3D printing filament

Short description: Thermoplastic feedstock for 3D printers

3D printing filament in different colours with models created using the filament.

3D printing filament is the thermoplastic feedstock for fused filament fabrication 3D printers. There are many types of filament available with different properties.[1]

Filament comes in a range of diameters and types, most commonly 1.75 mm and 2.85 mm,[2] with the latter often being confused with the less common 3 mm. The most common materials are PLA (polylactic acid), PETG, and Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). [3]

Filament consists of one continuous slender plastic thread spooled into a reel.[4]

## Contents

* 1 Production
* 1.1 Commercially produced filament
* 1.2 DIY filament production
* 2 Usage
* 3 Materials
* 4 References

## Production

3D printing filament is created using a process of heating, extruding and cooling plastic to transform nurdles into the finished product. However, unlike a 3D printer, the filament is pulled rather than pushed through the nozzle to create the filament. The diameter of the filament is defined by the process that takes place after the plastic has been heated rather than the diameter of the extruder nozzle. A different force and speed is applied to the filament as it is pulled out of the extruder to define the width of the filament, most commonly 1.75 mm or 2.85 mm diameter.[5][6]

### Commercially produced filament

Spools with various types of filament Stacks of commercially produced filament which have been shrink-wrapped to protect the filament from moisture.

In commercial production, the plastic nurdles are always either white or clear. Pigments or other additives are added to the material before it is melted to create coloured filament or filament with special properties, e.g. increased strength or magnetic properties. Before the filament is extruded the nurdles are heated to 80 °C to dry it and reduce water content. The nurdles must be dried, as many thermoplastics are hygroscopic and extrusion of damp plastic causes dimensional flaws (this is also the case when the finished filament is being printed[7]). From there, the nurdles are fed into a single screw extruder where it is heated and extruded into a filament.[5] The diameter is often measured by a laser beam(not melting) as part of a quality control mechanism to ensure correct diameter of the filament. The filament is then fed through a warm water tank which cools the filament which gives the filament its round shape. The filament is then fed through a cold water tank to cool it to room temperature. It is then wound onto a spool to create the finished product.[5]

### DIY filament production

DIY filament production machines use the same method as FDM 3D printers of pushing the filament through the extruder to create the correct diameter filament. There are several DIY filament machines available as both open source plans and commercially available machines.

A food dehydrator can be used to remove water from hygroscopic materials at above 70 °C.[8]

## Usage

Main article: Engineering:Fused deposition modeling

The process of transforming 3D printing filament into a 3D model is as follows:

1. The filament is fed into the FDM 3D printer
2. The thermoplastic is heated past its glass transition temperature inside the hotend
3. The filament is extruded and deposited by an extrusion head onto a build platform where it cools
4. The process is continuous, building up layers to create the model

## Materials

Filament  | Special properties  | Uses  | Strength | Density
(kg/m3)  | Flexi-
bility | Dura-
bility | Difficulty to print  | Print temperature
(°C)  | Bed temperature
(°C)  | Printing notes

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

PLA |

* Easy to print
* Biodegradable, though only in very specific conditions

| Consumer Products  | 1 Medium

| 1240[9] | 0 Low

| 1 Medium

| 0 Low

| 180–230  | No heated bed needed or, 60–Template:DegC are recommended also  |
ABS |

* Durable
* Impact resistant

| Functional Parts  | 1 Medium

| 1010[10] | 1 Medium

| 2 High

| 1 Medium

| 210–250  | 50–100  | Use enclosed heated chamber at around Template:DegC to Template:DegC
ABS Carbon Fiber  | Increased strength and stiffness then pure ABS[11] | Functional Parts  | Medium  |  | Medium  | High  | Medium  | 210-260  | 50-100  |
PETG (XT, N‑Vent)  |

* More flexible than PLA or ABS
* Durable

| All  | 1 Medium

| 1270[12] | 2 High

| 2 High

| 1 Medium

| 220–235  | No heated bed needed  |
PCTG  |

* More flexible than PETG
* Durable

| All  | 1 Medium

| 1230[13] | 2 High

| 2 High

| 1 Medium

| 250–270  | 90–110  |
Nylon |

* Strong
* Flexible
* Durable

| All  | 2 High

| 1020[14] | 2 High

| 2 High

| 1 Medium

| 220–260  | 50–100  | Hygroscopic, keep sealed when not in use
TPE |

* Extremely flexible
* Rubber-like

* Elastic Parts
* Wearables

| 0 Low

|  | 2 High

| 1 Medium

| 2 High

| 225–235  | 40  | Print very slowly
TPU  |

* Extremely flexible
* Rubber-like

* Elastic Parts
* Wearables

| 0 Low

| 1200-1240[15] | 2 High

| 1 Medium

| 2 High

| 225–235  | No heated bed needed  | Print slowly
Wood | Wood-like finish  | Home Decor  | 1 Medium

| 1400[16] | 1 Medium

| 1 Medium

| 1 Medium

| 195–220  | No heated bed needed  |
HIPS  |

* Dissolvable

| Support structures when using ABS on a dual extrusion printer.  | 0 Low

| 1040[17] | 1 Medium

| 2 High

| 1 Medium

| 210–250  | 50–100  |
PVA |

* Dissolvable
* Water Soluble
* Biodegradable
* Oil Resistant

| Support structures when using PLA or ABS on a dual extrusion printer.  | 2 High

|  | 0 Low

| 1 Medium

| 0 Low

| 180–230  | No heated bed needed  | Hygroscopic, keep sealed when not in use
PET (CEP)  |

* Strong
* Flexible
* Durable
* Recyclable

| All  | 2 High

|  | 2 High

| 2 High

| 1 Medium

| 220–250  | No heated bed needed  |
PLA Metal | Metal Finish  | Jewelry  | 1 Medium

|  | 0 Low

| 2 High

| 2 High

| 195–220  | No heated bed needed  | Use hardened nozzle
PLA Carbon Fiber |

* Rigid
* Stronger Than Pure PLA

| Functional Parts  | 1 Medium

|  | 0 Low

| 2 High

| Low  | 195–220  | No heated bed needed  | Use hardened nozzle
PLA Glass Fiber  | Stronger than PLA, weaker than PLA Carbon Fiber[18] | All  | Medium  |  | Low  | Medium  | Low  | 195-220  | No heated bed needed  | Use hardened nozzle
Lignin (bioFila)  |

* Biodegradable
* Stronger than PLA

|  | 1 Medium

|  | 0 Low

| 1 Medium

| 0 Low

| 190–225  | 55  |
Polycarbonate |

* Very strong
* Flexible
* Durable
* Transparent
* Heat Resistant

| Functional Parts  | 2 High

| 1180 – 1200[19] | 2 High

| 2 High

| 1 Medium

| 270–310  | 90–105  | Use enclosed heated chamber at around Template:DegC
Conductive (usually a graphite-plastic blend)  | Conductive  | Electronics  | 1 Medium

|  | 1 Medium

| 0 Low

| 0 Low

| 215–230  | No heated bed needed  | Use hardened nozzle
Wax (MOLDLAY)  | Melts Away  | Lost wax Casting | 0 Low

|  | 0 Low

| 0 Low

| 0 Low

| 170–180  | No heated bed needed  |
PETT (T‑Glase)  |

* Strong
* Flexible
* Transparent
* Clear

| Functional Parts  | 2 High

|  | 2 High

| 2 High

| 1 Medium

| 235–240  | No heated bed needed  |
ASA |

* Rigid
* Durable
* Weather Resistant

| Outdoor  | 1 Medium

| 1070[20] | 0 Low

| 2 High

| 1 Medium

| 240–260  | 100–120  |
PP |

* Flexible
* Chemical Resistance

| Flexible Components  | 1 Medium

| 1040[21] | 2 High

| 1 Medium

| 2 High

| 210–230  | 120–150  |
POM, Acetal  |

* Strong
* Rigid
* Low Friction
* Resilient

| Functional Parts  | 2 High

|  | 0 Low

| 1 Medium

| 2 High

| 210–225  | 130  |
PMMA, Acrylic  |

* Rigid
* Durable
* Transparent
* Clear
* Impact Resistant

| Light diffusers  | 1 Medium

|  | 0 Low

| 2 High

| 1 Medium

| 235–250  | 100–120  |
Sandstone (LAYBRICK; styled plastic)  | Sandstone Finish  | Architecture  | 0 Low

|  | 0 Low

| 0 Low

| 1 Medium

| 165–210  | No heated bed needed  |
Glow-In-The-Dark plastic  | Phosphorescence | Fun  | 1 Medium

|  | 1 Medium

| 1 Medium

| 0 Low

| 215  | No heated bed needed  | Use hardened nozzle
Cleaning  | Cleaning  | Unclogging of Nozzles  | N/A  |  | N/A  | N/A  | 0 Low

| 150–260  | No heated bed needed  |
PC-ABS  |

* Rigid
* Durable
* Impact Resistant
* Resilient
* Deflecting Heat

| Functional Parts  | 1 Medium

|  | 0 Low

| 2 High

| 2 High

| 260–280  | 120  |
Magnetic (PLA blend)  | Magnetic  | Fun  | 1 Medium

|  | 1 Medium

| 1 Medium

| 2 High

| 195–220  | No heated bed needed  |
Color Changing (plastic blend)  | Thermochromism | Fun  | 1 Medium

|  | 1 Medium

| 1 Medium

| 0 Low

| 215  | No heated bed needed  |
nGen (co-polyester)  |

* Similar to PETG
* Heat Resistant
* Transparent

| All  | 1 Medium

|  | 2 High

| 2 High

| 1 Medium

| 210–240  | 60  |
TPC |

* Extremely Flexible
* Rubber-Like
* Chemical resistant
* Heat resistant
* UV light resistant

* Elastic Parts
* Outdoor

| 0 Low

|  | 2 High

| 1 Medium

| 2 High

| 210  | 60–100  |
PORO-LAY  | Partially Water Soluble  | Experimental  | 0 Low

|  | 2 High

| 1 Medium

| 0 Low

| 220–235  | No heated bed needed  |
FPE | Flexible  | Flexible Parts  | 0 Low

|  | 2 High

| 2 High

| 1 Medium

| 205–250  | 75[22][23][24][25][26] |
PEI (Ultem)  |

* Heat Resistant
* Strong
* Flame Performance

| Functional Parts  | 2 High

| 1270  | 1 Medium

| 2 High

| 1 Medium

| 340–380  | 180–200  | Use enclosed heated chamber at Template:DegC
PPS |

* Heat Resistant
* Strong
* Flame Performance

| Functional Parts  | 2 High

| 1350-1360  | 2 High

| 1 Medium

| 2 High

| 300–370  | 100–160  | Use enclosed heated chamber at Template:DegC to Template:DegC
PEEK |

* Heat Resistant
* Strong
* Flame Performance

| Functional parts  | 2 High

| 1300-1320  | 2 High

| 1 Medium

| 2 High

| 360–450  | 100–160  | Use enclosed heated chamber at Template:DegC to Template:DegC
PEKK |

* Heat Resistant
* Strong
* Flame Performance
* Chemical resistance

| Functional parts, aerospace, high-temperature applications  | 2 High

| 1320-1360  | 1 Medium

| 2 High

| 2 High

| 370–450  | 120–180  | Use enclosed heated chamber at Template:DegC to Template:DegC

> Among commonly used fused filament fabrication (FFF) materials, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA) are frequently compared due to differences in thermal and mechanical performance. ABS is typically printed at higher extrusion and bed temperatures and is generally associated with greater impact resistance and higher heat deflection temperature. PLA, by contrast, is commonly processed at lower temperatures and is often noted for stiffness and ease of printing. Reported mechanical properties for both materials vary depending on grade, print orientation, infill structure, and post-processing conditions, and are commonly evaluated using standardized test methods such as ASTM D638, ASTM D256, and ISO 527.[27]

* ESA's Manufacturing of Experimental Layer Technology (MELT) 3D printer can print polyether ether ketone (PEEK)

## References

1. ↑ "16 Types of 3D Printer Filaments" (in en-US). 3D Insider. 2017-03-09. http://3dinsider.com/3d-printing-materials/.
2. ↑ "A Curious Thing About 3.00 vs 1.75 mm 3D Printer Filament" (in en-US). Fabbaloo. http://www.fabbaloo.com/blog/2015/7/26/a-curious-thing-about-300-vs-175mm-3d-printer-filament.
3. ↑ "The 3mm Filament Problem". 31 August 2018. https://www.fabbaloo.com/blog/2018/8/31/the-3mm-filament-problem.
4. ↑ "What is 3D Printer Filament?". https://www.raise3d.com/academy/what-is-3d-printer-filament/.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "How It Is Made: 3D Printing Filament | Make". 2015-02-11. http://makezine.com/2015/02/11/how-it-is-made-3d-printing-filament/.
6. ↑ "HOW ARE FILAMENTS MADE". https://www.filaments.directory/en/blog/2018/08/29/how-are-filaments-made.
7. ↑ "What Effect Does Humidity Have On Your Filament?". https://www.filaments.directory/en/blog/2016/09/15/what-effect-does-humidity-have-on-your-filament.
8. ↑ "Can you 3D Print with Trimmer Line?! - YouTube". 14 November 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsrkFIuQEZM.
9. ↑ "1.75mm EasyFil PLA Sapphire Grey" (in en). http://www.formfutura.com/175mm-easyfil-pla-sapphire-grey.html.
10. ↑ "1.75mm Premium ABS Natural" (in en). http://www.formfutura.com/formfutura-175mm-premium-abs-natural.html.
11. ↑ Jiang, Delin; Smith, Douglas E. (2017-12-01). "Anisotropic mechanical properties of oriented carbon fiber filled polymer composites produced with fused filament fabrication". Additive Manufacturing 18: 84–94. doi:10.1016/j.addma.2017.08.006. ISSN 2214-8604. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214860417300015.
12. ↑ rigid.ink Filament Comparison Guide "Complete 3D Printing Filament Comparison Guide" , rigid.ink, 2017-12-14
13. ↑ "PCTG - Technical Data Sheet". https://fiberlogy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/FIBERLOGY_PCTG_TDS.pdf.
14. ↑ "NYLON PA12 - Technical Data Sheet" (in en). https://fiberlogy.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/TDS_NYLON.pdf.
15. ↑ Raise3D. Premium TPU-95A Technical Data Sheet (V2.2). Raise3D, 2024. PDF.
16. ↑ "FiberWood - Technical Data Sheet" (in en). https://fiberlogy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/TDS-FIBERWOOD.pdf.
17. ↑ "1.75mm EasyFil HIPS White" (in en). https://nylonplastic.com/1-75mm-easyfil-hips-white/.
18. ↑ Nemes, Vivien; Szalai, Szabolcs; Szívós, Brigitta Fruzsina; Sysyn, Mykola; Kurhan, Dmytro; Fischer, Szabolcs (2025-03-29). "Deformation Characterization of Glass Fiber and Carbon Fiber-Reinforced 3D Printing Filaments Using Digital Image Correlation" (in en). Polymers 17 (7): 934. doi:10.3390/polym17070934. ISSN 2073-4360. PMID 40219323.
19. ↑ "PC-Max - Polymaker" (in en-GB). Polymaker. http://www.polymaker.com/shop/polymaker-pc-max/.
20. ↑ "3DXMAX™ ASA 3D Printing Filament - Technical Data Sheet". https://support.rev1tech.com/portal/en/kb/articles/technical-data-sheet-3dxmax-asa-3d-printing-filament?Technical_Data_Sheet__3DXMAX™_ASA_3D_Printing_Filament.
21. ↑ "PP - Polypropylene - Technical Data Sheet" (in en). https://fiberlogy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/TDS-PP-EN.pdf.
22. ↑ "30 Types of 3D Printer Filament - Guide & Comparison Chart | All3DP" (in en-US). All3DP. 2017-01-03. https://all3dp.com/best-3d-printer-filament-types-pla-abs-pet-exotic-wood-metal/.
23. ↑ "3D Printer Filament Comparison | MatterHackers". https://www.matterhackers.com/3d-printer-filament-compare.
24. ↑ "What Material Should I Use For 3D Printing? | 3D Printing for Beginners" (in en-US). 3D Printing for Beginners. 2013-02-10. http://3dprintingforbeginners.com/filamentprimer/.
25. ↑ "3D Printing Temperatures & Printing Guidelines". https://filaments.ca/pages/temperature-guide.
26. ↑ "3D Printer Filament Types Overview" (in en-US). 3D Printing from scratch. 2014-12-10. http://3dprintingfromscratch.com/common/3d-printer-filament-types-overview/.
27. ↑ "ABS vs PLA - FilamentCompare" (in en-US). 2025-10-20. https://filamentcompare.com/abs-vs-pla/.

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*[TPC]: Thermoplastic copolyester
*[FPE]: Flexible Polyester