Below is a list of filaments that I use, my settings I print with in Cura, and my opinion on the filament. Prices are subject to change, and links are affiliate links though Amazon.
3D Mars
- Black PLA – $18.99 – http://amzn.to/2FYw9VS
- This has been a great PLA, I’m on my 2nd roll now. I haven’t had any problems with it at all.
- Another thing I like about this roll is that it comes in a 1.2kg spool where most other generics are 1kg and premiums are 750g or less
- Bed Temp: 55
- Hotend: 205
Filament 1: @3DMarsFilament Black PLA. 1.2kg $18.99 ($0.05/meter) Super cheap filament and a larger amount than other brands. I really have zero complaints with this filament, it just prints and quality to me has been great. #3DPrinting #CheapVSPremiumFilament pic.twitter.com/cDznvZ1Awu
— Alien3D (@alienslacker) April 2, 2018
3D Solutech
- See Through Green PETG – $23.99 – http://amzn.to/2FEgNqf
- I love the color of this one and it’s been pretty consistent in quality of prints.
- Bed Temp: 80
- Hotend: 235
- Real Blue PLA – $17.99 – http://amzn.to/2FZOstA
- Have not used yet
- Real Red PLA – $17.99 – http://amzn.to/2FKUPO6
- As with most PLA this was easy to print with. The color is more of a lighter red vs a real red.
- Bed Temp: 50
- Hotend: 200
Filament 2: @3DSolutech Real Red PLA. 1.0kg $17.99 ($0.05/meter) Another cheap filament, and again no complaints. It prints great, doesn’t clog and lays down nice layers. Makes me question, why buy expensive filaments? #3DPrinting #CheapVSPremiumFilament pic.twitter.com/NWQ8CoIURs
— Alien3D (@alienslacker) April 2, 2018
3DXTech
- PETG Transparent Garnet – $29.95 / 1kg – https://www.3dxtech.com/max-g-petg-3d-filament-1-kg
- The color of this filament is amazing. For a cheap PETG filament, this really printed pretty awesome. Layer lines were nearly non-existant and I didn’t get a lot of stringing like I normally do with other cheap PETG filaments. I can’t wait to use this again for a project.
- Bed Temp: 80
- Hotend: 250
- Side Note:
- I had a few fails as my extruder kept failing to feed it (completely my printer’s fault not the filament), but I was finally able to get the extruder tension set good enough to finish a print. I’m really starting to hate Bowden setup as this is the 3rd filament the Bowden setup has caused me to have a hard time.
- PETG Transparent Sapphire – $29.95 / 1kg – https://www.3dxtech.com/max-g-petg-3d-filament-1-kg
- Have not used yet
Fillamentum
- Grass Green ASA Extrafill – $34 – http://amzn.to/2pfSyo2
- I cannot get this to stick to my PrintBite yet, temps I’ve tried:
- Bed Temp: 85
- Hotend: 250
- PLA Extrafill Melon Yellow – $34 –Â https://amzn.to/2F7ldkd or https://www.filamentone.com/collections/pla-extrafill/products/pla-extrafill-melon-yellow
- I really like the color of this filament and it was easy to print with. The layer lines were reduced on this premium filament.
- Bed Temp: 50
- Hotend 215
Filament 4: @Fillamentum from @FilamentOne Melon Yellow Extrafill PLA. 750g $34.00 ($0.14/meter) I’ve had problems with other premium filaments printing, but this filament printed without issues, the layers and visuals are great. #3DPrinting #CheapVSPremiumFilament pic.twitter.com/nGq8yqugnC
— Alien3D (@alienslacker) April 2, 2018
- CPE HG100 Pink Blush Transparent – $46.00 / 750g – https://www.filamentone.com/products/cpe-hg-100-pink-blush-transparent
- Have not used yet
- PLA Extrafill Luminous Green – $34 – https://amzn.to/2HTgbLb
- I have zero complaints about this filament, I printed an entire roll with zero issues and zero fails. The layers are smooth with minimal lines at 0.2. I also printed with 0.3 layer height and even then the layer lines were pretty smooth.
- Bed Temp: 50
- Hotend: 210
IC3D
- Orange PLA – $27.99 / 1kg – https://consumables.ic3dprinters.com/shop/filament/pla/ic3d-pla-3d-printer-filament
- For premium filaments I generally have to do temp towers and extrusion multiplier towers and do a couple test prints to get things dialed in to print right. This PLA is another cheap filament that I had zero problems with just using my default generic PLA profile. It printed the first time and layer lines were pretty smooth.
- Bed Temp: 50
- Hotend: 200
Filament 6: @IC3D_Printers Orange PLA 1kg $27.99 ($0.08/meter) Another cheap PLA & I am impressed. I used my default PLA settings and my first print of @LanOC_Reviews logo came out great, minor stringing but layer lines are pretty smooth #3DPrinting #CheapVSPremiumFilament pic.twitter.com/Fjiotu1Kuq
— Alien3D (@alienslacker) May 1, 2018
MatteForge
- Green Advanced Matte PLA – $39.99 / 1kg – https://printedsolid.com/products/matteforge-advanced-matte-pla-1-75mm-x-1kg?variant=1229900644364
- I was really pleasantly surprised by this filament. Layer lines were the least noticeable with this filament, the color and the matte finish were great.
- Bed Temp: 50
- Hotend: 200
Filament 3: #MatteForge from @PrintedSolid Green Matte PLA. 1.0kg $38.99 ($0.12/meter) I really like the matte finish on this filament. Additionally the layer lines blend a lot better than others. Visually looked great at multiple temps. #3DPrinting #CheapVSPremiumFilament pic.twitter.com/ddN1MYP9wN
— Alien3D (@alienslacker) April 2, 2018
Novamaker
- White PETG – $22.99 – http://amzn.to/2FVVRKG
- This was my first PETG and I liked it so much that I bought a 2nd roll. Because it’s white, if you get nozzle boogers it can suck to have a black blob in your print somewhere, but it’s been a consistent quality filament
- Bed Temp: 80
- Hotend: 235
- Cupid’s Crush Metallic HTPLA – $29.99 / 500g – https://www.proto-pasta.com/collections/premium-htpla-v3/products/cupids-crush-metallic-pink-htpla?variant=6111254347814
- Initially I had a heck of a time with this filament, but thanks to the guys at Proto Pasta who kept in contact with me on Twitter I was able to determine it was in my slicer settings. I had to reduce retraction to 1mm and retraction speed to 20mm/s before I could get my extruder to stop chewing up the filament. I am sure it was specific to my printer though. Once I was able to print with it, it came out amazingly well. Layer lines were minimal and the color is awesome.
- Bed Temp: 50
- Hotend: 210
Filament 5: @Proto_pasta Metallic Pink HTPLA 500g $39.99 ($0.24/meter) You really need the perfect settings for your printer but once you find them it’s pure joy. Heat treated it’s great for durability but for the price not for every day prints #3DPrinting #CheapVSPremiumFilament pic.twitter.com/fDzc1tzvZP
— Alien3D (@alienslacker) April 6, 2018
- Matte Fiber Yellow – $39.99 / 500g – https://www.proto-pasta.com/collections/matte-fiber-htpla/products/matte-fiber-htpla-yellow?variant=2245717098526
- Still playing with this one
Yoyi
- Green ABS – $13.99 – http://amzn.to/2FXKzVW
- I can’t wait until this filament is gone, not that it’s been bad quality… when I can actually get it to not warp I really like how the prints come out. BUT, it stinks so bad in my little dungeon, and the warping…
- Bed Temp: 85
- Hotend: 240
- I can’t wait until this filament is gone, not that it’s been bad quality… when I can actually get it to not warp I really like how the prints come out. BUT, it stinks so bad in my little dungeon, and the warping…