Expert tips: How to recognize and choose a good filament?

Tridea's filament

If you are a beginner in the 3D printing industry, you may certainly have faced the issue of the ideal filament to choose when realizing your projects. This step is crucial since it can raise some issues during the printing process.

We asked for the opinion of Tridea, Belgian manufacturer of recycled 3D filaments. Karapet Chatchatrian, co-founder of the company shares with us 4 tips that can guide professionals in th use of a good filament:

The first thing we need to check is what you are going to do with your printed object. If the printed object is a stationary object or a vase, then the best filament to choose is PLA. It is easy to print and a safe material to use.

If you are going to use the print in mechanical surroundings or if the print is going to be under strain then you have two options: you can either choose ABS or PET. We recommend PET, because the smell that ABS releases during the printing might be toxic. If you go for ABS, then, you should use it in a well-ventilated room.

The second thing that should be verified is the diameter of the filament. A good filament can be recognized by a consistent diameter. You can calculate the diameter by measuring three different points with a caliper. After this step, you can then calculate the average. If there is no more than 5% difference with the official diameter you know you have a good roll of filament.

Tridea’s filament

The third point consists in checking on the top levels if there is no dirt in the filament. A great number of times, low quality filaments integrate dirt particles that can damage your nozzle during the printing.

Lastly humidity. You should verify the degree of humidity when loading the filament in the 3D printer, when the filament sizzles, or even when you can hear the water evaporate. At this time, you know it is time to dry your filament before continuing the printing. Humidity can directly impact the quality of your print. It can damage the integrity of your layer adhesion. So, make sure you print with a dry filament, especially if you live in a humid environment.

We hope these tips will be useful. If you have any questions, you can always reach out to Tridea that will not hesitate to give you further information.

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