I am a hobbyist. With that said, PLA servers most of my needs. The more I print the more I want to learn and experiment with the abilities of my printer, the P1S (no AMS). I keep wondering about other filament types.
What are the filament type “must haves” for a hobbyist? What do you recommend one should try outside of PLA?
I know the question is kind of vague and generic but we can build from here.
PETG HF is UV resistant and stands higher temperatures than PLA. If you want to do outdoors stuff, it can be a good material. It is more sensitive to moisture issues though and needs good drying to get good finishes.
PETG of course, it’s PLA’s big brother, it can handle heat and UV better, it’s stronger and more elastic at the same time. Generally used for when a part needs to bear some load and not just be a decoration.
I like Bambu PETG-HF because it can print fast.
I love Bambu PETG translucent because it looks amazing.
It’s the next logical step up from PLA.
I also like the carbon fiber filled filaments as well, they are slightly stronger and the finish is yummy, the carbon makes the plastic behave more imo and the surface finishes are top notch.
I don’t there is a must have list. Decide what you want to print and then pick the material that seems best for that item. The Bambu filament guide helps to compare the various properties, and most manufacturers also have tech specs on their web sites. Add to your stock as you find a need.
I started with PLA - easy to print and fairly cheap. PETG is a bit stronger and a little more flexible; probably my most-used filament. I added 95A TPU for a shock absorbing phone case and found it can also be handy for some simple gaskets. ASA prints really well and is UV resistant. PC was good enough for drying filament in my X1C, but I’ve been trying some even more heat-resistant nylon for desiccant containers.
Part of the fun is trying something new. Spread it out by perfecting your settings for a few types. The things you learn will make it easy to quickly adjust to new materials as necessary.
ABS/ASA are always good “challenging” materials that offer a sense of achievement once mastered. Also PA (nylon) and blends if you’re really wanting to delve. I started with PLA as most of us have and had a similar point where I wanted to experiment. Drugs are bad mmkay