What 3D printer material to use?

[rcdriftmasterj]

Hey all, like the heading says, what's the best material to use for scale accessories and non structural parts. ABS is tedious to print with and I know PLA has some flaws as well. What do you guys like to use? Print settings would be helpful as well. I recently got a 3D printer and feel a bit overwhelmed with all of the settings and specs to worry about. Thanks for the help!

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

[svt923]

PLA is great for the scale crap we all love so much. The biggest issues with PLA are strength/rigidity and susceptibility to warping in high temps. Strength isn't an issue in decorative parts and if the scale cooler (or whatever) on your roof rack happens to deform on a 95* day, it's no big deal to print another.

[MasteroFlego]

PLA is fine for most things, and if you really want it to be strong you can heat treat it, but that does cause it to change dimensions.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[dacaur]

Ive printed a bunch of 1/10 scale bits out of PLA. The only one thats been an issue is a truck bed tool box (think kind that goes the full width of the bed) Printed in silver PLA+, the openable lid warped a little on a HOT day last summer.

[QuesoDelDiablo]

Well I had a long post written but something glitched and it's gone.

short version; use PLA to learn printing and switch to PETG for stronger components when you need it. ABS is nasty toxic stuff to print if you don't have an enclosure and ventilation/filtration on your machine.

[mikemcE]

If you keep your stuff in a hot car for any time, don't think of PLA unless you anneal it.
PETG will print well, and not have melting issues in heat. I print PETG on blue tape, 80C bed and 235C extruder temp.
Ive done a number of inner fenders, hinges, coolers and skids for Wraiths all in PETG without failures.

[Gadget808]

Thanks for this question and the replies. I had the same question since there is a 3d printer inroute to da casa

[rcdriftmasterj]

Ok cool, PETG definitely seems like a material I should try. Thanks!

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

[Voodoobrew]

Petg is tough to get great detail out of, it's stringy and dosent bridge well compared to pla.

That being said almost everything I print is petg.

[T_Tank]

Call me crazy but abs. Yeah it smells horrible and fumey but in my case I cannot get my cetus to print petg at all always end up with a near fire hazard level jam covering the whole extruder. While abs somehow I'm able to print in the open air with little to no warping.

Oh another reason why I like printing with abs is that I can acetone glue stuff together and it will fuse. Also find it easier to sand and finish compared to pla.

Now if you have the extra money print in pla to see how the part turns out then send the model to shapeways to print out in solid nylon!