Filament Overview
12 materials - temperatures, properties and recommendations for each filament
ASA - Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate
ABS-like material with strong UV/weather resistance for outdoor use.
ASA offers mechanical behavior similar to ABS with improved UV and weather resistance. Properties: - Prints roughly like ABS (high nozzle and bed temperatures) - Better outdoor durability and color stability - Enclosure still recommended for consistent results Best for: outdoor brackets, covers, and weather-exposed parts. Related: ABS, Warping, Filament.
Open detail →Pros
- ✓Excellent UV resistance
- ✓Good outdoor durability
- ✓Strong mechanical properties
Cons
- ✗Enclosure recommended
- ✗Harder to print than PLA/PETG
Nylon (PA) - Polyamide
Strong and durable engineering filament, but highly hygroscopic and moisture-sensitive.
Nylon (PA) is a high-performance engineering filament with excellent toughness. Properties: - Good strength, wear resistance, and chemical resistance - Often needs higher temperatures and controlled environment - Highly hygroscopic - dry before printing Best for: gears, hinges, load-bearing technical parts. Related: Wet Filament, Drybox, Filament.
Open detail →Pros
- ✓Excellent strength and toughness
- ✓Good wear resistance
- ✓Good chemical resistance
Cons
- ✗Very moisture-sensitive
- ✗Requires drying and controlled print conditions
Carbon Fiber - Composite Filament
Maximum stiffness at low weight for demanding functional parts.
Carbon-fiber composites (most commonly PLA-CF, PETG-CF, PA-CF, or ABS-CF) include short carbon fibers that significantly increase stiffness and reduce weight. Properties: - High stiffness-to-weight ratio - Matte technical surface finish - Abrasive to standard brass nozzles; hardened steel nozzle recommended Best for: RC and drone parts, technical brackets, lightweight structural components. Related: Nylon, ABS, Hardened Nozzle, Filament.
Open detail →Pros
- ✓Excellent stiffness and strength at low weight
- ✓Professional matte surface finish
- ✓Great for technical and structural applications
Cons
- ✗Requires hardened steel nozzle due to abrasion
- ✗Higher cost and more limited color availability
PETG - Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol
Balanced material: easier than ABS, tougher and more heat-resistant than PLA.
PETG combines easier printing with better durability and heat resistance than PLA. Properties: - Prints around 230-250 C nozzle, 70-90 C bed - Better layer adhesion and impact resistance than PLA - Can be prone to stringing without proper tuning Best for: outdoor parts, brackets, functional components. Related: PLA, ABS, Stringing, Filament.
Open detail →Pros
- ✓Good durability and impact resistance
- ✓Higher heat resistance than PLA
- ✓Good chemical and moisture resistance
Cons
- ✗Can string without tuning
- ✗Needs better first-layer calibration than PLA
ABS - Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
Strong, heat-resistant engineering plastic that usually needs an enclosure.
ABS is a classic engineering thermoplastic known for toughness and heat resistance. Properties: - Prints around 230-260 C nozzle, 90-110 C bed - Strong and durable for technical parts - Higher tendency to warping; enclosure strongly recommended Safety: - Use ventilation or filtration due to fumes during printing. Related: ASA, Warping, Filament.
Open detail →Pros
- ✓Strong and durable for technical parts
- ✓High heat resistance
- ✓Can be chemically smoothed with acetone
Cons
- ✗Higher tendency to warping
- ✗Requires ventilation due to fumes
TPU - Thermoplastic Polyurethane
Flexible, rubber-like filament for elastic and impact-absorbing parts.
TPU is a flexible filament that behaves similarly to rubber after printing. Properties: - Prints around 210-240 C nozzle, low bed temperature - Flexible and abrasion resistant - Best with direct-drive extruders and lower print speeds Best for: phone cases, seals, feet, dampers, wearable parts. Related: Filament, Direct Drive, Bowden.
Open detail →Pros
- ✓High flexibility and abrasion resistance
- ✓Good impact damping
- ✓Useful for wearables and protective parts
Cons
- ✗Slower print speeds required
- ✗Works best with direct-drive extruders
Flex - Flexible Filaments
Elastic materials for damping, grip, sealing, and wearable parts.
Flexible filament families (including TPU/TPE variants) provide different hardness levels for soft and elastic prints. Properties: - Wide hardness range depending on grade - Better results at lower print speeds - Direct-drive extruders typically perform best Best for: seals, grips, vibration dampers, protective accessories. Related: TPU, Direct Drive, Filament.
Open detail →Pros
- ✓Broad range of flexibility options
- ✓Good chemical and abrasion resistance for many grades
- ✓Excellent impact damping and grip properties
Cons
- ✗Requires slower print speeds
- ✗Can be challenging with Bowden setups
Wood Fill - Wood Composite Filament
Natural wood-like appearance and texture directly from the printer.
Wood-filled filaments (typically PLA blended with wood particles) create prints with a wood-like look, texture, and sanding potential. Properties: - Prints in PLA-like temperature ranges - Can be sanded and finished for realistic appearance - Particle-filled blends can increase nozzle clogging risk Best for: decor, display objects, props, and aesthetic models. Related: PLA, Nozzle Size, Filament.
Open detail →Pros
- ✓Natural wood-like visual style
- ✓Can be sanded and finished after printing
- ✓Great for decorative and presentation pieces
Cons
- ✗Higher clogging risk with fine nozzles
- ✗Lower mechanical strength than pure technical filaments
CPE - Co-Polyester
Technical polyester with strong chemical resistance and cleaner printing.
CPE is a technical co-polyester often seen as a higher-performance alternative to standard PETG in demanding use. Properties: - Better heat resistance than typical PETG - Good chemical resistance and dimensional stability - Usually less stringing than poorly tuned PETG profiles Best for: chemical-contact parts, warmer environments, transparent or technical covers. Related: PETG, Filament, Chemical Resistance.
Open detail →Pros
- ✓Improved heat resistance over many PETG profiles
- ✓Good chemical durability
- ✓Can print cleaner with reduced stringing when tuned
Cons
- ✗Usually costs more than standard PETG
- ✗Less common profiles and community tuning guides
Marble - Marble Effect Filament
Stone-like aesthetic for decorative prints without heavy post-processing.
Marble-effect filaments (usually PLA-based with mineral-style fillers) are designed for decorative prints with a stone-inspired appearance. Properties: - Easy printing profile similar to PLA for most brands - Distinct speckled texture and premium visual effect - Intended more for aesthetics than maximum strength Best for: decorative vases, architectural models, interior design objects. Related: PLA, Decorative Prints, Filament.
Open detail →Pros
- ✓Attractive marble-like texture
- ✓Beginner-friendly printing profile
- ✓Strong visual impact for display models
Cons
- ✗Not ideal for heavy structural loads
- ✗Limited color and visual variants compared to standard PLA
PC Blend - Polycarbonate
High-heat engineering material for parts beyond PLA and PETG limits.
Polycarbonate (PC) and PC blends offer high heat resistance, toughness, and dimensional stability for demanding environments. Properties: - Typical nozzle 260-300 C, bed 100-120 C - High thermal resistance and impact toughness - Strongly moisture-sensitive; dry filament before printing Best for: electronics housings, automotive interior parts, heat-exposed technical components. Related: ABS, Nylon, Drybox, Filament.
Open detail →Pros
- ✓Very high heat resistance compared to PLA/PETG
- ✓Strong and impact-tough for engineering parts
- ✓Reliable for long-term technical use when properly dried
Cons
- ✗Difficult printing profile with high temperatures
- ✗Requires filament drying and usually an enclosure
PLA - Polylactic Acid
Easy-to-print material for beginners, prototypes, and everyday models.
PLA (Polylactic Acid) is the easiest filament to print and a great default for most users. Properties: - Prints around 190-220 C nozzle, 50-60 C bed - Low warping, easy adhesion, low smell - Lower heat resistance than PETG or ABS Best for: visual prototypes, models, organizers, educational prints. Related: PETG, ABS, Filament.
Open detail →Pros
- ✓Very easy to print
- ✓Low warping and low odor
- ✓Excellent visual detail
Cons
- ✗Lower heat resistance
- ✗More brittle than PETG or ABS