🧪 Materials
The complete guide to 3D printing filaments — properties, parameters, and brand recommendations for every material from PLA to engineering plastics
| Material | Nozzle Temp | Bed Temp | Difficulty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🧱 ABS Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene | 220-260°C | 90-110°C | Hard | $20-30/kg |
| ☀️ ASA Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate | 240-260°C | 90-110°C | Hard | ¥80-200/kg ($12-30/kg) |
| 🧪 Nylon Polyamide (PA) | 240-280°C | 70-100°C | Hard | $30-50/kg |
| 🧪 PC Polycarbonate | 260-310°C | 90-120°C | Very Hard | $35-60/kg |
| 🛡️ PETG Glycol-modified PET | 220-250°C | 70-90°C | Medium | ¥40-100/kg (approx. $6-$14/kg) |
| 🌿 PLA Polylactic Acid | 190-220°C | 40-60°C | Easy | ¥30-80/kg (approx. $4-$11/kg) |
| 🧪 Silk PLA Silk Polylactic Acid | 210-225°C | 50-60°C | Medium | ¥90-160/kg (approx. $13-$23/kg) |
| 🫧 TPU Thermoplastic Polyurethane | 210-240°C | 30-60°C | Hard | ¥80-200/kg (approx. $11-$28/kg) |
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
Difficulty: HardA strong, impact-resistant engineering filament known for durability and heat resistance, but requires an enclosure and proper ventilation
ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate)
Difficulty: HardASA is ABS's superior cousin — same strength, but UV-resistant and weatherproof. The go-to material for outdoor functional parts.
Nylon (Polyamide (PA))
Difficulty: HardAn exceptionally strong and durable engineering filament with outstanding layer adhesion, but requires mandatory drying and careful handling
PC (Polycarbonate)
Difficulty: Very HardOne of the strongest printable thermoplastics with exceptional impact resistance and heat tolerance, but requires an all-metal hotend and expert-level print management
PETG (Glycol-modified PET)
Difficulty: MediumBalanced strength and usability, great durability, ideal for functional prints
PLA (Polylactic Acid)
Difficulty: EasyThe most common and easiest-to-print entry-level material, biodegradable, odorless
Silk PLA (Silk Polylactic Acid)
Difficulty: MediumSilk PLA produces glossy, metallic-looking prints perfect for vases and decorative objects, but weaker layer adhesion than standard PLA
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)
Difficulty: HardFlexible material for printing elastic parts like phone cases, shock pads, drone blade guards