Types of PLA Filaments Explained
Imagine exploring a wide range of PLA filaments, each with its own unique characteristics and applications, while still enjoying the simplicity of printing that you love so much.
If you're eager to take your 3D printing to the next level and want to explore a world beyond basic PLA, you've come to the right place. You don't have to get lost in a sea of options, because we're here to help.
We invite you to dive into our article—your definitive guide to choosing the perfect PLA filament.
We'll explore the different types of PLA filaments available, show you what they're best suited for, and reveal the brands that will give you the best results. Don't miss this opportunity to take your 3D creations to the next level.
Different types? How many types of PLA are there?
PLA itself is a biodegradable thermoplastic derived from natural resources such as cornstarch or sugarcane. Based on this basic PLA, numerous variants have been developed to meet specific printing needs.
Most PLA filament variants with special properties are produced through a melting process, in which additional components are incorporated to modify their characteristics in various ways.
These additional components may include wood particles that give the prints a natural look and texture. Tiny metal particles may also be incorporated to give the printed objects a metallic look and feel.
Another approach involves changing the color of the filament or even giving it unique properties, such as the ability to glow in the dark or stand out under black light.
Imagine being able to print with PLA that glows in the dark, or perhaps exploring magnetic PLA, where the magic of 3D printing combines with magnetic force.
Would you like your projects to be as elegant as marble? Marble PLA lets you achieve that sophisticated look in your creations.
Next, we'll take a look at some of the most common types of PLA filaments and their applications.
Types of PLA Filament to Choose From
Durable PLA (PLA+ or PLA Pro)
PLA+ is an improved version of conventional PLA. It offers greater strength and durability, making it ideal for functional parts and prototypes that require greater durability.
It is easy to print and retains the biodegradability of the original PLA.
PLA+ is a general term for filaments that improve upon some aspect of basic PLA, so the properties of one brand's PLA+ filament will vary significantly from those of another.
PolyLite PLA Pro Polymaker's filament is an exceptional solution for achieving greater strength and durability without sacrificing the ease of use we value so much in PLA filaments.
This filament, PolyLite Pro, strikes a remarkable balance by combining the stiffness typical of conventional PLA with flexibility and remarkable impact resistance.
Flexible/soft PLA
Flexible or soft PLA is a filament that allows you to print flexible parts, such as stamps, gaskets, or phone cases. It offers some flexibility without sacrificing the ease of printing characteristic of PLA.
Soft PLA tends to be more flexible than TPU filaments, making it an excellent choice for shoe inserts, phone cases, and other high-wear parts.
Just as with any flexible filament, Soft PLA can present certain challenges during use, especially if your printer is equipped with a Bowden extruder.
Often, a trial-and-error phase is required to properly adjust the print settings and achieve optimal results, so this printer is not ideal for those who are new to 3D printing.
However, once you've mastered the nuances of this material, flexible PLA becomes a valuable solution for a wide range of projects, offering unique properties and benefits that make the investment of time and effort worthwhile.
The Filament Line Sainsmart Flexible PLA, is one of the options for flexible PLA filaments available on Amazon.
Wood-based PLA
Wood PLA contains real wood fibers, which give prints the look and feel of real wood. It's excellent for projects that call for a rustic look.
This produces prints with the same color and texture as real wood. You can also sand, stain, and seal your prints just as you would a solid-wood object. The small amount of PLA present acts as an adhesive to hold the wood pulp together and allows it to be printed just like any other PLA filament.
Although there are numerous options for wood-filled PLA filaments available on the market, our top recommendation is PolyWood from Polymaker.
This filament uses a special foam instead of wood fiber to achieve the look and feel of wood, without the risk of clogging your printer's nozzle.
Although it is important to note that PolyWood is not made of real wood, it has the advantage that you can still use conventional woodworking techniques and products—such as staining and sealing—to achieve results very similar to those of real wood.
Silk PLA
Silk PLA, also known as Silk PLA, has a glossy finish and a smooth, silky texture. It is ideal for decorative pieces and sculptures, as it reflects light in a unique way.
When you want to give your 3D prints a truly eye-catching finish, silk PLA filament is the perfect choice.
This type of PLA filament offers a level of surface sheen that falls between glossy and matte, giving your creations a distinctive look.
Prints made with silk PLA typically have a subtle metallic sheen and are sometimes slightly translucent. This makes it the ideal choice for projects that call for a touch of elegance and style, such as decorative items and accessories.
For silk PLA, we recommend the brand Overture . Their silk line includes 10 single-color filaments and 9 two-color filaments.
Matte PLA
Matte PLA has an opaque finish that prevents glare and reflections. This makes it perfect for design projects and mockups where a more understated and professional look is desired.
Matte PLA filament makes it harder to see layer lines on finished 3D prints.
Although most PLA prints have a glossy texture, matte PLA filament is characterized by its flat, opaque surface finish.
This type of filament is the ideal choice when your 3D prints require a more natural and organic look. It’s also an excellent option for projects that will be photographed, since its matte surface minimizes light reflections and layer lines compared to glossy PLA.
When it comes to matte PLA filaments, our top recommendation is PolyMaker. This brand offers a wide range of matte color options.
Rainbow PLA
Rainbow PLA filament is an exceptional choice for creating vases and other decorative items that add a touch of originality.
You don't need a printer with a dual extruder to create multicolored prints when using this type of filament.
Rainbow PLA is, in fact, one of the most versatile options available, featuring several bright colors extruded into a single filament. This feature allows you to add personality and style to any 3D printing project.
It's important to note that the special properties of rainbow PLA filament are limited to aesthetic aspects. Therefore, you can use it interchangeably with conventional PLA.
Because of its colorful design, it really stands out in decorative items, toys, vases, and other projects intended to make a visual impact.
If you're looking for high-quality rainbow PLA filament, we recommend the brand SUNLU. Its spools come in six colors that change every 15 to 18 meters, which is perfect for achieving multiple colors in most 3D prints. Plus, you can choose between regular or with a silky finish.
Clear/Transparent PLA
Clear or transparent PLA filaments, as their name suggests, function and behave similarly to standard PLA, but with the distinction that they print as a semitranslucent material.
These filaments are ideal for printing containers or bottles where you want the contents to be visible from the outside.
In addition, they are an excellent aesthetic choice for manufacturing electronic device housings, such as transparent game consoles and controllers, or for projects involving internal light sources that are intended to shine through the plastic.
When you work with clear PLA, You should keep certain 3D printing settings in mind.
For example, if you use a fill pattern, it will be visible in the final product, so you may need to adjust the fill pattern or even omit it, depending on the desired result.
It is also important to consider the number of outer layers used, as this will affect the opacity of the print.
As for the brand of clear PLA that we recommend, Geeetech It's an excellent choice. With a recommended printing temperature of 190 °C to 210 °C, this filament is slightly above the typical 3D printing temperatures for PLA, but it still performs optimally, even on basic 3D printers.
PLA Hyper (for high-speed printing)
Hyper PLA filaments, as the name suggests, are designed to print at higher speeds than traditional PLA filaments.
These filaments are ideal when you need to speed up your printing process without compromising precision or print quality.
Although you may not need high-speed PLA filaments if you're using a standard 3D printer, If you have a fast 3D printer, you'll see significant benefits.
The Filament Line Hyper PLA by Creality, for example, can print up to 10 times faster than standard PLA due to its high flow rate and shorter cooling time.
Reducing the cooling time is crucial for preventing warping in prints, an occasional problem with standard PLA when printing at high speeds.
High-speed PLA also improves hardness and impact resistance, making it an excellent choice for industrial and prototyping applications and enabling the efficient production of sturdy, precise prints.
Glow-in-the-dark PLA
Having a glow-in-the-dark PLA filament can be especially useful during Halloween or for projects that involve luminescent elements.
Glow-in-the-dark PLA, although it prints with the same settings as standard PLA filament, contains highly abrasive additives similar to those found in metallic PLA.
It is advisable to consider using a hardened steel nozzle or to keep spare brass nozzles on hand.
There are several brands on Amazon that offer glow-in-the-dark filaments; one of our favorites is Overture. Its glow-in-the-dark filament is green and is designed to have a higher softening point, which helps prevent clogs.
You can try other brands based on the color of their gloss:
- Giantarm: Blue, Rosa, Green, Yellow, White, Multicolored, Violeta
- Sunlu: Luminous Purple (purple), Night White, Luminous Red
- Geeetech: Orange, White, Light gradient, Purple,
- Tronxy: Multicolored
- kexcelled: Dark Blue, Dark Cyan, Dark Green,
- RepRapper: Green
Carbon-fiber PLA
When you're looking for stronger, more durable 3D prints, carbon-fiber PLA filament is an excellent choice.
These filaments are created by mixing carbon fibers with PLA, which gives the printed parts significant rigidity.
Printing with carbon-fiber PLA is not much different from the process of printing with conventional PLA. However, because of the carbon fibers, The filament may become more brittle and prone to breakage.
Therefore, it is recommended to use a 3D printer with a filament sensor to achieve the best results when working with this material.
In addition, carbon fibers are highly abrasive, which can quickly damage conventional brass nozzles. For this reason, we recommend switching to a hardened steel nozzle before using this filament.
Carbon-fiber PLA excels in projects that require rigidity without adding extra weight. For example, it is ideal for manufacturing drone frames, propellers, tools, and other parts that need to be strong yet lightweight.
The recommended carbon-fiber PLA filament is from the brand Sunlu. It is printed using standard PLA settings, making it compatible even with basic printers.
The filaments are designed to pass unobstructed through standard nozzles, while their enhanced properties make them an excellent choice for industrial applications and prototyping.
Metallic PLA
Metallic PLA filaments can contain copper, brass, bronze, stainless steel, or other metals. You can even oxidize them!
Like wood PLA, metallic PLA filament is manufactured by combining a mixture of metal particles and PLA pellets during the manufacturing process. The PLA acts as a binding agent that allows the metal powders to hold their shape.
The final 3D-printed objects retain many of the properties of the base metal, such as weight and texture. In addition, metallic PLA prints can be sanded or polished just like traditional metals. This makes it an excellent solution if you're interested in 3D-printed accessories or cosplay items.
The most common metallic PLA filaments contain copper, brass, bronze, and stainless steel, and are ideal for decorative purposes, such as statues, home decor, and jewelry. They can also be useful for specific industrial applications, depending on the base metal used.
It is important to note that metallic PLA it can be abrasive, so It is recommended to use stainless steel or hardened nozzles to prevent excessive wear..
As for the brand, Yimihua y Xiome Here are some of the metallic PLA filaments available on Amazon.
PLA marble
Marble PLA filament offers a unique aesthetic option for your 3D prints.
This is achieved by adding black specks to a white or gray base, thereby imitating the appearance of marble.
These filaments are ideal for creating busts, statues, home decor, and other items that would normally be made of marble.
For marble PLA Geeetech It is one of the recommended brands.
Color-changing PLA
Color-changing PLA is a versatile filament that can change its color in response to different stimuli.
There are two main types: temperature-activated PLA and UV-sensitive PLA.
Temperature-activated PLA changes color when exposed to specific temperatures, making it ideal for projects that will be subject to fluctuations in ambient temperature.
For example, 3D-printed items that come into frequent contact with the user's skin—such as rings or bracelets—are perfect for this type of filament, since body heat is enough to trigger the reaction.
On the other hand, UV-sensitive PLA changes color when exposed to ultraviolet light. This type of filament is suitable for both indoor and outdoor printing, making it useful for objects such as planters or jewelry that may be exposed to different lighting conditions.
On Amazon, there are several brands in this category that offer options in different color combinations.
Here are some color combinations that change in response to temperature:
- CC3D: Blue to White, Orange to Yellow, Blue-Purple to Pink, Brown to Green, Green to Yellow
- R3D: Blue to Pink
- Zi-Rui: Black to Red and Yellow (Three-color depending on the temperature)
Lightweight PLA
Lightweight PLA, also known as LW-PLA, is ideal for projects that require a lighter weight without sacrificing structural integrity.
This filament is created using a special foaming technology that significantly reduces its density compared to standard PLA.
Lightweight filaments use active or passive foam technology. Active foam is activated when heated in the printer's hot end, while passive foam expands before printing begins.
Although passive foam is easier to use, active foam allows you to print up to three times as many parts with a single spool.
eSUN Lightweight PLA Filament, is an excellent choice for lightweight PLA filament. It uses active foam technology, which allows it to be used with 3D printing setups.
PLA-LW will begin to foam at a print temperature of 210–270°C. The foaming rate and strength can be controlled by adjusting the print temperature.
We recommend conducting test prints until you find the best print settings.
Magnetic PLA
Magnetic PLA, although it may sound intriguing, refers to a filament of metallic PLA infused with iron that reacts to the magnets.
Despite its name, this filament It is not a magnet in itself, but rather responds to magnetic fields because of its iron content.
Magnetic PLA can oxidize, which may affect its appearance, and it is heavier than standard PLA.
It is suitable for 3D-printed switches, sensors, jewelry, accessories, statues, and decorative items.
However, you should keep in mind that This type of filament can be abrasive, so it is recommended to use stainless steel or hardened nozzles to prevent excessive wear.
Protopasta It offers one of the most reliable magnetic PLA filaments on the market. It uses ultra-fine metal particles to minimize clogs and offers a type of metal-filled PLA specially formulated to withstand higher temperatures than standard PLA filament.
High-Temperature PLA
El filamento PLA de alta temperatura, o HTPLA, está diseñado para imprimir a temperaturas estándar de PLA, pero puede soportar entornos de alta temperatura gracias a un proceso llamado recocido.
Las impresiones terminadas se mantienen a una temperatura justo por debajo de su punto de transición vítrea durante un período prolongado, lo que activa químicos y polímeros adicionales en el filamento y lo hace más resistente al calor.
La línea HTPLA de Yimihua está disponible en Amazon. Su HTPLA es más resistente al calor que el PLA estándar, lo que lo hace ideal para aplicaciones donde se requiera resistencia a la temperatura.
PLA con brillantina/glitter
Para proyectos que requieren un toque adicional de brillo, el PLA brillante es la elección perfecta. Este tipo de filamento contiene purpurina, polvos iridiscentes y otros materiales brillantes que le dan un aspecto deslumbrante a las impresiones 3D.
Es ideal para objetos decorativos, juguetes y joyas que necesitan ese brillo adicional.
Es importante recordar que el PLA brillante puede desgastar las boquillas de latón, por lo que es recomendable cambiarlas periódicamente o actualizarlas a boquillas de acero endurecido.
Entre las opciones disponibles, los filamentos PLA con purpurina de ZIRO son una buena elección.
PLA conductivo
El PLA Conductivo es un filamento que permite imprimir componentes electrónicos y circuitos directamente en tus objetos impresos en 3D.
El PLA Conductivo es una variante del filamento PLA que contiene partículas conductoras, generalmente de grafito o carbono, que permiten que la electricidad fluya a través de las impresiones.
A diferencia del PLA estándar, que es aislante eléctrico, este material abre un abanico de posibilidades para la integración de componentes electrónicos en tus diseños impresos en 3D.
La opción disponible más económica en Amazon, es de la marca MSNJ
¿Cuál es el filamento PLA más resistente?
La resistencia es un aspecto relativo que depende en gran medida del uso que le des a tus impresiones. En general, cuando se busca un filamento PLA con mayor resistencia, los filamentos PLA+ son una elección sólida y confiable.
Por otro lado, los filamentos HTPLA de Protopasta también destacan como una excelente opción gracias a su durabilidad y capacidad para soportar temperaturas más altas después de un tratamiento térmico. Esto les otorga una versatilidad adicional que los diferencia, incluso superando en algunos aspectos a los filamentos PLA+ de otras marcas.
Es importante mencionar que algunos filamentos compuestos, como el Carbon-fiber PLA, pueden ofrecer una mayor durabilidad a tus impresiones, pero con ciertas consideraciones. En general, los filamentos compuestos pueden causar un mayor desgaste en la boquilla y el extrusor de tu impresora debido a las partículas adicionales en el material. El PLA de fibra de carbono, en particular, puede ser propenso a la fragilidad.
Sin embargo, si estás buscando un nivel adicional de refuerzo para tus piezas, estos filamentos compuestos son dignos de consideración. Pueden ser ideales para aplicaciones específicas donde se requiera una mayor resistencia a la tracción y una mayor rigidez.
Los filamentos PLA+, especialmente los de Protopasta, y los filamentos compuestos, como el Carbon-fiber PLA, son opciones valiosas para incrementar la resistencia de tus impresiones, aunque es importante estar consciente de las posibles implicaciones en el desgaste de tu impresora y las características específicas de cada material.
¿Cuál es el filamento PLA más caro?
Los tipos de filamentos PLA abarcan una amplia gama de costos y no existe un tipo o marca que sea inherentemente más caro que los demás.
El precio de estos filamentos está influenciado por diversos factores, como la calidad del material, los aditivos utilizados y su singularidad.
Por lo general, los fabricantes que se destacan por emplear materiales de alta calidad y procesos de fabricación rigurosos tienden a ofrecer filamentos a un precio más elevado en comparación con marcas que sacrifican calidad en busca de reducir costos.
In addition, ciertos aditivos, como los polvos metálicos, pueden contribuir al aumento de los precios, dado que estos materiales suelen tener un costo superior al del filamento PLA estándar.
En última instancia, la elección de un filamento PLA dependerá de tus necesidades específicas y de tu presupuesto. Es importante considerar la calidad, los atributos adicionales y los costos al seleccionar el filamento adecuado para tu proyecto de impresión 3D.
¿Qué diferencia hay entre PLA y PLA+?
El PLA+ ha sido cuidadosamente formulado para proporcionar una mayor resistencia tanto a la tracción como al impacto. Esta denominación, “PLA+”, se refiere de manera genérica a cualquier filamento de PLA que haya experimentado modificaciones con el propósito de mejorar sus propiedades físicas y mecánicas.
Si bien el aumento en la resistencia es una característica comúnmente perseguida por los filamentos PLA+, estos también pueden abordar una variedad de problemas asociados con el PLA convencional, como su fragilidad, problemas de obstrucción, contracción excesiva o dificultades en la adhesión.
Es importante destacar que las fórmulas de los filamentos PLA+ pueden variar considerablemente entre diferentes marcas. Por lo tanto, es esencial revisar detenidamente las descripciones de productos de cada fabricante para asegurarse de que satisfacen tus necesidades y expectativas específicas.
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre PLA y Meta PLA?
El PLA Meta es un tipo de filamento PLA particularmente diseñado para impresiones de alto flujo. Se caracteriza por su mayor fluidez en estado fundido en comparación con el PLA convencional.
Esto resulta en una reducción notable de obstrucciones y contracciones, al tiempo que mejora la adhesión y la cohesión entre las capas.
Además de su fluidez mejorada, los filamentos PLA Meta presentan un acabado superficial altamente brillante.
Están específicamente formulados para brindar una mayor resistencia al impacto y una dureza superior en comparación con el PLA estándar.
Conclusions
No se puede negar que el PLA es un material extremadamente versátil. Es seguro y fácil de usar, funciona con una impresora 3D básica y está elaborado a partir de fuentes naturales.
Si bien tiene algunas desventajas importantes como la resistencia a bajas temperaturas y la fragilidad, los fabricantes de filamentos han diseñado numerosos tipos de PLA que mejoran significativamente estas características.
Desde los que cambian de color hasta los rellenos de metal y los livianos, existe un tipo de filamento PLA para casi todos los proyectos que se te ocurran.
Los filamentos PLA ofrecen una amplia variedad de opciones para tus proyectos de impresión 3D.
La elección del tipo de PLA dependerá de tus necesidades específicas, ya sea para proyectos decorativos, funcionales o experimentales.
¡Explora estas opciones y da rienda suelta a tu creatividad con la impresión 3D!
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