Filament Guide
A complete reference for all common 3D printing materials. Use this guide to choose the right filament and settings for your project.
Overview — Temperature Settings
| Material | Nozzle (°C) | Bed (°C) | Chamber (°C) | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | 190–230 (210) | 35–65 (55) | — | Beginner |
| PLA-CF | 210–240 (220) | 45–65 (55) | — | Intermediate |
| PETG | 220–260 (240) | 60–80 (70) | — | Beginner |
| PETG-CF | 230–270 (250) | 65–80 (70) | — | Intermediate |
| ABS | 240–270 (255) | 90–110 (100) | 40–60 | Intermediate |
| ASA | 240–270 (260) | 90–110 (100) | 40–60 | Intermediate |
| TPU | 210–240 (225) | 40–60 (50) | — | Advanced |
| PA (Nylon) | 260–290 (275) | 80–100 (90) | 40–60 | Advanced |
| PA-CF | 270–300 (285) | 80–100 (90) | 45–65 | Expert |
| PA-GF | 270–300 (285) | 80–100 (90) | 45–65 | Expert |
| PC | 260–300 (280) | 100–120 (110) | 50–70 | Expert |
| PVA | 190–220 (200) | 45–60 (55) | — | Intermediate |
| PVB | 200–230 (215) | 50–70 (60) | — | Intermediate |
| HIPS | 220–250 (235) | 80–100 (90) | 35–50 | Intermediate |
| PET-CF | 250–280 (265) | 65–85 (75) | — | Advanced |
Values in parentheses are recommended values.
Plate Compatibility
| Material | Cool Plate | Engineering Plate | High Temp Plate | Textured PEI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | ★★★ | ★★ | ✗ | ★★★ |
| PLA-CF | ★★ | ★★★ | ✗ | ★★★ |
| PETG | ✗ (glue) | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ |
| PETG-CF | ✗ (glue) | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ |
| ABS | ⊘ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ |
| ASA | ⊘ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ |
| TPU | ★★★ | ★★ | ✗ | ★★ |
| PA (Nylon) | ⊘ | ★★ (glue) | ★★★ | ★★ (glue) |
| PA-CF | ⊘ | ★★ (glue) | ★★★ | ★★ (glue) |
| PA-GF | ⊘ | ★★ (glue) | ★★★ | ★★ (glue) |
| PC | ⊘ | ★★ (glue) | ★★★ | ✗ (glue) |
| PVA | ★★ | ★★ | ✗ | ★★ |
| PVB | ★★ | ★★ | ✗ | ★★ |
| HIPS | ⊘ | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★ |
| PET-CF | ✗ (glue) | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ |
Legend: ★★★ = Excellent, ★★ = Good, ✗ = Poor, ⊘ = Not recommended, (glue) = Glue stick required
Drying
| Material | Temperature | Time | Moisture Sensitivity |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | 50 °C | 4h | Low |
| PLA-CF | 55 °C | 6h | Low |
| PETG | 65 °C | 6h | Medium |
| PETG-CF | 65 °C | 8h | Medium |
| ABS | 65 °C | 6h | Medium |
| ASA | 65 °C | 6h | Medium |
| TPU | 50 °C | 6h | High |
| PA (Nylon) | 80 °C | 12h | Extreme |
| PA-CF | 80 °C | 12h | Extreme |
| PA-GF | 80 °C | 12h | Extreme |
| PC | 80 °C | 8h | High |
| PVA | 45 °C | 8h | Extreme |
| PVB | 50 °C | 6h | Medium |
| HIPS | 60 °C | 6h | Low |
| PET-CF | 65 °C | 8h | Medium |
:::tip Drying Rule Materials with high or extreme moisture sensitivity should always be dried before use and stored with desiccant. :::
Special Requirements
| Material | Enclosure | Hardened Nozzle | Compatible Printers |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | No | No | All |
| PLA-CF | No | Yes | All |
| PETG | No | No | All |
| PETG-CF | No | Yes | All |
| ABS | Yes | No | Enclosed only |
| ASA | Yes | No | Enclosed only |
| TPU | No | No | All |
| PA (Nylon) | Yes | No | Enclosed only |
| PA-CF | Yes | Yes | Enclosed only |
| PA-GF | Yes | Yes | Enclosed only |
| PC | Yes | No | Enclosed only |
| PVA | No | No | All |
| PVB | No | No | All |
| HIPS | Yes | No | Enclosed only |
| PET-CF | No | Yes | All |
Properties (1–5)
| Material | Strength | Flexibility | Heat | UV | Surface | Printability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| PLA-CF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| PETG | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| PETG-CF | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| ABS | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| ASA | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| TPU | 3 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| PA (Nylon) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| PA-CF | 5 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| PA-GF | 5 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| PC | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| PVA | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| PVB | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
| HIPS | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| PET-CF | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Tips per Material
Standard (PLA, PETG)
- PLA is the easiest material — perfect for prototypes and decoration
- PETG offers better strength and heat resistance, but can string more
- Both work without an enclosure and with a standard brass nozzle
Engineering (ABS, ASA, PC)
- Requires an enclosed printer to avoid warping
- ASA is UV-resistant — use it for outdoor parts
- PC offers the highest strength and heat resistance, but is the hardest to print
Composite (CF/GF)
- Always use a hardened steel nozzle — carbon fiber wears out brass nozzles quickly
- CF variants produce stiffer and lighter parts with a matte surface
- GF variants are cheaper but produce a rougher surface
Flexible (TPU)
- Print slowly (50 mm/s or below) for best results
- Reduce retraction to avoid clogging
- Direct-drive extruders work much better than Bowden
Support (PVA, HIPS)
- PVA dissolves in water — perfect for PLA support
- HIPS dissolves in limonene — used together with ABS
- Both are very moisture-sensitive — store dry
:::warning Nylon Materials PA, PA-CF and PA-GF are extremely hygroscopic. They absorb moisture from the air within minutes. Always dry for 12+ hours before use, and print directly from a dry box if possible. :::