Printing Materials Overview - Mass Portal Pharaoh XD Series User Manual

TIP If you're new
to 3D printing, PLA
Filament is a good
material to start with
because it's easy to
use and performs
well on most prints.
NOTE Materials
from different
manufacturers
may differ. For
example, what
prints very well for
one material might
not print so well
with a different
material
NB. Printer hotend
temperature is
measured in the
metal heating
block. The actual
temperature of
melted filament in
the nozzle is about
10–20°C lower,
however, this is the
temperature that is
commonly shown on
the filament package
(print temperature,
usually a range).
Make sure you
add the difference
to the print head
temperature — for
example, if the
printing specification
for the material is
200°C, the print head
should be set at
about 215°C.
36

Printing Materials Overview

Each material has different properties that make it useful for
different tasks. For example, nylon is both strong and non-
reactive to many substances. Other plastics can have excellent
optical clarity or can be easy to work with. PLA is considered the
default 3D printing material for general purpose use, although
ABS has been a preferred choice for prototyping and for usable
printed parts.
PLA
PLA (Poly-lactic acid) is a bio-plastic material that has become the
de-facto standard of 3D printing materials. It is bio-degradable,
mostly easy to print, and has great aesthetic properties. Choose
it for general printing of 3D objects. The post-processing of other
than coloring is not that great though, because the material is
rather hard. It will not last too long outside, and may deform in
temperatures as low as 50°C. When printing, emits light pancake-
like odor as it is made of corn. Can be printed without heated
bed on blue painter's tape.
ABS
ABS is still the prototyping material of choice. It is the same
plastic likely later used for injection molding, and the prints can
be easily post-processed: sanded, painted, polished. ABS can
be treated with acetone vapour to obtain very polished look.
ABS emits unpleasant fume when printing. When printing any
significant quantities, good ventilation is a must.
PET
PET based materials are among the most transparent available.
PET is very tough when solid, and more flexible than PLA and
ABS. PET objects can have some of the most shiny, intense
surface color. PET is generally very predictable when printing,
when you play by it's rules. Some PET materials are certified
food-safe. To get the most transparent prints, maximum layer
height for the respective nozzle should be used and relatively
slow printing speed.
Nylon
Known for it's toughness, Nylon and Nylon-based materials are
mostly used for parts that will be actually used for prototype
devices. Another important property is transparency, allowing use
of nylon for non-destructive evaluation.