3D printer filament

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  • Dental Surgical Guide Resin Quick View
  • Water Washable Ortho Model Resin (grey)Water Washable Ortho Model Resin (grey) Quick View
  • Aurarum ABS 3D Printer Filament – Natural 1.75mm 1KgAurarum ABS 3D Printer Filament – Natural 1.75mm 1Kg Quick View
  • Aurarum PETG 3D Printer Filament – Red 1.75mm 1KgAurarum PETG 3D Printer Filament – Red 1.75mm 1Kg Quick View
  • Aurarum PLA 3D Printer Filament – Bulk 3-5Kg (Choose Size And Colour)Aurarum PLA 3D Printer Filament – Bulk 3-5Kg (Choose Size And Colour) Quick View
  • ABS Like 3D Printer Resin – Transparent Red 500GABS Like 3D Printer Resin – Transparent Red 500G Quick View
  • Flexible 3D Printer Resin – Black 500GFlexible 3D Printer Resin – Black 500G Quick View
  • Flexible 3D Printer Resin – Clear 500GFlexible 3D Printer Resin – Clear 500G Quick View
  • Aurarum ASA 3D Printer Filament – White 1.75mm 1KgAurarum ASA 3D Printer Filament – White 1.75mm 1Kg Quick View
  • Flexible 3D Printer Resin – White 500GFlexible 3D Printer Resin – White 500G Quick View
  • Water Washable 3D Printer Resin – Solid Black 500GWater Washable 3D Printer Resin – Solid Black 500G Quick View

To start printing 3D objects, you need two things: a good 3D printer and suitable printing material. It may seem obvious, but many beginners stop researching after the purchase of a printer and print with the wrong filament, thus getting unsatisfactory results. To help you avoid this trap, we offer a guide on 3D printing filaments and their types.

 

First things first: what is a filament for 3D printer?

It is quite simple: filaments for 3D printing are plastics, or rather thermoplastics, pre-shaped into thin threads to be fed into a printer. ‘Thermoplastics’ mean that under heat impact, they don’t burn but melt and take a new shape. They retain this exact shape after cooling. This shape can be random, like warping of plastic bottles exposed to heat, or pre-defined, like it happens during 3D printing.

These plastic filaments are fed into the heating chamber of a printer, the hot paste is then pushed through the heated nozzle, and the nozzle moves all the time according to the pre-loaded 3D draft of an object. Layer by layer, a toy, a detail, or a prototype is created, and after cooling the object is ready for use.

Key features of filament to know before printing

Currently, on the market, there is a flood of plastics with difficult chemical names and mysterious abbreviations like PVA, ABS, PLA, HIPS, PETT, and whatnot. But actually, only three or four of them are in widespread use under different brand names.

These filaments have the essential package of features that make them fit for printing goals, and the rest is a matter of colors and particular object specifications. Filaments – after heating and cooling – are usually sturdy, solid, durable, and non-toxic. Filaments can differ in their capacity to withstand outdoor use since some are better fit for this purpose and do not crumble when long exposed to UV. Some filaments can be flexible, withstanding physical impact or twisting and not breaking into pieces.

Other than that, the properties of filaments are essentially the same.

Most popular types of filaments today

If you look for good multipurpose filaments in Australia, we have you covered. Three key filaments are freely available here, and you can pick the filament that matches your exact goals.

PETG filament in Australia is highly popular because it is food-grade plastic that has properties of glass (full transparency). It is durable, chemicals-resistant, but also more flexible than other filaments and so won’t break into pieces after impact. It does not shrink a lot during printing, thus, big flat parts can be printed with its help.

When to use it: to print medical parts, bottles, and containers, parts of electronics, transparent covers and guards, and heavy-duty displays for crowded areas.

ASA filament in Australia is another recommended type because it is really tough and resistant to long UV exposure during outdoor use (like anything supposed to be used in Australian heat). ASA can be exposed to chemicals without significant consequences, is water-resistant, and durable. It does require some precautions while printing, but it is fully compensated by the benefits of using this thermoplastic.

When to use: ASA is perfect for making parts that will go through the extensive tear and wear, like car parts, sports gear, gardening tools, outdoor equipment, etc.

PLA filament in Australia is appreciated for ease of use and the endless range of colors and textures it comes in. Whatever visual effect you need to achieve, from realistic metal-looking to fairy-like glowing, PLA is your first stop. PLA can be mixed with metal powder or wood parts to be sturdier or can be enhanced to withstand higher temperatures. PLA lacks the durability of other filaments, but it wins in terms of looks.

When to use: when you need to print a prototype fast but accurately, or when you are making toys, models, or collectibles.

Resin for 3D printer in Australia belongs to a different category of materials, and the printing process is more complicated (and different from pushing the hot goop through the nozzle). Printers for resin are quite costly, like printing resin itself. You can start printing with filaments and see if you will need to transfer to printing with resins.

Tips on how to choose filament for your project

As you see, there is no one-type-fits-all solution. Decide on the properties you need in a printed object and pick the filament with these very properties. Then buy filament in Australia from Aurarum, all locally manufactured with full guarantees of quality and true love for all things printing (and printed). In such a way, you can be sure that your projects will turn out as expected.