn down this option.

Materials Needed for 3D Printers

Acquiring the necessary instruments for 3D printing is simple. Obviously, you will need a 3D printer. You will also need a computer that can hold 8 GB of memory and a fairly powerful CPU. The more memory you have and the better the CPU, the more ideal the user experience will be. It is also necessary to have access to the internet to download pre-designed 3D files if you will not be designing your own.

If you are not going to be designing on your own, websites such as Thingiverse, Cults3D, and Pinshape are a great way to help you find and share free 3D printing designs. These innovative websites can give anyone the spark that they need to start creating their own designs.

Along with the 3D printer, you may choose any type of material to design with. The most common material to use is Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, also known as ABS. This may be the most common, but there are several materials that you can work with including, but not limited to:

  • Carbon Fiber
  • Nylon
  • Metal
  • Polylactic Acid

To learn more about the materials used for 3D printing, Matter Hackers has a guide of all the different filaments that can be used for all types of 3D printing projects. Filaments are simply just the materials on a spool that are fed into the 3D printer that are then melted to create any type of design possible.

Before using any type of filaments on a 3D printer, be sure that it is compatible with the 3D printer.

Where Can I Learn More About 3D Printing?

Since 3D printing is relatively new, there aren’t any colleges that offer a degree in 3D printing specifically. However, some degrees can aid those who are interested in a potential career in 3D printing. To those who are solely interested in 3D printing as a hobby, there are free resources online that are a tremendous help to learn about additive manufacturing.

For informal education, there are hundreds of videos on YouTube that can aid you in any project with a 3D printer. Various creators such as Mike Boyd, Vision Miner, and 3D Now have a variety of tutorials for computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D printers that can be especially helpful for beginners.

There are many websites such as matterhacker.com, ultimaker.com, and rigidink.com, just to name a few. There are also online classes offered by certified 3D printing experts on linkedin.com. With the many insights and tutorials offered for free online, it isn’t necessary to get an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in degrees relative to 3D printing.

However, for those who are interested in making a career out of this hobby, there are a wide variety of degrees that can lead to professions in 3D printing. Some of the best degrees that can aid 3D printing are:

  • Art and Animation Design
  • Software Development
  • Architecture
  • Engineering

To find more degrees, computerscience.org has a list of degrees that work with 3D printing.

2D Art versus 3D Printing

Before beginning 3D art, one should be proficient in creating two-dimensional art on programs such as Photoshop, MS Paint, and animating software. Having a basic understanding of the elements and principles of art can help any creator whether they lean more towards 3D or 2D design. However, 2D design is the best way for any artist to learn about these foundations before moving onto 3D designs.

Having this knowledge before 3D printing is crucial because it gives the creator a better understanding of how art and computer-aided design (CAD) works in general.

Learning how to use 2D software such as Builder, Slash, Crafter, and FreeCAD makes users more comfortable when it comes to making 3D creations. Of course, there is a steep learning curve when another dimension is added. 2D just uses a flat dimension only using the X and Y axes while 3D art adds the extra Z-axis.

3D Hobbies vs 3D Printing

Utilizing 2D software programs is not the only good prerequisite to learning 3D printing. Numerous amounts of hobbies require making art in three-dimensional shapes such as:

  • Pottery
  • Wood Working
  • Crocheting
  • Sewing
  • Model building

Understanding how to make three-dimensional objects can help designers understand what looks right and what works when making 3D renderings.

Although these three-dimensional trades are quite different from 3D printing, they can be a more affordable and easier route to take before jumping into 3D design. For example, a crochet hook can cost as little as $3 USD along with the necessary materials.

Model building is another popular and affordable hobby that requires kits or homemade parts to build small-scale buildings, homes, boats, etc. With a 3D printer, model builders can enjoy both hobbies by creating the parts needed for their models and the freedom to create their model however they would like with the use of a 3D printer.

Pottery and woodworking can be a bit pricier than other hobbies but can give a real-life experience of creating three-dimensional objects. These hobbies involve a lot of handy work, however, this can be an unexpected but necessary prerequisite for 3D printing, especially because 3D printers can be finicky and fail often.

The Future of 3D Printing

The industry of 3D printing is only going up.

“The 3D printing market… is estimated to reach USD 62.79 billion by 2028 and… a CAGR [compound annual growth rate] of 21.0% from 2021 to 2028.”

Business Wire

3D printer manufacturing is making its way through all types of trades, from home décor to dentistry.

According to computerscience.org, there was a study done in 2014 which revealed that a majority (about 66%) of manufacturing companies are utilizing 3D printing in their business. 3D printers can create quick and easy prototypes for new inventions or they can create more affordable housing throughout the world.

The possibilities of 3D printing are endless and many companies such as Nike, Airbus, and Ford are beginning to employ more and more 3D printing machines. This saves the companies time and money as it requires fewer workers to build necessary parts.

The future of construction may even change due to the new 3D printers that have the capacity to build affordable homes. The company ICON has teamed with builders in Austin, Texas to create the latest technology in 3D printed homes. You can learn more about it on their website and take a look at this video to see how 3D printed homes work.

Not only is real estate going to be impacted by 3D printing, but the medical field is also already beginning to use the innovative technology in its practices. Dentists will be able to mill crowns and other dental materials in as little as 10 minutes with a 3D printer. Prosthesis and implant designers can also quickly create prosthetics that can suit their patients.

3D building is only in its beginning stages, and there is room for growth in this innovative technology.

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Is It Worth It To Buy A 3D Printer? | Cost breakdown and Table

When you’re planning for any big purchase, you must look at all the factors that could influence the price. Until you know exactly how much it will cost you, you won’t know if the item is really worth it. 3D printers are taking off in popularity, but many people wonder if the benefits are really worth the price.

Entry-level 3D printers can be as cheap as $200-$500, but the better quality 3D printers for home use can be between $1,500-$10,000. Some materials can be found at $15-$20 per kg, whereas others can be $100-$200 per kg. Additionally, 3D printers are prone to needing repairs, which can be costly.

Considering all of the different expenses, benefits, and drawbacks, you can decide if buying a 3D printer is worth it for you. We’ll break down the cost of the machine and materials below to help you understand the price range you can expect.

Expected Expenses

The 3D Printer Itself

The least expensive 3D printers on the market are $200. Even though that might seem like a steal, it’s important to know that these printers need a lot of set-up work, have very few features, can typically only use one material, are limited in the size they can print (3-4″ in each dimension), print lower quality work, and break very frequently.

In most situations, if you want a 3D printer, you don’t actually want one that’s too cheap. You get what you pay for!

The next range of 3D printers is considered for “hobbyists.” These are anywhere between $300-$1,500. These printers still require quite a bit of set-up work, print lower quality work, and break easily. They improve upon the cheapest 3D printers in that they can print slightly larger sizes (5-6″ in each dimension) and can use a few different materials.

The following range of 3D printers is considered for “enthusiasts.” These printers can be found from $1,500-$3,500. With the price increase for this range, you get better-sized prints (8-12″ in each dimension), reasonable speed, good quality prints, and access to more materials (unless the printer only works with the manufacturer’s standard materials). Unfortunately, these printers still break easily. In general, if you plan to use it for more than 40 hours a month, you should expect to spend a significant amount of time repairing and maintaining the machine.

The most expensive home-use 3D printers are around $3,500-$10,000. For many people, this is simply out of their budget. However, these options do create much better quality work. These 3D printers are considered “professional” or “performance” printers. They have large and enclosed build areas which can print 12″ in each dimension.

Due to the area being enclosed, you have access to almost any material. That being said, the manufacturer for each printer should provide the list of materials that will print best from that printer. Since there is still a large margin in this range, note which printers can create the best quality for the speed and the printer’s durability. No matter what range you buy, 3D printers need repairs but some need much less than others.

Materials

There are two different kinds of materials used in most 3D printers: fused deposition modeling (FDM) and stereolithography (SLA). FDM uses thermoplastic filament whereas SLA uses photosensitive resin. Filament materials are the most common and least expensive of the two.

When considering the cost of each material, you will want to check the prices for specific colors, the quantity, and that specific product’s tolerance. Colored materials and tighter tolerances tend to be more expensive but buying large quantities can lower the price.

Type of MaterialAverage CostProsCons
PLA (filament)$15-$20 per kilogramVery common
Easy to print
Inexpensive		Not the best quality material
ABS (filament)$15-$20 per kilogramFairly common
Does well with strength and temperature resistance
Inexpensive		Requires a heated build plate
PETG (filament)$16-$19 per kilogramEasy to print
Does well with strength and temperature resistance
Inexpensive
Nylon (filament)$50-$73 per kilogramRelatively flexible
Highly chemically resistant
Builds decent functional parts		Expensive
TPU/TPE/Soft PLA (filament)$87-$110 per kilogramFlexible
Builds decent rubber-like models
Expensive
Polycarbonate (non-standard filament)$30–$93 per kilogram
Very strong
High strength and durability
Good electrical insulation properties		Optically transparent
Most options are at the high end of the price range
ASA (filament)$30–$93 per kilogramUV resistant
Moisture resistant
Electrically insulating
Good for outdoor applications		Can get expensive fairly quick
SLA (resin)$40–$300 per literVery high resolution printsVery expensive
The price difference is determined by the resin quality and the printing resolution the resin is compatible with
Specialty Materials (filament)$20-$600 per kilogramCan contain additives such as wood, glitter, glow-in-the-dark features, carbon fiber, stainless steel, magnetic iron powder, and kilnable metal.Depending on the additive, can be extremely expensive and hard to use

Benefits of 3D Printers

Can Potentially Save Time and Money

Depending on the printer’s capabilities, you could very well print items for less than what you would spend buying them. For example, certain printers excel at printing functional parts. If you needed to repair something around the house, you could make the part yourself instead of waiting for the item to be shipped and avoid unnecessary costs.

One reason many people enjoy 3D printers is the ability to make gifts. You can print figurines, signs, jewelry, parts for games, etc. Essentially, you can make whatever you want! This falls into the age-old practice of giving homemade gifts to save money, and by having a 3D printer you are upping your ability to make high-quality homemade gifts.

Additionally, if you are making items, you can sell them. Using an online platform to sell your prints is a great way to mitigate the expenses of a 3D printer. You can have specific items that you sell or you can open yourself up to receiving custom orders (people are willing to pay more for their own designs and ideas).

3D Printing Can Be More Environmentally Sustainable

Going back to the example of printing something you could have bought online, by doing this you will be reducing your personal environmental impact. Namely, you won’t be contributing to the fuel used in delivery and the single-use packaging used for your item. Plus, considering how many manufacturing and delivery steps can be taken on just one item before it gets to you, you could reduce even more emissions by simply making the item at home.

If being environmentally sustainable is important to you, you can also use specific 3D printing filaments that are made of waste plastics and/or environmentally friendly materials (hemp, seaweed, soy, wood fiber, etc.). You’ll be creating your own recycled and/or non-toxic products. Additionally, you can recycle your own filament that you use! These don’t work with every 3D printer, but it’s nice to know that the option exists.

Future-Proofing

3D printing is growing bigger and better each year. It is being used in hospitals, schools (high school and universities), manufacturing companies, and by engineers. As 3D printing spreads into new fields and the technology continues to advance, 3D printing can become a “new normal.” Regardless of how it grows, it is clear the 3D printing will expand in use and popularity.

In order to not fall behind, it could be a good idea for you to invest in a 3D printer now. This could mean getting one for the purpose of simply learning how it works and becoming skilled in those programs, which may become standard knowledge in the future. And who knows, maybe in the next decade it will become normal for each home to have a 3D printer. By purchasing one now, you will be ahead of the curve either way.

Drawbacks of 3D Printers

They Are Expensive!

As stated before, to get a good quality printer that genuinely benefits you, you will have to spend some serious cash. The 3D printers needed to create functional parts and marketable products are not cheap. The materials cost money as well, and you will need to keep buying more as you go.

Even though some of the materials seem pretty affordable, it is important to consider how much of each material you need to create an item. The materials (with the exception of resin) are measured in weight, so the density of a material affects the price of how much you need. Then, considering the different qualities of materials, you may need a more expensive material just because of what you are making. So essentially, it adds up.

You Need To Be Handy or Have The Money For Repairs

Going along with the high cost of using a 3D printer, you may need to factor in the cost of repairs. 3D printers break a lot (even the more expensive models). This means that you either need to be really good at repairing machines or be able to afford to fix the printer.

That being said, the severity of this issue does depend on the printer and how the printer breaks. Perhaps the repairs are easy and simple to do yourself. In that case, no worries. But if you need to replace parts or something is wrong with the system, repairs could be a burdensome thing.

You Need To Know The Programs

Unfortunately, 3D printing objects is not as easy as printing a piece of paper. Just like you need to know programs for designing pages to be printed, you need to know the programs for printing 3D models. Some of these programs are free, but like everything, the best options require payment.

That being said, there are pre-made 3D model plans that you can find/buy online but only using pre-made designs isn’t worth the cost of having your own 3D printer.

Miscellaneous

3D printers require ventilation. First, because certain materials emit very foul plastic odors. Some materials stink worse than others, but they all give off an odor. Second, 3D printers emit nondetectable nanoparticles. These particles could be breathed in and so far, there aren’t studies on how that can affect long-term health. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Most of the affordable 3D printer options do not have enclosed build areas. Meaning, the finicky moving parts and hot end are completely exposed. This first increases the risk of the 3D printer being damaged. Second, this becomes a danger if you have small children or pets. If a child or pet should stick their finger or nose into the build area, they could be burned or otherwise injured. Along with the harm this could cause, it could also break the printer.

Although this is only a small annoyance for most, 3D printing is also fairly loud. Depending on where you plan to keep your 3D printer, the noise could be problematic.

When Is It Worth It?

In summary, a 3D printer could very much be worth it for you if you have the money to spend, are handy with maintenance and repairs, have a lot of projects to use it for, want to be a little more environmentally sustainable, are planning for the future of technology, and/or want to sell your creations.

Additionally, it should not be overlooked that your desire is a factor. Are you really, really interested in design and building models? Do you love creating useful things? Are you passionate about some aspect of 3D printing? Do you want to be an inventor? If getting a 3D printer is important to you for any of these reasons, then buying one is probably going to be worth it to you.

When Is It Not Worth It?

If you aren’t sure you can afford a 3D printer, don’t rush into this decision. Like we said before, they will be around for a while and you can always get one later when it’s within your budget.

If you don’t know what you’re actually going to use it for or can only think of a couple of projects, then it’s probably not worth the money or hassle. If you don’t want to learn new programs, you shouldn’t get one. There is a learning curve for getting a 3D printer and you need to be fully invested in that learning to make the printer useful.

If you aren’t good with repairs and/or don’t want to worry about your machine breaking all the time, 3D printers probably aren’t for you in general. They do require a lot of work and that may make this purchase a burden rather than a benefit.

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What Is The Clicking Noise On My 3D Printer | Solved

Clicking and Popping noise on 3d printer

When your gut feeling is telling you that something is not right, it probably isn’t and when your 3d printer is making the clicking noise it may be one of those times. But don’t let it spoil your print, with a simple adjustment this can be fixed and in this post I will show you exactly how to do it.

What is the clicking noise on my 3d printer?

The clicking noise that you hear coming from your FDM 3d printer is the drive gear slipping on the filament. When pressure builds up on the tension spring, it slips making the popping or clicking sound. There are several reasons why the drive gear may be slipping and here you will find out how to prevent it.

Why does the drive gear slip?

The most common reason for drive gear to slip on the filament is the clog in the hot end nozzle. While clog is the most common reason for the drive gear to slip on the filament it is not the only reason. It may also include hot end nozzle temperature setting, type of filament material, extrusion multiplier, or the speed of the filament feed.

Clogged hot end nozzle.

Let’s look at the clog in the hot end nozzle. Suppose you printing with a flexible material that is stretchy and sticky. It is recommended that the retraction setting be disabled or set to a very minimum. Because when the sticky material is pulled back into the nozzle it will leave the sticky residue on the walls of the hot end nozzle that will eventually create a clog.

If you did use the flexible material don’t let it worry you as there are few things you can do to help prevent the clogs. First you can try a cold pull.

Clearing the clog

The hot end nozzle is somewhat an upside down cone shape and when material is dispensed, it is melted and pushed thru a tiny hole. What you can do is compress the spring on the drive gear idler or disconnect the bowden tube at the hot end and push the filament into the heated hot end.

Push filament thru heated extruder to clear the clog then bull back quickly
Push filament thru heated extruder to clear the clog then bull back quickly

See if any material comes out. Then, quickly pull the entire string of filament out of the hot end. You may notice at the tip of the filament where it was in the hot end residue of another filament. Next, use needle that was supplied with your 3d printer and push up the hot end nozzle thru the hole to clear any blockage.

Filament material coming out of the hot end nozzle
Filament material coming out of the hot end nozzle

Repeat this process until blockage is cleared.

If still unable to clear the clog. It may be time for a new hot end nozzle tip.

Good Practice Tip

When using sticky or flexible materials often there is a cleaning filament that you can buy and run it thru the printer to clean out the nozzle. It is designed specifically for this reason. The blend of filament when it melts will stick to any material more that it does to the metal nozzle.

Temperature Settings

Maybe you didn’t use flexible material and the hot end nozzle still clogged. This may happen when the 3d printer has been sitting in the preheat for too long with material in the nozzle.

Any filament is a type of plastic. When plastic is heated it melts. But overheating it may result in a change of properties within a materials that will prevent it from melting again.

To clear the clog the above step can be applied for this case as well.

It is a good practice to pull back the filament out of the hot end when preheating the printer. Use caution when working around the hot contents.

What to do when you hear clicking noise:

This may not be the wisest suggestion but it works. This is what I do for a temporary fix. If you can catch it early enough where your print isn’t ruined yet and but printed so much where abandoning the print is not an option.

Before trying the method I will describe below first identify that the material is coming out of the hot end nozzle. This will determine that the temperature is set correctly and hot end nozzle is not clogged.

Temporary Fix

Try compressing and releasing the spring at the drive gear idler that feed the filament to release the build up pressure first. Then, override the extruder speed setting on your printer.

3d printer filament gear drive
3d printer filament gear drive

From my personal experience lowering the extruder speed by 10% at the time makes it easier to calculate the extrusion multiplier in the slicer settings later. For example, if the speed of the extruder had to be reduces three times by 10% each time, then the total percent change is 30%.

Solution

Update the slicer profile for the filament that is being printed and reduce the extrusion multiplier by the number you calculated or 30% (from the above example).

Conclusion

Now you know what makes the clicking sound, where it is coming from and how to fix this problem. Hopefully my trial and errors will save you a whole lot of filament and a bunch of headache.

If you found this post helpful please share with others and subscribe so you don’t miss out on our latest post. Please like, comment and share with us you 3d printing experience.

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33 Types of 3D Printing Filament and How to Use Them

33 Types of Filaments

Having a 3d printer around a house is great and even better when you can get the most use out of it. To do so it is important to know something about all the different filament types, how to print them and the best uses for each of the filament. So, stay with us as we go over all the types of filament and who knows, you might actually learn something new today.

PLA Types of Filaments:

I will cover the PLA types of filament first as it is the #1 choice for most printing projects. PLA is a very common material for 3d printing among hobbyists. It is the cheapest, harmless, recyclable, and it comes in many different colors. PLA also is the easiest filament to work with. It sticks to nearly everything and does not require a headed bed.

PLA

PLA – is a polyester. The most widely used plastic filament material in 3D printing. It comes in many different colors. It is both recyclable and biodegradable in an industrial composter.

PLA is renewable as it is made from corn starch or sugar cane.

Because PLA solidifies at low temperature allows 3d printers with cooling fans do very aggressive maneuvers and build long bridges without the need for support.

The downside of PLA is that it softens at a very low temperature. So if the product is left for some time near a hot surface or inside a car out on hot sun it can potentially turn into a useless blob.

PLA+

PLA plus is sometimes referred to as PLA pro or Tough PLA. Basically it is the same PLA modified to be a bit tougher without going to a next up more expansive materials. This “plus” can include higher melting point and or impact resistant just to name a few. PLA plus is a few bucks pricier than regular PLA but still is cheaper than most other materials.

Keep in mind that if your are going to print with a PLA plus you may need to adjust your 3d printer profile to suit this particular filament. Always check the spool for a recommended temperature settings and compare that to a regular PLA that you are using. This will give you a good starting point to begin tuning the profile for PLA plus.

HT PLA (High-Temp)

High-Temp or HT PLA is a filament that can be 3d printed as a regular PLA. The main difference is that it allows you to heat treat it. So, print a part, throw it in the oven, and increase the melting point of the part by nearly 3 times from 50 deg. Celsius to about 160 deg. Celsius.

This is great for printing gadgets that will require to be exposed to heat like car accessories or anyplace that is hear heat. This stuff will never melt in the sunlight. Otherwise this is same as regular PLA but about 4 time more expansive.

Silk PLA

Silk PLA is a PLA with elastomer mixed in it. Parts printed in Silk PLA are as bright as a brushed metal straight out of the 3d printer. Silk PLA is much more brittle than standard PLA therefore it is great for 3d printing display models.

Silk PLA prints much like regular PLA but with elastomer in mixed it it you should watch out for aggressive retraction setting as this will clog up the nozzle and end up in a jam.

Rainbow PLA

Rainbow PLA is a same Silk PLA described above but instead of being one solid color this filament will have a mixture of colors on a same wire and will change colors every about 200 cm.

To get the maximum effect of a Rainbow PLA in you print it is best to print a very tall model like a vase or if you need an assortment of some sort you can print a bunch of small items.

Color Changing PLA

Color Changing PLA is a very cool filament that changes color when near heat or exposed to sunlight. It is printed as a regular PLA but if overheated it may not change colors anymore.

This is a great choice of filament for jewelry or decorations.

PLA Composites

PLA Composites is a PLA filament blend with metal / wood powders and fibers. Any Composites filaments are extremely abrasive and it is highly recommended to replace the stock 0.4 mm brass tip to a 0.5 mm hardened steel hot end nozzle.

Marble PLA

Marble PLA is a filament with a finished marble stone look when the part is finished. There a two types of marble PLA.

  • One is just a marble colored PLA and nothing more special.
  • Two is actually a blend of powder stone with PLA and this one will require a hardened steel nozzle.

Wood PLA

Wood PLA is a blend of PLA plastic and a real wood dust. This filament absorbs moisture like a sponge and needs to be kept in a dry box or dehydrator.

The really cool thing about wood PLA is that it 3d printed model can be sanded and stained. Better yet if printed with a larger layer height and not sanded the part may not look so pleasant but when wood stained it will give off an authentic wood feel and the layers look like real wood grains.

Give this one a try for a jewelry box

Glowing PLA

Glowing PLA is a composite PLA and will need a hardened steel nozzle as it is very abrasive. It is a PLA blend with glowing pigment powder that gives it a glow effect but also makes 3d printed models very rough on finish and very brittle.

When printing glowing PLA it is best to make the walls extra thick to maximize the glow effect and keep a close eye on printer as this filament clogs the nozzle like no other filaments.

Glowing PLA is one of the most difficult filaments to print and it’s best to keep the retraction setting off for this one.

Glitter PLA

Glitter PLA is a blend of PLA and glitter and it is fairly cheap. The glitter is usually not super fine and will require a wide nozzle. It is also on a difficult side to print and this filament stick to hot end and will require extensive cleaning after it is finished with.

To maximize the effect of glitter it is best to print thin walls and thick layer height.

Sparkly PLA

Sparkly PLA is a great alternative to glitter PLA. It can be printed just like a regular PLA. Sparkly PLA or Metallic PLA does not contain glitter but it is shiny do to a manufacturing plastic composite process.

To maximize the effect of shines it is best to print this with thick wall thickness and fine layer height.

Carbon Fiber PLA

Carbon Fiber PLA is a mixture of PLA and tiny carbon fibers for reinforcement. This filament is not much stronger than regular PLA. The advantage of CF PLA is the fibers assist the plastic during the building process and the prints come out looking much much better than the regular PLA. This also helps with dimensional accuracy as well as appearance.

CF PLA is very abrasive and hardened steel nozzle is a must because standard brass nozzle will get destroyed instantly.

It’s important to note that there are different types of carbon fiber PLA.

  • ground carbon fibers
    • This will not increase any of the mechanical strength in the print but will give it a fine matte finish.
  • short chopped carbon fibers
    • This will increase strength of the part and will need a hardened steel hot end nozzle.
  • long chopped carbon fibers
    • This is the toughest but also most brittle and hardened steel hot end nozzle is a must with a wide opening.

High Temp Carbon Fiber PLA

HT-CF-PLA is a blend of high temperature PLA and Carbon Fiber. This is one of the most brittle filament on the list and will require a close attention when printing as it can snap and result in run-out print. It may be a great idea to equip your printer with a filament run-out sensor if it don’t already have one.

Models printed in HT CF PLA come out warped from the printer but amazingly when heat treated in the oven they go back to normal and fiber help to stabilize and reinforce the model and make it easier to heat treat.

Conductive PLA

Conductive PLA is a very interesting filament. No it will not replace the circuit board or wires but it does allow you to embed LED right in your print with no wires required. It is also great for phone accessories, touch censors, stylus and much more.

Conductive PLA is filled with black carbon. This makes it very brittle, difficult to print because parts like to warp, and even more difficult to clean out the nozzle after swapping to different filament.

For best practices when switching from conductive PLA move on to a black color filament because the black carbon will ruing the next print if printed in light color.

Metal PLA

Metal PLA is a 50/50 blend of metal and plastic. This filament can be printed at the lowest temperatures. It is not any stronger than regular PLA and is more brittle. Metal PLA can be buffed and polished for a shiny looks and rusted with vinegar peroxide salt solution for antique look.

For best results when buffing or polishing use high temperature metal PLA and then heat treat it. Also with any metal PLA hardened steel hot end nozzle is a must and it is recommended to use 0.5 mm tip or higher.

It’s good to note that metal is heavy and when buying a spool of 1 kg of filament you will actually get half as much of filament than you would when buying regular PLA. Filaments are sold by weight not length.

Iron PLA

Iron PLA is similar to metal PLA and does require a hardened steel nozzle. The unique properties about Iron PLA is that it is magnetic and can be rusted. Iron retains heat longer this makes it one of the lowest temperature printing filament.

Hot end temperature for Iron PLA should be about 180 deg Celsius, retraction low, and keep and eye out on it as it can melt in the heat-break and clog the nozzle.

Stainless Steel PLA

SS PLA is just like other Metal PLA. It is super heavy, requires a hardened hot end nozzle, can be polished to almost a reflective finish and will not rust nor it is magnetic.

Brass PLA

Brass PLA is a mix of brass (copper zinc) particles and PLA. Brass is very dense and has a high thermal mass. Models printed in Brass PLA are heavy and look cool.

Bronze PLA

Bronze PLA is a blend of PLA and Bronze alloy that makes these prints really cool especially when 3d printing “artifacts” because Bronze will oxidize and develop a cool greenish layer that will look like a real artifact or it can be polished if clean bronze look is desired. It is heavy so keep in mind about the length of filament on the spool when making a purchase.

Copper PLA

Copper PLA is a blend of copper and PLA. It is very dense and heavy. Copper PLA takes brushing, buffing, and polishing particularly well and if you add a touch of oil or black paint it will look absolutely stunning.

PETG

PETG is cheap and easy to print. It is recyclable and you can glue, weld, and machine it. The biggest downside is that PETG Saggs during 3d printing so long bridges and overhangs are nearly impossible and support material is hard to break away. 

For best practice design models in a way where it doesn’t have any overhangs nor it would require support material. PETG is an awesome general-purpose filament for functional mechanical prints that have to get some beating.

T-Glaze Filament

T-Glaze filament is one of the most transparent filaments around. T-Glaze is a specially formulated blend of PETG to make clear watertight prints. Print this at higher temperature than the regular PETG and it’s designed to go directly on the glass bed to make the bottom layer crystal clear. 

For best results, on the first layer turn the fan all the way down or off and turn the multiplier up, slow down speed and lay out thickest lines the nozzle can handle similar to lines of the raft.

HIPS

Hips (high-impact polystyrene) is one tough material that handles impacts like no other material.  It’s fairly inexpensive and often used in multi material printers to make dissolvable supports for abs.

HIPS printing filament it’s super light and it has exceptional layer adhesion to the point of being watertight. Enclosures are recommended since even a minor draft will spoil the print and it only sticks the kapton tape.

Hips handle overhangs really well and because it flexes without creasing it makes a really good choice for living hinges.

ABS

ABS is one of the most commonly discussed filaments. There are many products made from ABS like legos. But in 3d printing ABS has issues. It is difficult to print, models warp, wont stick to the print bed, and to top it off it gives off toxic gasses when heated. If you need something printed from ABS consider using it’s alternative ASA.

ASA

ASA is basically all the properties of ABS but is 3d printer friendly. It prints easy, models look great, but it is toxic like ABS and will require an enclosure with ventilation when printing.

Purge Filament

Purge filament is a special type of filament designed specifically for purging. It melts at 190 and burns at 270 deg Celsius. It is ideal when switching from high temp filament to low temp filament to run purge filament in between. Because when loading low temperature filament high temp. filament that remained in the nozzle can solidify and cause a jam.

Cleaning Filament

Cleaning filament is also a special purpose filament. It is designed in a way to stick to all other materials more than the residue of the all other materials to the hot end nozzle and it pull off any residues as it is dispensed thru the nozzle.

Cleaning filament however can not clear blockages in the nozzle but is great to run after using flexible or sticky filaments.

TPE Flexible Filament

TPE is a thermoplastic elastomer better known as NinjaFlex is one of the most difficult filaments to print because of its properties of stretch and flex that make TPE so amazingly unique. 

The challenge with TPE is to maintain the correct pressure in the hot end. Too little pressure and nothing comes out too much pressure and it will windup itself around the drive gears.

It is best to use TPE with the direct drive FDM 3d printer alltho it is possible to print on a bowden tube printer but extremely difficult.

TPU Flexible Filament

TPU is a thermoplastic polyurethane that has unique properties that allow it to spring, flex, and it is also a really tough filament.  Because it is soft and flexible makes it very difficult to print with a  bowden tube but not impossible.  

TPU absorbs moisture like a sponge and will string intensively when moist and the finished product will not appear smooth but rather a bit spongy if filament was not dried.  

When printing larger objects with TPU it will warp and curl up on the corners. The best way to fix that I found is a fine layer of glue stick on the print bed where the object will print and when 3d model finished printing. Just wash it with soap and water to get the dried up glue off the model.

TPU is famous for 3d printing phone cases and you can find models for download along with a TPU profile that I use for 3d printing TPU with bowden tube on the download tab above.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus 3D Printed Flexible TPU Phone Case
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus Phone Case
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus Phone Case 3D Printed in TPU

Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate (PC) is the best engineering plastic. It’s got all the strength and qualities for a perfect prototype.  Pure PC requires very hot temperatures to print. Hot end nozzle is recommended up to 275 deg Celsius,  bed temperature at 110 deg Celsius, and possibly a heated enclosure.  

The more common Polycarbonate for 3d printing are alloys.  It is a blend of PC and other materials to make the 3d printer more friendly and easier to print. 

Carbon Fiber Polycarbonate

Carbon Fiber Polycarbonate – CF-PC is a filament infused with chopped carbon fibers. Similar to a Carbon Fiber PLA, fiber in the semi-flexible polycarbonate help to stabilize the plastic making the final results as stiff as a rock.

Carbon Fibers also help with printing better bridges and overhangs. CF-PC is more manageable to print that PC and is a great choice for engineering prototypes and toys like drones. It is abrasion resistant and handle heat very well.

Nylon

Nylon is a really common material for high-end professional prototyping. Nylon is a little flexible, extremely tough, handles abrasion very well, and super easy to post process. Nylon requires a heated bed, enclosure, and dry-box.

Conclusion

Hopefully this really long list of different types of filament materials helped you better understand what materials you may need for the upcoming project and what to expect from it.

If you found this post helpful please share with others and subscribe so you don’t miss out on our latest post. Please like, comment and share with us you 3d printing experience.

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What is 3D Printing?

What is 3D Printing?

3D printing is a way of creating three dimensional (3D) solid objects. 3D printing is done by building up the object layer by layer from a digital file. Usually, 3D printers use plastic, because it is easier to use and cheaper.

3D printers are useful because they can make new objects very fast and detailed. This results in a much faster turnaround times for product development. Means an engineer can test a lot of new designs and not have to wait for someone else to make them. They are also useful for fixing parts made of plastic, and for making toys, figures, and models. There are a lot of people who print 3D objects at home.

3D Printing

3D printing technologies have started to change the way we create tools and objects within the current industry manufacturing processes. It has revolutionized the way tools and objects like toys, eye wear, some forms of footwear, design, small furniture, clothes, and even body parts are created. It also is used in industrial manufacturing such as creating manufacturing tools, forms of different prototypes, and even some functional end-use parts.

3D printing is a part of a manufacturing process that is known as Additive Manufacturing, a process where an object is created by the addition of material, layer after layer according to the need and design. Unlike a subtraction process where you take away the parts you don’t need like carving out a 3D object out of wood or cnc machining would be a good example.

Benefits of 3D Printing

3D printing allows the engineer to create complex parts for prototypes, and it does so at a low cost compared to the other factory methods available like molding, forging, and sculpting. It does so in a 3D dimensional manner, unlike printers that only print on a certain surface, it is able to create objects and add details to the objects it is creating. In this way of creating objects, there is very little labor involved in the creation of objects which cuts down on the cost of creating these objects in masses.

Its low-cost production and maintenance have provided small businesses a great way to improve and make the objects required for their business at their desired price.

Types of 3D Printing

There are different types of 3D printing processes that are used for different purposes depending upon the required results, materials, and the scope of operation. Most common types include,

Vat Photopolymerization: is a 3D printer that has a photopolymer resin container in its method of creating 3D objects. Resin is scanned with the help of a UV light that passes through as a source to get the scan.

Stereolithography is also known as SLA was invented a long time ago in 1986 by the founder of 3D systems Charles Hull. It actually uses a photopolymer resin as well as an ultraviolet laser for the layer to be created and measure correctly one at a time for accurate readings. This laser beam traces the pattern on the surface of the resin liquid in a cross-section pattern. Then it proceeds further on creating the object depending on the orientation of the object that needs to be printed. It does require support structure in the process of 3D printing the object.

Digital Light Synthesis: is at the heart of CLIP process technology in which, a light that comes from LED light engine projects a line for UV images that shows a 3D printed part in a cross-section. Once the light has already created the shape of the desired part, the curing process which is programable does the next baking part in an oven that creates the mechanical properties of the object. Material jetting is a process where the material can be attached in droplets with a small nozzle and it works like an inkjet paper printer but it applies layer after layer to build and then it is

hardened by the use of UV lights. Binder jetting used two types of materials, one is a powders base and the other is a liquid binder in the building champers. Power is spread and the binder is applied with the nozzles that intact like particles like glue with keeping in mind the shape that it is trying to build for the printing. It was created in 1993 in MIT and has evolved ever since into mass production in the industry.

Fused Deposition Modeling: or simply referred to as FDM uses a sort of plastic filament which is unwound from a spool and supplied to the nozzle which can turn the flow on or off. It then is heated for the material to be melted to be applied with the needs. It is used to create the object as it is hardened right after it is put on the surface from the nozzle.

Selective Laser Sintering or SLS is a process where powdered material is fused in smalls parts like a powder and is used to create a 3D desire object by scanning the dimensions of the object and later used layer after layer and grow its thickness. This process is applied one after the other to achieve the desired object.

How 3D Printing Works?

In recent times, smaller and consumer-friendly 3D printers are being used in small businesses and homes to create their required items independently. The first step towards creating a 3D printed object is to create a blueprint or also referred to a 3D model of that object in order to be printed with the help of the 3D printer. It is created through software like blender, solidworks, autodesk fusion 360 and other alike, you need to have the knowledge of the software to be able to design models efficiently.

There are many platforms that help you get 3D rendered model files that another consumer has already created and uploaded for others in the community to use. If you can’t design something common, there are chances that someone who has built something similar with their 3D printer has uploaded the content for you to use and print.

After you are done with creating a needed design, it is time to go put that into your printer. Printers like MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer use renewable plastic material on their back which is like a string and is flexible. This material is used to create objects in 3D with the help of the printer precisely put the material in a layer on top of other layers.

When the printer gets the data it requires to print, it takes the material and melts it, and then uses that liquid to make layers of the objects on its plate which cools the material, resulting in the creation of the object. It adds the material one layer at a time and it has to do so to make sure the object that is it is trying to create is created with the right dimension according to the data. It creates that fully formed structure with layering and understanding the dimension of the design.

Use of 3D Printing

The material or filament used in their 3D printers is mostly plastic to make toys and some household items but other materials used can also produce some great results. Some medical use for these 3D printers has also shown incredible results. It still is in a testing process but can yield great results in the coming future if the experiments are successful.

The food industry has also been able to use 3D printers to create a very charming looking treat to catch the eye of more customer and appeal to kids as well. Something like the cupcake decorators rely on 3D printing to do their decorations.

To the credit of the evolution of technology in recent times, giant 3D printers were able to print 10 houses in China in only a single day and it cost less to build these houses than the average cost of a home in China.

This shows how time-efficient and cost-effective these printers can be if they are put to use more carefully.

3D Printing in Giant Industries

Its market is predicted to reach around 3.4 billion dollars in the next 10 years.

3D printing is part of giant industries that are crucial in running the world today. In Aviation 3D printers help in creating cobalt-chrome fuel nozzles for aircraft engines. These printers can produce 600 items per week only on few printers. All these parts are used for the LEAP engine that is the best-selling engine for the aircraft and aviation industry as of today.

Since 3D printing helps in the reduction of waste in the process of making objects, aircraft parts that are made of titanium are created with a 3D printer now to not waste the expensive material and cut down on the cost of making these parts.

Printers just like the Norsk Merke 4 use a metal wire and then melt it in a Rapid Plasma Deposition process which is a form of Directed Energy Deposition, this can help in creating 10kg titanium in an hour or so. A part that is created with 20Kg of titanium for only 2Kg results, 3D Printing can do it for 6Kg wire and not make a lot of waste, its left-over material and also be later used for different parts as well.

3D Printing in Consumer Products

Consumer products are the mainstream use of 3D printers. Footwear is one of the mainstream uses, Adidas prints its mid-soles on 3D printers, and they have printed 100,000 in only 2018 and this number has increased significantly over the years.

Eye wear is another trend that has adopted the wide use of 3D printing technology. 3D printing is suitable for eye wear products because of its precise and calculated creation of the products according to the individual instruction given to it by the design. A 3D printer can make lenses for glasses. Traditionally glasses are made from a block of the glass of which 80 percent goes to waste after craving out a lens from the block.

We need many lenses and many of the people need replacements so 80 percent is a big number for the waste being created by the traditional methods of creating lenses by carving out the lenses.

Labs also need to have many custom lenses for their clients to fit their individual needs. 3D printers have evolved enough that making something like an ophthalmic lens is quite achievable and done so in mass production as well as custom orders.

In this method, there is also no waste that was previously being created due to craving out the lens from a block.

There can also be customized lenses that show better clarity up close and some better vision for the clients who need far-sighted lenses as well.

Jewelry and other fashion items are also mass-produced by 3D printers today, these are made directly by designing a custom 3D printing files and then printing it.

It can also make custom molds to be later used for the creation of the jewelry, the possibilities are endless.

3D Printing in Medicine and Healthcare

The Healthcare system has seen great advancement with the help of 3D printing as well, implants for body parts are often created with 3D printers according to the fit size and dimension of the individual needs.

GE Additive has been able to make more than 100,000 hip replacements in the last decade. Some of the Delta-TT Cup implants are working just fine after 10 years of the first implant due to its trabecular structure that helps incompatibility of the titanium which helps with bone growth into the implant.

Materialize and Phonak have done a great job in making use of the 3D printing abilities to help in creating hearing aids. Over the last 17 years or so, most of the hearing aids that were made for the consumers were printed on 3D printers. It was all done with the help of Phonak’s revolutionary Rapid Shell Modeling which was introduced to the world in 2001.

Before this technology and methods became widespread for the industries, hearing aids were made with 9 steps that required a lot of effort and it involved sculpting and mold making which often resulted in miss-fittings and loose hearing aids.

Silicone is used to take a technical scan of the ear canal; it is scanned in 3D and some minor tweaks are made for fitting and the resin 3D printer is set for the pint to be made.

There is another process where electronics are fitted into the design that is essential to its nature then it is shipped to the consumers for use.

Due to the ease of making these hearing aids with the use of 3D printers, thousands of hearing aids are made each year with the help of this revolutionary technology. It helps thousands of people in hearing that might have had to face problems with fitting and had to buy expensive hearing aids for their needs.

This process creates hearing aids in masses and then it also makes them cheaper so people can easily afford them.

Dental health care has also been benefitted from the 3D printing technology that is widely available as of now.

Clear teeth aligner is perhaps the most 3D printed molded available in the healthcare industry. These aligners are mostly made from both the resin and the powder-based processes of 3D printing available for mass production, material jetting is also used for the creation of such required objects for Dental use.

Dentures are also directly created by 3D printing with the surgical guides in the process.

Bio-printing is being adapted but slowly, as of the last decade biotech firms are investing heavily into tissue engineering applications that help in the creation of artificially made organs and body parts that use inkjet techniques.

3D Printing in Education

The education sector has seen wide use of 3D printing technology as students use these printers to materialize their new ideas and different ways of problem-solving.

Getting degrees in additive manufacturing is not very common and a new field of study, 3D printers are quote commonly used in academia. There are many courses dedicated to the craft of 3D printing that help in learning and understanding the craft.

These are taught in the form of courses like CAD and 3D design which later on are applied to the 3D printing stages.

3D printers are used for the sake of prototyping. Specialization in additive manufacturing are acquired through special architecture and design degree and printed prototypes are very common to use in the fields of arts, fashion as well as animation studios in the universities.

Benefits of 3D Printing

3D printing has many benefits such as 3D printing helps in creating products at a very low cost and are friendly for the small businesses that want to work independently on their own.

3D printing is also environment friendly, since it only needs the material required to print, there is no waste material left in industrial manufacturing. Since there is less waste, it helps in saving the environment by cutting down on the need for too much material, and later no waste is dumped on the earth. This results in less pollution and waste being created by the industries today.

In short 3D printing has many benefits that can be had by using a 3D printer in the masses for industrial production. The waste management has been one of the primary issues for the environment and the pollution that is created through the industrial waste.

3D printers and their use help in creating less waste which adds significantly to the less pollution that is resulted from the waste created by the industrial production and mass productions.

Conclusion

Thank you for checking out our post and reading to the end. We are very hopeful that this has been a very helpful to you and that you could learn something from it. Please share with us your knowledge and experience in the comments below.