Buying Filament Suggestions  

Re: Buying Filament Suggestions

Got my Mk. 3 in mid-April and have gone through several spools of PLA and some PETG from various manufacturers.

I've got some exotic samples, but haven't ventured into loading the hardened steel nozzle yet.

Re: Buying Filament Suggestions

My go to filament is 3d solutech. So far I have used the brown, black, white and gray. All print really well. No tangles or inconsistent diameter like I had with makergeeks and hatchbox.
Readily available on amazon

Re: Buying Filament Suggestions

With a question like this you are going to get some people praising a certain filament that others complain about. You will also find that the type of filament matters per manufacturer. Some have great PLA but not PETG, or great ABS but not PLA... I think you get the picture.

So, here is my $.02.

I have decided to use PETG exclusively not just because I can recycle it but also I live in a high humidity environment.

I have tried various Amazon/Matterhacker/etc. brands and have settled on MakerGeeks (Yes the one another has complained about 😀 )

I have used their Black/White/Smoke/Red/White/Blue/Yellow/Green/Orange/SassySilver solid color filament as well as their Clear/Yellow/Blue/Orange/Red translucent filaments.

I should note that I use this filament not only in my MK3 but also my MK2s-MMU with no issues. And the MMU is very picky!

One additional benefit is that they are located in Missouri and all their filament is made in-house, aka-Made in the USA.

Personally, I would not order too much of any brand to start and then you can judge for yourself as you go along. Your mileage may vary.

Re: Buying Filament Suggestions

I have decided to use PETG exclusively not just because I can recycle it but also I live in a high humidity environment.

I know what Maker Geeks site says about its recyclability and formula, but recyclability of PETG may not be entirely accurate, depending on the rules where you are. PET is recyclable, but the two are chemically different. The formula is basically true, but only in its natural/raw state; once you add dyes and/or other modifiers, things can change--it all depends--"Better Living Through Chemistry" and all... 😀

https://resource-recycling.com/plastics/2017/10/18/petg-excluded-no-1-resin-code-california/
and
https://blog.teqnow.com/pet-and-petg-a-bad-combination

In many areas, PET is code 1, while PETG is code 7 (which means it usually goes in a landfill). I don't live in California, but it's still considered a 7 by my county recycling center (as is PLA, but at least that's biodegradable 🙂 ).

I'd suggest folks who are concerned about that check with their local recycling facilities--that's all... 😉

I'm not sure I understand the high humidity rationale. 😕
PETG is hygroscopic, so it may be even harder to keep dry there.

Re: Buying Filament Suggestions

In many areas, PET is code 1, while PETG is code 7 (which means it usually goes in a landfill). I don't live in California, but it's still considered a 7 by my county recycling center (as is PLA, but at least that's biodegradable 🙂 ).

I live in South Florida and checked it out before I committed to PETG. Here, SWA recycles all plastics #1-#7 less than 5 gallons in size with the sole exception of styrafoam containers which are some times labeled #6. Our local Publix grocery store recycles those. PETG is still #1 but if it shifts to #7 it can still be recycled.

I'm not sure I understand the high humidity rationale. 😕
PETG is hygroscopic, so it may be even harder to keep dry there.

ALL of the 'common' filaments, PLA-ABS-Nylon-PET-PETG, are hygroscopic. However PETG, if properly manufactured, is at the low if not lowest end of the scale of water content/absorbtion by weight %. I have some PETG now over a year simpy stored in their original plastic bags when not in use with no quality nor popping issues. 😀 My original Prusa PLA, however, is another story 😯

Re: Buying Filament Suggestions

I live in South Florida and checked it out before I committed to PETG. Here, SWA recycles all plastics #1-#7 less than 5 gallons in size with the sole exception of styrafoam containers which are some times labeled #6. Our local Publix grocery store recycles those. PETG is still #1 but if it shifts to #7 it can still be recycled.

Not intending/meaning to be argumentative--I accept what you say. Just passing along what I learned while digging into this for those who may not be aware. 🙂

The codes--while usually encapsulated within a triangle--do not actually mean that they are recyclable. Similarly, because a community collects items in a recycling program does not mean they are actually recycled.

The codes within triangles are actually (usually) Resin Codes created by the plastics industry.

Subsequent revisions to the RIC have replaced the arrows with a solid triangle, in order to address consumer confusion about the meaning of the RIC, and the fact that the presence of a RIC symbol on an item does not necessarily indicate that it is recyclable.

And from Recycling Codes:
Having a recycling code, the chasing arrows logo or a resin code on an item is not an automatic indicator that a material is recyclable but rather an explanation of what the item is.

Some items that are collected and sorted may still wind up in a landfill (e.g. many/most items labeled with a 7).

Again, it depends on the material and the local recycling infrastructure. (The further I got into this, the more I found out...) 😉

Re: Buying Filament Suggestions

All that aside, I'm trying to construct a spreadsheet of current filament suppliers/brands/types for personal use (but happy to share if/when finished). It's proving to be even more daunting than I originally thought. 😳 (E.g. I had just compiled what I thought was a complete list of brands carried by/sold through Amazon--98 in total-- when bobstro mentions Paramount which didn't appear on any lists I found on Amazon).

This project may--in the long run--be fruitless. I began with a list from the RepRap Wiki, which turned out to be woefully (at least 2 years) out of date. Keeping a database like this current/relevant will be impossible with the tools available to me; the industry is too large already (and still growing), and changing too fast.

Nevertheless, it'll be a start/snapshot...

If anyone already has or knows of such a database/spreadsheet they'd like to share... 😀

Re: Buying Filament Suggestions

You do want to note the geographical area served by each supplier. I've found the perfect material a few times, only to realize it's priced us $AUD and not $US, and not even available where I am for a reasonable price when shipping is added.

Re: Buying Filament Suggestions

Yes, thank you. I've been through that already with several suppliers. For me, it's easier to amass all the suppliers I can, and categorize/filter them later as I check each one out (partly to make sure they still exist! 😆 )

And yes, I know I'm in waaay over my head (Glub-glub)! 😳 😀 😆

[ADDENDUM] After further consideration (i.e. "sleeping on it"), and since my original intention was personal use, I've decided to save myself considerable BS&T, and limit the spreadsheet (as you suggested) to what's reasonably available to me in the USA. 😳 This may still include some overseas mfrs. readily available thru Amazon, E-Bay, and other sources, but economic constraints (price, shipping) will likely filter some of those out at some point.

Thanks again for rattling my cage... 😆

Re: Buying Filament Suggestions

Has anyone had any experience printing with AMZ3D (Amazon's house brand) filament?

PLA_____ABS_____PETG_____Other?

Re: Buying Filament Suggestions

Hi All;

Looking at the filaments PRUSA is offering can PRUSA tell me the manufacture they purchase from regarding the PETG?

Thanks

Re: Buying Filament Suggestions

Looking at the filaments PRUSA is offering can PRUSA tell me the manufacture they purchase from regarding the PETG?
I believe Prusa was originally sourcing all of their filament from Plasty Mladeč. Now that they're doing filament in-house, I assume they'll be producing their own house-brand PETG. Not sure of the timeline for that.

Prusa has been offering Orange NGEN, which is a ColorFabb trademark unless I'm mistaken. NGEN is PETG-like, so I have no idea what the implications of that are.

Re: Buying Filament Suggestions

FWIW, I just came across this site: Printer Materials
I don't know if it's old news here--it's new to me (like almost everything) and there seems to be some good & relevant (i.e. not 3 years out of date!) information, though one may have to dig a bit...

Re: Buying Filament Suggestions

I am new too, and have been happy with filaments from Matterhackers, Hatchbox, and Amazon Basics. All seemed as good as that from Prusa, although some tweaking of temps was needed.

Re: Buying Filament Suggestions

I'm still in for Makergeeks regular PLA/ABS/PETG. They have nice colors, pretty durable plastic and if bought in bulk with discount code for a really good price. If you print PLA hot, you get a really nice glossy finish.
The only downside is to get the filament once you placed the order. So far I always had to contact the support and always got the filament after 3-8 weeks. So it's more like a long term purchase.

Hatchbox PLA is nice to print but pretty brittle. Matterhackers PLA is a little bit more expensive then MG but also pretty weak like Hatchbox. All the other filament under $20/kg on Amazon is more or less lucky shot. Sometimes you get something usable and sometimes you just want to throw it away.
AMZ3D basic need to stock up. Personally I don't see any reason to pay a regular price and wait 3 month for this filament.

Re: Buying Filament Suggestions

I agree, whats the deal with Amazon taking 3 months to ship out filament. You could get a custom order car in less time. Is there a plastic shortage? Has 3D printing blown up so much it takes 3 months to spin more PLA from the endangeded Plasicicus Wornicus that only indiginus people of the Amazon have access to.

Where can I get fair quality filament at a fair price in the US without the crazy wait???

Re: Buying Filament Suggestions

[...] Where can I get fair quality filament at a fair price in the US without the crazy wait???
I've ordered and received plenty of filament from Amazon and had it on my doorstep within 2 days with Prime. MatterHackers is also very fast, keeping pace with Amazon even on single-spool orders. PrintedSolid's free shipping takes 3-5 business days but it dependable. And of course, if you live within driving range of Microcenter, you can go pick up plenty of Inland filament cheap.

Re: Buying Filament Suggestions

Where can I get fair quality filament at a fair price in the US without the crazy wait???

http://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.aspx?Ntt=1.75mm

Re: Buying Filament Suggestions

Im a Prime member and I orderd 2 rolls of filimanet the same day I ordered my Mk3 on the 22nd of last month. Today my printer will be delivered but when I called Amazon about the hold up they simply told me it would ship when avaiable. Usually 1 to 3 months. Then they hung up before I could ask another question. Nice 👿