Cart
$0.00
0
This site is not for children. Are you over 18?
There are thousands of filaments out there, but not all filament is made equally. Filament color, diameter, and specs can all vary, and depending on quality, they can vary a lot.
The following filaments are tried and true in this community, and will result in quality prints, as long as you print with the specified settings for the filament.
For more reading, check out Hoffman’s Filament Buying Guide
Industry standard for 3D2A applications
SUNLU PLA Plus Filament – $14.99/kg – Good Filament if you’re on a budget, and has been widely used in 3d2a
eSUN PLA+ Filament – $16.99/kg – Works well and seems plenty strong at a good price
Duramic 3D PLA+ Filament – 17.99/kg – Remarkably consistent for budget filament
OVERTURE PLA+ Plus Professional Toughness PLA Filament – $20.99/kg – Believed to share some manufacturing with Polymaker, high quality filament
Polymaker PLA PRO Filament – 24.99/kg – The gold standard for filament, especially in 3D2A. Extremely consistent, prints beautifully, and you can find many well tuned profiles for this filament searching around.
– Key advantages:
– Excellent layer adhesion
– Predictable failure mode (deformation vs. catastrophic failure)
– Consistent print quality
– Minimal warping
– Easy to print (190-220°C)
Properties:
– Temperature resistance: 55-60°C
– Good impact resistance
– Strong layer bonding
– Dimensional accuracy
Best practices:
– Store in dry environment
– Replace after 6-12 months even if stored properly
– Check for brittleness before critical prints
– Test new spools before critical parts
Polymaker Fiberon PA6-CF – $39.99/500g – The Gold standard of nylon for 3D2A. If you haven’t used nylon before, this is where you should start.
Polymaker Fiberon PA612-CF – $34.99/500g
Polymaker Fiberon PA6-GF – $29.99/500g – Slightly cheaper than PA6-CF with similar performance
Polymaker Fiberon PPS-CF Filament – $69.99/500g – Extreme heat resistance. Requires hot end with temps greater than 300C
Siraya Tech Fibreheart PPA – $52.64/1kg – Easy to print with, very stiff and strong. Good Value
Nylon Composites for 3D2A
Important Note
– Unfilled nylon is generally too flexible for 3D2A applications
– Always use fiber-reinforced variants (CF/GF) for proper rigidity and strength
– Proper drying and storage is critical for all nylon types
Common Types and Applications
PA6 (Nylon 6)
– Properties:
– Highest tensile strength among nylons
– Excellent wear resistance
– Superior heat resistance (80°C+)
– Advantages:
– Great layer adhesion when properly dried
– High impact resistance
– Good chemical resistance
– Disadvantages:
– Most hygroscopic of all nylons
– Requires higher print temperatures (260-280°C)
– More difficult to print than PA612
– Can degrade if dried at too high temperature
PA12 (Nylon 12)
– Properties:
– Lower moisture absorption than PA6
– Good dimensional stability
– Moderate heat resistance
– Advantages:
– Easier to print than PA6
– More stable over time
– Less sensitive to moisture
– Disadvantages:
– Lower maximum strength than PA6
– More expensive than PA6
– Still requires proper drying
PA612
– Properties:
– Balance between PA6 and PA12
– Moderate moisture absorption
– Good dimensional stability
– Advantages:
– Easiest to print among nylons
– Good balance of properties
– Lower printing temperature (245-260°C)
– Excellent layer adhesion
– Disadvantages:
– Not as strong as PA6
– Still requires drying
– Less common, harder to source
PPA (Polyphthalamide)
– Properties:
– Semi-aromatic high-performance nylon
– Superior heat resistance (100°C+)
– Excellent strength and rigidity
– Advantages:
– Highest heat resistance
– Superior strength
– Best dimensional stability
– Disadvantages:
– Most expensive option
– Requires very high print temperatures (300-320°C)
– Needs high-end printer hardware
– Limited material availability
##### PPS (Polyphenylene Sulfide)
– Properties:
– Extremely high heat resistance (120°C+)
– Excellent chemical resistance
– High stiffness
– Advantages:
– Best heat resistance
– Exceptional dimensional stability
– Low moisture absorption
– Disadvantages:
– Very expensive
– Limited availability in 3D printing forms
– Requires specialized hardware
– Can be brittle if not properly fiber-filled
Standard PLA
– Too brittle
– Poor layer adhesion
– Inconsistent strength
– Prone to catastrophic failure
PETG
– CRITICAL SAFETY WARNING
– Shatters explosively under stress
– Glass-like failure mode
– High risk of injury to user
– Despite good technical specifications, real-world behavior is dangerous
ABS
– Warping issues affect reliability
– Poor dimensional stability
– Layer adhesion issues
– Inconsistent strength between prints
TPU/Flexible Materials (should only be used for things like buttpads)
– Not suitable for structural components
– Insufficient rigidity
– Unpredictable behavior under stress
Generic Composite PLAs
– Metal-filled: unnecessary weight, reduced strength
– Wood-filled: inconsistent properties, brittle
– Other exotic fills: unproven reliability
SLA / Resin
– NOT RECOMMENDED FOR 3D2A
– Despite good on-paper specs, the failure mode of resin is similar to glass, and likely to cause injury to the user
The top source for 3D printable 22’s and Parts Kits. Bringing you all the best build guides, download links and information to help you complete your build.
