I started 3d printing back when you had to build it all from scratch, and it seemed ABS was the only filament to be found. PLA came along soon enough and made things sooo much easier. Then came some more exotic ones like TPU or Nylon I think, but I never tried them out because they seemed pretty niche.
But now I’m getting back into it after some time and am seeing PETG popping up more and it seems to have become one of the mainstream materials now.
Are there any other key materials I should become aware of these days? Has PETG started to replace ABS as a superior “high-temp” filament? Does anyone have experience with these?
PETG has become the second “entry level” filament besides PLA because it’s almost as easy to print with (just hotter) and also doesn’t require an enclosure. Not as stiff as PLA and has a little flex, so perfect for prints that don’t have to be 100% rigid. For example I printed a smartphone holder for my bike out of PETG with 4 “arms” that grip the corners, and it has just enough flex so I can get the phone in and out. Temperature resistance is only a bit higher than PLA.
TPU/TPE are flexibles and available in all grades of flex, the softer ones can be tough to print on bowden machines.
The “kings” of temperature resistance and toughness are ABS, ASA, PC (blend) and PA (“nylon”), but they pretty much require an enclosure and good ventilation (fumes…) and have to be printed very hot, so an all-metal hotend is highly recommended.
ASA is ABS but a little easier. PC is my favorite for structural parts. You can get away with small stuff in PC without an enclosure. It is ideal for print fan shrouds too as it has the highest temp tolerance of any hobby grade filament.
Might give ASA a look while you’re at it.
I’m on my second spool of ASA and love it. It did require me to upgrade to a enclosure and PEI print bed.
