You've got a 3D Printer, or you're looking to buy a 3D Printer and each one seems to indicate it prints in either ABS, PLA, or both. So you find yourself wanting to know, what is the difference between ABS and PLA.
Plastics
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What Plastic Filament Does My 3D Printer Use
Use this guide to find which diameter and types of Plastic Filament are compatible with your 3D Printer. Your 3D Printer most likely recommends a certain combination of Plastic Filament Diameter and Material, though other materials may be supported. If your printer is known to support ABS and PLA, they will be listed in this chart.
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Reusable Spools, Coils, & Desiccants, OH MY!
Today's new product post is a happy one. Happy because it's about helping the 3D Printing user experience, and the wallet. Expect more of these in the future.
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3D Printer Filament Buyer's Guide
This is intended to be a very basic Personal 3D Printer filament buyer’s guide for new 3D Printer users. Every single point presented here is worth a lengthy post, but this should serve as a top-level summary that might help you determine what plastic filaments will best suit your needs.
Additionally, see What Plastic Filament does my 3D Printer Use.
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3mm PLA is Back in Stock! (New 3mm Green PLA & 3mm Blue ABS)
Well after a very long wait and a very lost driver (hundreds of miles lost). We are stocked once again with 3mm PLA. Further, we are adding two new products; 3mm Green PLA and 3mm Blue ABS.
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Thing-O-Matic MK7 PLA Set-Up and Troubleshooting (Likely MK8)
While a vast improvement over previous extruders, the MK7 can still prove challenging for those wanting to get started with PLA. However, while PLA is more picky in the settings surrounding how it is printed, its benefits over other printing materials make getting over the calibration hurdle well worth it. It has little to no smell when extruded, can be used without a heated bed, undergoes less warping and cracking and can produce highly detailed features and surfaces when used in conjunction with a cooling fan. So read on and with any luck you'll be happily printing with it too. While following applies directly to those using an MK7 on a Thing-O-Matic using skeinforge 35, those using other machines and configurations should find some of this information useful. It is also likely that the following instructions will apply to those who own a Replicator as the MK8 appears to be very similar to the MK7. Be sure to have a look at the 'Tips & Troubleshooting' at the end. Continue reading
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Red, Blue, and Green are looking good to me!
We're feeling especially primary today with our new stock of Red, Blue and Green 1.75mm ABS. Grab some quick and print that selectable-any-color-peristence-of-vision-pin-wheel.
It's Red Ted
and Blue Sue
don't forget Green... Gene? -
Red and Green are here; more are on the horizon
It's about time we had more colors around here. Which is why we are very happy to have Red and Green 1.75 PLA on the shelves eagerly waiting to bring 3D printing happiness. As always, this filament is extruded to tip-top standards. High tolerance, consistently circular, and of consistent density all the way through will continue to give you the good looking, strong prints you can expect from our plastic.
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Black and White are Back in Stock!
We're happy to have both 1.75 Black ABS and 1.75 White PLA filaments are back in stock and ready to once again rock your printing world. Grab some now before it goes again! Also, check back soon for new colors! Feed your 3D Printer.
I'm Back in Stock!
So am I! -
Printing Polycarbonate
Well, it's finally time to share what we've learned about printing with Polycarbonate. As we recently announced, pre-orders for Polycarbonate in both 3mm and 1.75mm diameters are available. It took us awhile to get the details sorted out, but we're all set for a ship date of January 30, 2012. There's a whole world of materials out there for that hungry printer on your desk, and we plan to dish up a feast.
