Although 3D printing is a relatively new technology, we've come a long way in a short amount of time. 3D printers nowadays are widely available and affordable, and basically anyone can get a 3D printer in their home and start building some models. However, if you're new to 3D printing, then you might come across some difficulty when building your first couple of models, and they might not turn out as well as you've expected. This is probably due to using the wrong 3D printing material.
There's a wide range of 3D printing materials, and all of them have their distinct features, advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes, choosing the best one can be difficult, which is why in this article, I'll go in-depth about the most popular types of 3D printing material available to hobbyists - ABS and PLA. The main reason these are the most popular ones for hobbyists is because they're the most affordable ones that allow you to build decent quality models. While some of them may be used for commercial purposes as well, there are generally more expensive, higher-quality materials.
ABS is a petroleum-based polymer, and it's highly resistant to high temperature which makes it ideal for end-use components. As aforementioned, it's a cheap material that's ideal for prototyping. Further, it comes in a wide range of colours, and you can even make colourless objects that you can paint to any colour. It's also mechanically strong, so you won't have to worry about the longevity of your model. When printing using ABS, you should print at about 220-250 degrees centigrade and the heated bend should be between 50-100 degrees Celsius to avoid bending and warping. On the downside, ABS is non-biodegradable and you should only print with it in a well-ventilated room.
PLA, on the other hand, is made of renewable materials, making it environmentally friendly. For this reason, it's slightly more expensive than ABS, but it has its own distinct technical properties and desirable features that make it ideal for many hobbyists. Its usual print temperature is between 180-220 degrees, and it's slightly flexible. However, it's capable of generating an incredibly smooth outer shell of the printed model. You don't need a well-ventilated room to print with PLA, as it releases a pleasant smell of corn starch, which is what it's made from. You can print much easier with PLA than other 3D printing materials, as long as you master the post-print processing. This material is available in a large range of blends, including bamboo, wood, bronze, copper and phosphorescent.
