Fantastic PLA – Printer Materials (2023)

FAQs

What materials can Ultimaker print? ›

The Ultimaker 3 comes with two types of print cores: AA and BB core. The AA print cores can be used for printing PLA, Tough PLA, PETG, ABS, CPE, CPE+, Nylon, PC, TPU 95A, PP, and Breakaway. The BB print core can be used for PVA, a water-soluble support material.

Polylactic Acid, commonly known as PLA, is one of the most popular materials used in desktop 3D printing. It is the default filament of choice for most extrusion-based 3D printers because it can be printed at a low temperature and does not require a heated bed.

Typical 3D printing filament types used include PLA, PETG, or ABS. For the purpose of comparison, ABS-filled 3D printer plastic will be used. Carbon-fiber-filled filaments have improved mechanical properties when compared to unfilled thermoplastics. They also have good dimensional stability.

High Impact Polystyrene or HIPS is a plastic filament used for dissolvable support structures in FDM printers. It extrudes at around 235°C and has a set of material properties that make it similar to ABS. The main difference is that HIPS is completely soluble in a liquid hydrocarbon called limonene.

However, materials that burn rather than melt at high temperatures cannot be processed safely by sintering or melting, but can be used when extruded through a nozzle for 3D printing. Wood, cloth and paper cannot be 3D printed using these processes.

Polycarbonate, known as PC, is one of the strongest 3D printing materials. In addition to its strength, Ultimaker PC is great for parts that must withstand high temperatures.

In addition, PLA is brittle, leading to parts with poor durability and impact resistance. Although PLA is the strongest of these three plastics, its poor chemical and heat resistance force it into almost exclusively hobbyist applications.

It's no surprise then, that people are looking for alternatives to conventional plastics, and among the materials that have risen in popularity over recent years is PLA—a biodegradable plastic made from renewable sources.

PLA stands for Polylactic Acid. Made from renewable resources such as corn starch or sugar cane, it's a natural polymer designed to substitute widely used petroleum-based plastics like PET (polyethene terephthalate).

PLA. PLA is the go-to material for most users due to its ease-of-use, dimensional accuracy, and low cost.

What is better than PLA filament? ›

PETG has higher impact strength than PLA, reducing the risk of fracture. PETG has higher hardness than PLA, making it more able to resist abrasion.

Polycarbonate (PC) delivers high tensile strength along with high impact and heat resistance. It's widely seen as one of the strongest 3D printing filaments.

Polylactic Acid (PLA) filament is a recyclable, natural thermoplastic polyester that is derived from renewable resources such as corn starch or sugar cane. The filament is biodegradable under certain conditions with high heat capacity and high mechanical strength.

The most common types of plastic used in FDM 3D printing are: Polylactic Acid—commonly called PLA—is an environmentally friendly plastic often sourced from corn starch or sugar cane, which makes it biodegradable.

PLA is also biodegradable since it can be composted.

However, its compostability had until recently been limited since it required constant high temperatures, meaning it could only be composted in industrial plants.

PLA is a 3D printing material that is safe for food contact. With plastic injection molding, this material is used to make packaging. It is a perfect material to 3D print project that will not be exposed to the heat of to a too powerful mechanical constraint.

Triangular Infill: Triangular infill is the strongest infill pattern because triangles are the strongest shape. They are least likely to deform and provide the best support structure behind the walls of the part.

Compared to PLA and Tough PLA, Ultimaker PETG unlocks the widest range of technical applications, offering the printability of PLA, but with the industrial properties you need. This enables you to create a wide range of industrial parts, tools, and prototypes.

The biggest problem with PLA is the very specific conditions needed in order for it to be properly composted. Instead of being recycled with regular plastic materials, PLA needs to be sorted separately and brought to a 'closed composting environment' as otherwise it contaminates the recycling stream.

Because PLA is made of organic materials, it has higher permeability than other plastics. Moisture and oxygen will possibly be able to penetrate through PLA. That leads to food spoilage, so it's not advised to use PLA for long-term storage of food products.

Will PLA plastics be banned? ›

Federal By-Laws. As of December 22, 2023, the sale or offer of PLA compostable products will only be allowed for foodservice wares (clamshell containers, lidded containers, boxes, cups, plates or bowls that are “designed for serving or transporting food or beverage that is ready to be consumed").

PLA prints kept and used indoors will last virtually forever if they are not used to sustain heavy mechanical loads. Based on anecdotal evidence, an object made of PLA will at least 15 years when kept indoors. Under these conditions, You should have no problem with gifts and decorative items printed with PLA.

Neither ABS or PLA will degrade much in water. PLA is biodegradable, but it is what is known as chemically biodegradable, meaning it does not biodegrade very fast. ABS, PLA, and Nylon all are hydroscopic, but that does not mean they will absorb a bunch of water and then start degrading.

PLA: PLA should work fine as a waterproof 3D print. However, you have to be careful that it doesn't get exposed to hot water or conditions as they can easily melt. One example of a waterproof item you can create with PLA is a soap dish.

Contrary to the belief often associated with materials that are considered biodegradable, PLA can take hundreds of years to degrade in an environment like a composter or a landfill.

[2] Because PLA must be processed separately from other plastics due to the lower melting temperature, many plastic recycling programs do not accept the material. As an alternative, you can choose to recycle your own PLA waste using a plastic shredder and a filament extruder.

Although biodegradable in vivo, polylactic acid is not completely degradable under natural environmental conditions, notably under aquatic conditions. Polylactic acid disintegrates into microplastics faster than petroleum-based plastics and may pose severe threats to the exposed biota.

Cost. These materials are all fairy close in price, but PLA filament is typically the cheapest option since it is the most common material for 3D printing, followed by ABS and finally PETG. Typically, a 1KG roll costs: PLA: $16 - $22.

Among these amazing materials is wood. Now compatible with processes such as filament extrusion or even powder bed methods, wood 3D printing is becoming increasingly popular.

Polycarbonate. According to multiple manufacturers and reviewers, polycarbonate (PC) is considered the strongest consumer filament out there. PC can yield extremely high-strength parts when printed correctly with an all-metal hot end and an enclosure.

What are the 4 types of PLA? ›

There are several different types of Polylactic Acid to include Racemic PLLA (Poly-L-lactic Acid), Regular PLLA (Poly-L-lactic Acid), PDLA (Poly-D-lactic Acid), and PDLLA (Poly-DL-lactic Acid).

The cost of a polymer plays the leading role in the overall price of the filament. Each comes from a different source and requires various techniques to prepare. The quality of a polymer can also be reduced by impurities, which are common when it is prepared by cheaper methods.

PLA (short for polylactic acid) is an unquestionable staple when it comes to desktop FDM 3D printing. It is a bioplastic and thermoplastic made from plant starch, for example from corn, potatoes, tapioca, sugarcane or sugar beet pulp.

PLA is brittle and weak. PLA+ is stronger, more flexible, and more ductile. The use of additional fillers/additives makes PLA+ have greater heat resistance than standard PLA.

TPU Polyurethane

This flexible material is a thermoplastic urethane, with flexibility, high tear strength and offers good details. Thermoplastic polyurethane for 3D printing offers unique possibilities that are otherwise tough to achieve with other 3D printing materials like ABS, PLA or Nylon.

Polycarbonate: The Strongest 3D-Printing Material

Each material was then tested by loading the hook with weight until it fractured. Polycarbonate won by a landslide. PLA has a tensile strength of 7,250 psi and was able to lift 285 pounds.

In the wild, it takes at least 80 years for PLA to decompose, which means that in the sea and on land it contributes not only to conventional petroleum-based plastics but also to environmental pollution from plastics and above all microplastics.

This graphic clearly reveals that PLA and PA degrade in a completely different temperature range: 290–380 °C for PLA and 380–490 °C for PA.

PLA polymers range from amorphous glassy polymer to semi-crystalline and highly crystalline polymer with a glass transition 60–65 °C, a melting temperature 130-180 °C, and a Young's modulus 2.7–16 GPa. Heat-resistant PLA can withstand temperatures of 110 °C.

Polylactic acid, or PLA, is the most common 3D printing filament and the easiest to use. Unlike most plastics, it's made from corn starches so it is non-toxic and, in theory, compostable, though it takes an industrial composter to do it.

What is the most commonly 3D printed items? ›

For FFF 3D printing, 3D printer filament prices (for an everyday material like PLA or PETG) are around $20 to $50 per kilogram, or $60 to $120 for specialized engineering or support filaments. Entry-level SLA resins cost around $50 per liter, and most professional options cost around $150 to $400.

Ultimately, as a pure material PLA is generally considered food-safe; there are no toxic chemicals in the polymer itself.

The manufacturing process for PLA is also more environmentally friendly than traditional plastics. Ingeo PLA bioplastic produces 80% less greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional plastic derived from fossil resources (source).

As a result, PLA in the U.S. tends to end up in landfills, with researchers unable to determine the exact natural decomposition rate but estimating between 100 and 1,000 years. As it decomposes, it releases methane, a gas 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

The Ultimaker 2+ Connect is compatible with all 10 Ultimaker build materials: PLA, Tough PLA, PETG, ABS, CPE, Nylon, CPE+, PC, TPU95A, and PP. Note: The Ultimaker 2+ Connect is compatible with a limited number of marketplace materials.

There's a wide range of Ultimaker-brand materials to choose from: Tough PLA, PLA, Nylon, ABS, CPE, CPE+, Polycarbonate, TPU 95A, Polypropylene, PVA, and Breakaway. Additionally, as with any Ultimaker 3D printer, you're free to use any brand and type of material you wish.

3D printing materials can vary widely, with options that include plastic, powders, resins, metal and carbon fiber. These materials make 3D printing a promising option for many parts, from highly accurate aerospace and industrial machinery components to customized consumer goods.

All Ultimaker 3D printers feature an open-filament system, which means engineers, designers, and manufacturers – and any other Ultimaker user – can select the best material for the job, no matter what.

The Ultimaker 3 is the first Ultimaker to have material-matching swappable cores, a feature which lets you switch between materials extremely quickly. The Ultimaker 3 also supports a much wider range of materials than the Ultimaker 2+, with support for Nylon, PLA, ABS, CPE and PVA.

Can Ultimaker 2 print nylon? ›

Compatibility. As shown in the below overview, Ultimaker Nylon is compatible with the Ultimaker S-line, Ultimaker 3, and Ultimaker 2+ (Connect). If you print the material on printers that use a print core, you should use the AA print cores.

While the 2+ had a build volume of 223x223x205 mm the 2+ Connect has a very similar build volume of 223 x 220 x 205 mm. While the other Ultimaker printers have two heads for dual extrusion, both the 2+ and 2+ Connect have a single head. This means one colour / one material but does result in cost savings.

Ultimaker S3 technical specifications

On a hardware level the build volume of the S3 is larger than the 3. This is partly due to optimization of the workable build space, though the overall dimensions are also slightly larger.

Thanks to our pioneering alliance with global materials companies, the UltiMaker S3 lets you print with a growing library of advanced materials – including glass and carbon fiber composites (when using print core CC Red 0.6 – sold separately).

The Ultimaker S5 supports the full portfolio of Ultimaker materials, including ABS, CPE+, Nylon, and TPU 95A. A 750 g spool of our newest material, Tough PLA, is included in the box of each Ultimaker S5.

A new 3D-printing technique documented by researchers in Lincoln Laboratory's Advanced Materials and Microsystems Group now enables complex glass structures to be printed without heating the structure to high temperatures.

Polycarbonate. According to multiple manufacturers and reviewers, polycarbonate (PC) is considered the strongest consumer filament out there. PC can yield extremely high-strength parts when printed correctly with an all-metal hot end and an enclosure.

It's not usually legal to sell the 3D print generated from a digital file you either downloaded for free or purchased online unless you have the creator's express permission.

Cura is an open source slicing application for 3D printers. It was created by David Braam who was later employed by Ultimaker, a 3D printer manufacturing company, to maintain the software.

Polylactic acid, or PLA, is the most common 3D printing filament and the easiest to use. Unlike most plastics, it's made from corn starches so it is non-toxic and, in theory, compostable, though it takes an industrial composter to do it.