Maker's Tool Works filament is made to the highest quality standards in the USA.
Please note: This is branded as Translucent by our filament supplier, but it is much less translucent than most other "translucent" filaments. It is not fully opaque, but we would estimate that you can see light passing through it for only about 1mm. It is a gorgeous color and prints exceptionally well, but do not expect a fully translucent.
Both ABS And PLA extrude extremely easily and consistently in 3D printers, resulting in fantastic quality prints.
Which is better, PLA or ABS?
Pros
ABS
- Somewhat more durable
- More flexible
- More heat resistant
PLA
- Smells nice
- Generally easier to print
- More rigid
- Natural and compostable (in the right environment)
- No heated bed required for most parts (though you will have better results if you have one)
- Available in translucent colors
Cons
ABS
- Warps badly without a heated bed
- Unpleasant smell (varies from mildly to very unpleasant depending on the person, the extrusion temp, and the ABS formulation)
- Not biodegradable or renewable
- Less sticky when molten, so lower top printing speeds.
PLA
- More Hygroscopic, so it absorbs moisture (not a big problem, but can cause problems in high humidity areas. ABS can have the same problem, but it is generally less severe.)
- Lower melting point, so not suitable for parts that will be exposed to high heat (140F+/60C+).
- very thin sections are more brittle (this is not a major factor for most parts)
We generally recommend PLA for most users who are just starting out. It is easier to print with and generally more forgiving. ABS is great when you need it's properties, but is more challenging to print with due to warping.
Please note: The 3.08 pound weight noted above is the shipping weight including the weight of the spool. The actual amount of filament is 1KG (2.2lb). The color swatches shown are approximate.