LulzBot carries a wide range of 3D printing filament types that are compatible with most desktop 3D printers, including our TAZ. And as an open source 3D printer company, we benefit from a global community of developers creating new materials all the time. Our filament options include various colors of commonly used plastics, including: ABS, PLA, and HIPS; and premuim filaments like the super durable, rubber-like NinjaFlex filament; polycarbonate; Taulman high strength nylon co-polymers; LayWood; LayBrick; and T-Glase (high-clarity PET-based plastic). Here's some more information about each 3D printer media type that we carry:
- ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a thermoplastic that can be found in toy blocks, music recorders and plastic lunch boxes! This popular, 3D printer filament works well for high-printing speeds.
- PLA (PLA (polylactic acid) is a bioplastic-- which means it's made of starches. It’s harder than ABS and melts at a lower temperature, making it a popular choice for beginners.
- HIPS is similar to ABS, and prints just as easily—without the potential for warping. It is also a low cost filament option, making it valuable for early stage prototypes, learning, and training.
- NinjaFlex is a thermoplastic elastomer with rubber-like qualities. Key features include durability, flexibility, and abrasion resistance. Due to the flexibility of this material, optimal printing requires a special extruder-- which is why we developed the Flexystruder, available in the LulzBot online store.
- Laywoo-D3 (LayWood) is a wood-based 3D printer filament that emits a wood smell when printing. Printing at various temperatures even allows for lighter or darker finishes on your object. Finished LayWood prints can easily be sanded. In general, this filament is just as easy to print with as PLA.
- Laybrick is a mineral based filament that is popular for creating architectural models because of its low warp qualities and aesthetic appeal.
- T-Glase, also called “tough glass” is a 100% reclaimable, clear 3D printer filament that features low shrinkage and bridging capabilities. It has the impact-resistant qualities of polycarbonate but is generally easier to print.
- Taulman's Bridge High Strength Nylon Co-Polymer features the strength of Nylon, yet has the ease of printing of ABS or PLA.
- Taulman's '618' High Strength Nylon Co-Polymer is white in color, but is easy to dye with fabric dyes. 618 features a translucent surface, advanced chemical resistance and advanced tear-resistance.
- Taulman '645' High Strength Nylon Co-Polymer is similar to the Taulman 618 filament, but features a slightly higher viscosity than other filament types.
- Polycarbonate, a tough and impact-resistant thermoplastic, is often used in high impact protective glasses. It will usually bend before it cracks, and is considered an advanced printing material.
When it comes to your 3D printing endeavors, the possibilities are truly endless when LulzBot offers so many great 3D printer media types for you to choose from. For more information on these 3D printing filament types, check out our online store!