Selecting the right filament is crucial for achieving high-quality 3D prints. The market offers a vast array of brands, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, particularly when it comes to popular materials like PLA and PETG. This guide compiles experiences from users who have tested various filament brands, providing insights to help you choose the best filament for your 3D printer and projects.
Brand-by-Brand Filament Performance Review
Here’s a breakdown of different filament brands based on user experiences, focusing on PLA and PETG performance, and other specialty materials where applicable.
Prusament
Prusament stands out as a high-value option, frequently praised for its consistent quality and reliable prints. Users often highlight its excellent performance for the price. However, a common drawback mentioned is stock availability. It can be challenging to order all desired colors at once due to frequent stock limitations on the Prusa website.
Key Takeaways for Prusament:
- Pros: Excellent print quality, good value for money.
- Cons: Stock levels can be inconsistent, limiting color availability at times.
- Materials: Primarily PLA and PETG (based on user feedback).
Prusa Filament
Prusa’s own brand filament is well-regarded for its reliability and affordability. It’s a dependable choice for everyday 3D printing. The white PLA is particularly noted for producing very nice results, making it a favorite for white prints. However, users have reported that the silver PLA can occasionally cause clogging issues, especially with smaller 0.25mm nozzles.
Key Takeaways for Prusa Filament:
- Pros: Reliable, affordable, excellent white PLA.
- Cons: Silver PLA may clog 0.25mm nozzles.
- Materials: PLA, PETG, and other materials in their range.
3D Prima
3D Prima, particularly their “Easy Print” line, receives positive feedback for user-friendliness and fast delivery within Sweden. Users appreciate the speedy service, often receiving orders the day after placement. “Prima Value” is considered an acceptable option, though print quality is perceived as slightly lower compared to “Easy Print”. 3D Prima also offers a range of specialty filaments like ASA, PC, and woodfill, which users have reported success with.
Key Takeaways for 3D Prima:
- Pros: “Easy Print” is user-friendly, fast delivery within Sweden, good range of specialty filaments.
- Cons: “Prima Value” has slightly lower print quality than “Easy Print”.
- Materials: PLA (“Easy Print”, “Prima Value”), PETG, ASA, PC, Woodfill, and others.
Clas Ohlson
Clas Ohlson filament, specifically their PLA, is noted for its unique characteristics. The pigmented PLA colors are described as “candy colors” due to their transparency, which can be useful for specific applications but not universally desired. In contrast, their “nature colored” PLA is praised for excellent printability and a very smooth surface finish. This makes it a top choice for parts intended for painting, as it requires minimal sanding and filler. Clas Ohlson filament is also considered quite affordable and readily available in physical stores throughout Sweden.
Key Takeaways for Clas Ohlson Filament:
- Pros: Affordable, readily available in Sweden, “nature colored” PLA is excellent for painting, easy to print.
- Cons: Pigmented PLA colors are transparent “candy colors” which may not be suitable for all projects.
- Materials: PLA.
Add:north
Add:north is mentioned specifically for their PETG filament. Users find it easy to print with, though it’s not positioned as the cheapest PETG option available. Their orange PETG is noted for being a close color match to Prusa orange, making it a useful alternative when Prusa orange is out of stock.
Key Takeaways for Add:north Filament:
- Pros: Easy to print PETG, orange PETG is a good substitute for Prusa orange.
- Cons: PETG is not the cheapest option.
- Materials: PETG.
3D Experten
3D Experten filament, specifically PLA, is recognized for its nice range of colors and materials and generally good printability. However, a significant drawback reported is inconsistency in diameter. Users have measured a wider diameter variation compared to other brands, making it potentially less reliable for precision prints.
Key Takeaways for 3D Experten Filament:
- Pros: Good range of colors and materials, prints well.
- Cons: Inconsistent filament diameter.
- Materials: PLA, and other materials in their range.
Grossiste 3D
Grossiste 3D PLA filament is highly praised for its excellent print quality, even for challenging prints where other brands have failed. It was initially a very low-cost option, though price increases due to exchange rates have been noted. They offer a wide range of colors, reportedly 28 different options. An unusual pricing structure is mentioned where buying two 1kg spools is cheaper than one 2kg spool. Their website is primarily in French, but browser translation plugins can easily overcome this. Shipping costs, typical for French companies, are mentioned as being high. Accenix PLA is speculated to be a rebrand of Grossiste 3D due to similar spool and printing characteristics.
Key Takeaways for Grossiste 3D Filament:
- Pros: Excellent print quality, wide range of colors, good value (initially), potentially rebranded as Accenix.
- Cons: Website in French, higher shipping costs, price increased due to exchange rates. PETG is considered too expensive.
- Materials: PLA.
Accenix
Accenix PLA is noted for its very good printability. It’s primarily found on eBay, leading to speculation that it might be a rebrand. The spools and printing characteristics are described as identical to Grossiste 3D, further supporting the rebrand theory.
Key Takeaways for Accenix Filament:
- Pros: Very good printability, potentially a rebrand of Grossiste 3D.
- Cons: Limited availability (primarily eBay), brand origin unclear.
- Materials: PLA.
Rigidi Ink
Rigidi Ink is mentioned, but with a negative experience. Users reported significant warping issues with a sample they tested. It was also noted as very expensive and is no longer available, making it a less relevant option for current filament selection.
Key Takeaways for Rigidi Ink Filament:
- Cons: Warping issues, very expensive, no longer available.
- Materials: Not specified (sample tested).
Conclusion: Choosing the Best Filament for Your Needs
This brand comparison highlights that the “Best Filament 3d Printer” really depends on your specific needs and priorities. Factors like print quality, price, color availability, material type, and even shipping costs play a significant role in the decision-making process.
- For users prioritizing value and reliability, Prusament and Prusa brand filaments are strong contenders, keeping in mind potential stock limitations for Prusament and possible clogging with silver Prusa PLA on small nozzles.
- For users in Sweden seeking fast delivery and user-friendly PLA, 3D Prima Easy Print and Clas Ohlson (nature colored PLA) are excellent local options. Clas Ohlson is particularly good for parts that require painting.
- If color variety and high print quality are paramount, Grossiste 3D PLA (and potentially Accenix) are worth considering, despite the French website and potentially higher shipping.
- For PETG, Add:north is recommended for its ease of use, especially if you need an orange color close to Prusa orange.
Ultimately, experimenting with different brands and materials is the best way to discover your personal “best filament” for your 3D printer and projects. Consider starting with the brands highlighted for their strengths in areas that are most important to you and your 3D printing goals.
