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Quick Tips for Common Materials

Every 3D printing filament has its own unique personality. Here are some quick tips for handling some of the most common materials to get better results.

PLA (Polylactic Acid)

  • Post-Processing: When sanding PLA parts, use wet sanding (with water). If you dry sand it, the friction will quickly heat and melt the plastic, making it difficult to get a smooth finish.
  • Adhesion: PLA usually sticks very well to a clean print bed. It has low thermal expansion, so it is the perfect choice for printing large objects without warping.

PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)

  • Stringing: PETG is famous for leaving fine, hair-like strings on prints. You can easily remove these from a finished print by quickly passing a heat gun over the surface. The strings will instantly shrink and disappear.
  • Adhesion: This material can sometimes stick too well to smooth PEI surfaces. Consider using a separating agent like a glue stick if you have trouble removing parts.
  • Bridging: PETG can be problematic when printing bridges over open air. Ensure your part cooling fan is at 100% for these sections.

ABS / ASA

Print with an Enclosure!

  • Warping & Cracking: Both ABS and ASA have a very high thermal expansion and will warp, crack, or split between layers if cooled too quickly. The best way to print them successfully is inside an enclosure to keep the ambient temperature high and stable.
  • Fumes: These materials produce an unpleasant and potentially irritating odor during printing. Always print in a well-ventilated area.
  • Post-Processing: ABS and ASA are soluble in acetone. This means you can use a small amount of acetone to "weld" or glue printed parts together for a very strong bond. You can also use acetone vapor to smooth the surface of the parts to a glossy finish.

TPU / TPE (Flexible Filaments)

  • Print Speed: The key to printing flexibles is to print slowly. This prevents the soft filament from buckling or jamming in the extruder path.
  • Extruder Tension: Loosen the tension on your extruder's idler. Too much pressure will deform the soft filament and cause a jam.
  • Keep it Dry: Flexible filaments are often highly hygroscopic (they absorb moisture from the air). Wet TPU will bubble and sizzle as it prints, resulting in a terrible surface finish. Always store it in a dry box.