It is extremely important to pick out the best quality filament when 3D printing. Simply put, picking out the best quality filament will ensure the quality of your print is top tier and help you avoid any mistakes that may occur when printing with cheaper types of filament. In fact, choosing subpar printing filament is one of the most common 3D printing mistakes that people make, as they think the filament they choose will have no direct outcome over the final quality of their print. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth. If you find yourself in this situation and need some advice, read on. We have outlined some top tips to help you pick out the best quality filament.
Look for Explicit Printing Instructions
One of the best tips to help you pick out quality filament is to look for explicit instructions on the filament itself. In many cases, higher-quality filaments will have more explicit printing instructions to ensure you get the best use out of them. In most cases, these instructions will notate the optimal layer height and printing temperature for the filament. However, if your filament of choice has special physical properties, those will also be explained on the label. In general, the more information on the label, the better the filament likely is.
Buy From Trustworthy and Experienced Companies
Another tip to help you pick out the best quality filament is to buy from trustworthy and experienced companies. In many cases, you’ll be able to discern the name-brand filament companies from the off-brand filament companies. However, it’s important not to immediately discount off-brand filament. Many of the specialty filaments on the market today are produced by non-major brands. In these cases, it is up to you to discern whether the company produces quality filament based on customer reviews and your own experimentation.
Shop for Specialty Filaments
The last and perhaps best tip to help you pick out quality filaments is to shop for specialty filaments. Specialty filaments are some of the best-made filaments because they often feature specialized physical characteristics, such as heat resistance and shock resistance, that allow them to go above and beyond the normal capabilities of regular FDM filaments. It is for this reason that you should always strive to utilize specialty filaments and take advantage of their specialized characteristics to further enhance your 3D print designs.
You hope you have enjoyed this recap of the top tips to help you pick out the best quality filaments. At the end of the day, choosing the right filament isn’t an exact science. The more you shop around for quality filaments, the more you’ll develop an understanding of which options best suit your needs. We suggest keeping a journal of which filaments you prefer to make this process easier in the future.