How to Select 3D Filaments for Printers

Sometimes, printing excellent results can sometimes seem more like an art than an art or science. There are however several methods to increase the chances of success, and also obtaining top quality prints. This filament guide helps you select the best filament. You'll have to be able to manage the printer, software and filaments, set-up, and, last but not least , your own personal style. You probably already have a 3d pen filament or one that you already have in your mind, and we'll get to picking the appropriate filament for your 3D printer. Why you shouldn't select the most expensive filament With the large selection of filaments available and the variety of vendors out there it can be hard to locate the perfect filament that is suitable for you, without spending time and money to locate it. While I can't recommend a specific company, do not let me dictate which one to pick. You will not get what you pay for and often the price is low because of an reason. It is important to be aware of these things when choosing filament: * Consistency in Diameter * Moisture * Consistent viscosity, and with minimal debris The consistency of the diameter of the filter Let's start with 3d printing titanium diameter of the filament; 3mm against 2.85mm and 1.75mm. Here's why I think 1.75mm is superior. It's more popular in the marketplace and a fresher quality plastic. It's usually newer and moves out of stores inventory faster resulting in newer product to be manufactured and replaced on the shelves. It appears to have superior extruding and retraction and generally a better flow of plastic. This makes sense as the extruder motor requires more turns to extrude same material as 3mm or 2.85mm. This results in more precision and better control of the flow. Whatever size you select, the diameter must be uniform and consistent throughout. A lot of printers include spring tensioners in their extruders, so minor variations in diameter, like -/+.03mm aren't too much of an issue. Filament Moisture Another concern is moisture and it is typically due to poor packaging and or being stored for too long outside of packaging. Plastic absorbs moisture from the air in relation to the humidity and time of exposure. If you see water vaporizing out of the hot-end most likely the filament is moist. This can lead to poor prints as well as poor adhesion to the layer. Visit our website to learn more about desktop cnc mill. Moisture free filament Certain 3D printing materials such as PLA and Nylon easily absorb moisture from the atmosphere. It is this absorption that can cause problems such as effecting print quality and cause damages to the hot-end by way of blockage. Hot-End Damage: The absorption of moisture causes filament swell. If the swelling is large enough the plastic will block up the nozzle and cause permanent hot-end damage. Print Quality: The plastic melts, and the moisture that is trapped turns into steam. This results in bubbling. The bubbling results in an extrusion rate that is slow, which results in models which aren't durable and top-quality. And, of course, they aren't attractive. Solution: To prevent the absorption of moisture from filaments and causing damage to your equipment one inexpensive solution is to buy vacuum bags. Put your filament spool into the bag, add two silica gel bags in and then suck every drop of air. Filament Impurities Impurities in plastics are the major problem when it comes to choosing the right filament. Chemical impurities cause low viscosity of the plastic and particles can block the extruder nozzle. A plugged up nozzle is a big setback! Not only will the print be unable to complete, costing time and money but it may also mean getting the extruder removed and cleaning in out. There seems to be a direct correlation between cheap filament and blocked extruders. Although you may want to cut costs on filament, in the beginning, cheaper filament might be more expensive in the end. It will save you many headaches by purchasing a reasonably priced filament that's highly rated.