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3D printing can feel very daunting for beginners.
One reason for that is the many different types of filaments you’re free to print with.
PLA, ABS, PETG, TPUit’s a lot of cryptic acronyms.
Joe Fedewa / How-To Geek
This is, without a doubt, the most popular and easiest-to-use filament in the 3D printing world.
Like all filaments on this list, there are pros and cons to PLA.
First and foremost, PLA is the closest thing to a “it just works” filament.
Nearly every 3D printer can print PLA without much configuration.
It’s the obvious choice for most things you’ll want to print.
On the downside, PLA isn’t the strongest filament you could find.
It can be pretty brittle under pressure, and it doesn’t withstand high temperatures well.
For example, if you tried to run a PLA-printed object through a dishwasher, it would likely deform.
ABS will bend before breaking, and it can withstand much higher temperatures.
However, there are a couple of pretty big downsides to ABS.
First, it’s a bit more challenging to print with.
It’s relatively easy to print like PLA but also has the bend-but-don’t-break and high-temp durability qualities of ABS.
This makes it one of the best all-around filaments, as it doesn’t have many downsides.
However, there are some things you should know before loading it up.
While PETG may be easier to print with than ABS, it’s not perfect.
The great layer adhesion properties make it more prone to clogging up nozzles.
Lastly, PETG is more expensive than PLA and ABS.
Not all TPU is the same.
One common issue with TPU is stringing.
Here are a few extras you may want to know.
Similar to ABS, it can be dissolved to leave behind a smooth surface.
It’s also relatively easy to print at similar temperatures to PLA, but PVA is much more moisture-sensitive.
