Tips To Help Select the Right Filament for Your 3D Prints

Choosing the right 3D printer filament is essential for ensuring your final print turns out with the exact set of characteristics you need. While some people may not realize this, there are many different types of filaments with characteristics ranging from heat resistance to extreme flexibility. For this reason, selecting the exact right type of filament is crucial to making sure you and your clients are happy with the final outcome of the print. Read on to learn some of the best tips to help select the right filament for your 3D prints.

Consider the Type of Material You Need

In most projects, choosing the right type of filament is necessary to ensure the final outcome is exactly what the client orders. As such, carefully considering the type of material to use is essential because it allows you to pick and choose which characteristics you want in your final print. If the client requests a print that is flexible to combat extreme wear and tear, you must go out of your way to find a filament that features these qualities.

What Limitations Are in Place for Your Project?

Some projects may have limitations in place that will exclude certain filaments from use. For example, if you have a project that requires extreme heat resistance, it is probably a better idea to go with a filament like ABS, which has high temperature resistance, over something like PETG, which has lower temperature resistance. Other limitations that you may have to consider include wearability, flexibility, and finish quality.

Consider Specialty Filaments

When all else fails, and you are out of the options, you may have to consider using specialty filaments in your projects. Specialty filaments are unique in that they have certain materials such as carbon fiber and aluminum in their blends that allow them to exhibit properties that are not normally found in printing filaments. In some cases, these filaments may be stronger or have a finish that presents a less printer-like quality that people may find interesting. No matter the situation, you can always count on specialty filaments to account for the deficits that normal filaments do not cover.

We hope you have found these tips to help you select the right filament for your 3D prints beneficial. It is extremely necessary for you to understand what characteristics your 3D printer filaments will exhibit before you print. A simple way to do this is to read the box to gain a full understanding of their characteristics. The box will often have other helpful information, such as printer temperature and speed settings, so this is a great resource for you to first look at when printing. 

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