Our first 3D printers only printed ABS and PLA plastic. Yeah, we heard about PVA for support structures, but no one could get them to stick. There was also polycarbonate, but you had to have an all metal hot end with a fan to print that stuff. Now there’s a lot of variety out there: flexible, wood and stone, nylon, PETG, and more.
If you are still printing with just the old standards, you might enjoy [all3dp’s] comparison chart of 30 different filament types–that’s enough for one day a month–well at least for four months. It is too many for February, and a day short for the rest of the months. In addition to a table, there’s a short write-up about each type of plastic, its characteristics, and its technical data. There’s even magnetic PLA (see video below) which, in addition to being magnetic, will actually rust in water which might be good for some artistic prints.
Of course, there’s probably more filament types out there. After all, there are new ones it seems every day. Still, 30 should keep you and your printer busy for a while.
We’ve looked at some exotic filaments before like carbon fiber, for example. The magnetic filament is from Protopasta, and we’ve seen that they make quite a few strange and wonderful filaments.
Well, looks like I’ve just learned about color changing filament and the PORO-LAY stuff that becomes flexible after a water bath, thanks.
Reading the comments, one person asked about flame retardant filaments, I also would like to see some recommendations.
Since I have a way to cast aluminum, I am intrigued by the wax filament. It is nice to know it exists.
Mr. Zog’s filament ought to be a thing.
PLA will work in place of wax in lost wax casting techniques.
Interesting. Now all one needs, much like a fancy CNC, is a 3D printer that can switch among the different types for one run.
You mean like the new Reprap?
The new prusa can do 4 colors for < $1000. It could probably do 4 materials as well!
Still waiting for Bacon filament.
Almost bacon.
He starts printing something huge at 16 minutes.
Not quite bacon filament… but close!
I like the video 3DPrintingNerd did with ProtoPasta. Looks like it’s quite hard go grind bacon to a fine enough powder and mix it with the PLA, if you only have a blender at your disposal. But it seems like almost no filament-combo is impossible at this point.
It was “Bacon Bits”, not real pig-based bacon. It’s starch, oil, and artificial flavouring. Which gets my vegetarian approval.
Also see http://toms3d.org/2016/10/16/filaween/
I just found the ‘wall of data’, thanks!