Spec / Behavior PEEK Filament (PEEK Polymer Baseline)[a] ULTEM Filament (PEI Resin Baseline)[b] Polymer Family PolyEtherEtherKetone (PEEK), semi-crystalline Polyetherimide (PEI), amorphous (ULTEM is a trade name) Density 1.30 g/cm³ (crystalline) 1.27 g/cm³ Glass Transition Temperature…
Polypropylene (PP) filament is a semi-crystalline polyolefin that prints into parts that feel “real-world plastic”: light, tough, and naturally resistant to many everyday chemicals. It can also test your patience if you treat it like…
Marble PLA is the “cheat code” for prints that look finished the moment they come off the bed. No paint, no airbrush, no messy masking. Just clean geometry, a little smart slicing, and a filament…
What You’re Trying To Do What Conductive Filament Can Realistically Deliver What To Watch Closely Print a “wire” inside a part Works well as a high-resistance trace, not a copper replacement Trace length and cross-section…
Color-changing filament is one of those “looks like magic” materials that’s actually built on very real chemistry. In 3D printing, you’ll mostly meet two families: heat-sensitive (thermochromic) and UV-sensitive (photochromic). They can look similar in…
Finish Goal Typical Prep Main Polishing Method Where Things Can Go Wrong Protection That Keeps the Look Satin “Cast Metal” Even out layer lines; remove seams; stop around 600–1000 grit Hand buffing with a mild…
Shine Lever What To Control What It Changes On The Surface Practical Starting Point How You Know It’s Working Extrusion Smoothness Nozzle temperature + consistent flow More uniform “skin” so light reflects instead of scattering…
Focus What To Watch Why It Changes The Result Glow Pigment Family SrAl₂O₄-based persistent phosphors (commonly rare-earth activated, e.g., Eu/Dy systems)[d] The polymer is mostly the carrier; the glow comes from an inorganic phosphor that…
Carbon fiber filament has a reputation: “print this and everything becomes stronger.” Real life is more interesting than that. Most carbon fiber filaments are a base plastic (like PLA, PETG, or nylon) mixed with chopped…
Wood filament is where PLA-style printing comfort meets timber-like surface character. It’s usually a PLA (or PLA blend) loaded with fine wood fibers or particles, so your print comes out with a warm, matte, “worked”…
PVA filament is the “support that disappears” when you do dual-extrusion FDM/FFF. It’s built for one job: create clean, stable supports for complex overhangs and sealed internal channels, then melt away in water so the…
Printed-Part Metric (Industrial FFF Reference) On-Edge (XZ) Upright (ZX) Test Standard What It Changes In Real Prints Glass Transition, Tg (°C) 101 ASTM D7426 Past Tg, stiff parts start to soften; think car dashboards, warm…
Spec Or Behavior PC Filament Example Values What That Usually Means On A Printer Density 1.19 g/cm³ (23°C)[d] Parts feel “solid” for their size; slicer weight estimates are typically close when your extrusion is calibrated.…
ASA Filament Specs and Print Baselines Topic Practical ASA Range / Notes Why It Matters Outdoor Behavior UV-stable polymer family often chosen for exposed parts; published data shows small shifts after accelerated UV/condensation cycles [a]…
TPU vs TPE (SEBS) Flexible Filaments: Practical Differences for FDM/FFF Printing Attribute TPU Flexible Filament (Example: 82A Grade) TPE Flexible Filament (Example: SEBS Grade) What It Changes in Real Prints Polymer Family Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)…
Nylon (PA) Filament Specs That Actually Change Real-World Prints Spec / Behavior What You’ll See on Spools or Datasheets Typical Nylon Reality Why It Matters Family Name PA, Polyamide, Nylon Engineering thermoplastic family used for…
ABS Printing Settings and Real-World Behavior [a] Parameter Typical Starting Point Why It Matters for ABS What to Watch Nozzle Temperature 255 °C Supports stronger interlayer bonding in an amorphous polymer that likes heat. If corners…
Comparison Point PLA (Example Data: Prusament PLA [a]) PLA+ (Example Data: eSUN PLA+ [b]) What The Label Usually Means Standard PLA formulation with predictable behavior and wide profile support. “PLA-based, modified” blend. The recipe varies…
PLA Filament Technical Snapshot Spec / Behavior Typical Numbers (Real-World Range) What It Changes In Prints Polymer Type Thermoplastic polyester (PLA; polylactide) Flows cleanly, sharp detail, predictable cooling and layer stacking. Specific Gravity / Density…
PETG Filament Technical Profile (Numbers That Actually Matter) Spec / Behavior Why It Matters Typical Baseline What To Keep In Mind Polymer Family Sets the “feel” of printing: flow, bonding, and stability Glycol-modified PET (copolyester)…