PLA Filament

General purpose 3D printing material

Derived from renewable resources such as corn starch and sugarcane, PLA is one of the most popular 3D Printing materials for prototypers, educators and hobbyists due to its low printing requirements and excellent dimensional stability at a low cost.

Types - PLA / PLA+ / PolyMax™ PLA

Print Requirements - Low Requirements / 190-220°C Extruder Temperature / Optional 0 – 60°C Heated Bed.

Print Quality - High print quality and compatibility with most 3D printers. Prints with excellent dimensional stability and minimal warping.

Mechanical / Thermal - Regular PLA exhibits high tensile strength and stiffness but is brittle with low heat resistance. PLA+ materials further improve tensile strength. Our toughest PLA is Polymakers PolyMax™ PLA which is nano-reinforced with vastly superior impact resistance and ductility.

Other - N/A

ABS Filament

General Purpose 3D Printer Plastic

ABS is one of the earliest and most common everyday 3D Printing materials which has maintained its popularity for prototyping and production due to its low cost, balanced mechanical properties, thermal properties and excellent printing quality.

Types - ABS

Print Requirements - Medium - High Requirements / 240-265°C Extruder Temperature / 80-100°C Heated Bed / Enclosure Recommended / Optional 50-60°C Heated Chamber

Print Quality - High print quality and compatibility with most 3D printers equipped with a heated bed. A high environmental temperature is key to printing ABS with excellent dimensional stability, so an enclosure is recommended. Additionally a heated chamber may be required to print large parts without warping or cracking.

Mechanical / Thermal - ABS exhibits good tensile strength, medium-high heat resistance (90-95°C) and improved toughness when compared to PLA or PETG.

Other - We recommend good ventilation when printing ABS.

Nylon (PA)

Engineering Grade Material

Nylon is an engineering grade 3D printing material exhibiting excellent mechanical and thermal properties. Nylon has low printing requirements however some brands of Nylon are harder to print and control than others due to unique behaviour like crystallization during printing.

Types - Nylon 6 / Nylon 12  / CoPA / Carbon fiber reinforced / Glass fiber reinforced

Print Requirements - Low to Medium Requirements / 235-260°C Extruder Temperature / Optional 0 – 70°C Heated Bed.

Print Quality - Good to high printing quality, generally compatible with most 3D printers. Some brands and Nylon filaments print with warping and poor dimensional stability. Polymakers PolyMide™ series of Nylon have been formulated to print without warping.

Mechanical - Varies on the type. Intrinsic properties of Nylon are improved flexibility, excellent toughness, chemical resistance, heat resistance and low friction. Nylon filaments with Carbon fiber and Glass fibers typically improve stiffness.

Other - Nylon be annealed to further improve mechanical and thermal properties. Nylon is very hygroscopic, it is important print Nylon from a dry box and to store spools in a resealable bag with desiccant.

Ultem

Industrial-Grade Material

Ultem (also known as PEI) is an industrial aerospace-grade material used for demanding applications in aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, advanced research and medical industries.

• An industrial-grade PEEK 3D Printer is required due to its high printing temperature (340°C).
• Ultem displays very high mechanical strength, toughness, chemical resistance and self-extinguishing properties, making it the ideal solution for demanding applications.

PolySmooth™

Specialty 'Polishable' Material

PolySmooth™ is a first of its kind 'polishable' material which can be polished with Isopropyl Alcohol to acheive an attractive glossy and smooth surface.

• PolySmooth™ prints between 190-230°C, with no heated bed required (For good adhesion 60-70°C is recommended)
• Mechanically, PolySmooth™ exhibits a good tensile strength, low heat resistance (70°C), low UV resistance, and parts exhibit good impact resistance. PolySmooth has improved mechanical properties when compared to ABS.
• PolySmooth™ can be polished in the Polysher™ (via Polymaker’s patented Micro-Droplet Polishing™ technology), eliminating the layers from filament-based printing processes and resulting in a very smooth part surface.
• Prints with near-zero warping and low printing odor.
• PolySmooth™ is a hygroscopic filament, absorbing moisture from the air. We recommend storing PolySmooth in a moisture protection storage box during printing and a resealable bag with desiccant during storage.