When it comes to 3D printing, PLA filament is considered to be the most common printing material because it’s more suitable for decorative, non-functional prototyping, and low-stress applications. The PLA filament has been derived from different natural resources like sugarcane or corn starch. Different industries are using the PLA filament to produce 3D printed products because of its many benefits. Some of the benefits are discussed below.
1. Low printing temperature
When compared to other 3D printing materials like ABS, PLA is the best because it has a relatively low printing temperature of around 180°C. Its low temperature indicates that the PLA filament is less likely to clog the nozzle of the printer and warp during the process of printing. Moreover, PLA is seen to produce better surface details as well as sharper features.
2. Ease of use
PLA filament is one of the easiest materials to use for 3D printing because it easily adheres to any surface. In addition, the PLA filament does not require you to have a heated printing bed, which makes it easy to use. When PLA is being used to produce prints, it does not emit smelling fumes compared to other printing materials like ABS.
3. Variety of colors
There is a wider variety of colors when it comes to using the PLA filament, which gives you the opportunity to make a choice on the one that will fit your printing needs. With endless PLA colors, it’s easy to pick a color that will blend well with your printing options, making you produce prints with the color of your choice.
4. Biodegradable
PLA is an eco-friendly material because it’s biodegradable, requires less energy to produce 3D prints, it’s non-toxic, and emits fewer gases to the environment. Since the PLA filament is made from natural resources, it naturally breaks down within a short period of time compared to petroleum-based thermoplastics.
In addition, the post-processing of filament PLA is easy because the prints that have been made with PLA can be easily polished, sanded and painted, which improves the surface finish with little effort. Moreover, the PLA parts can be drilled, milled, and glued with a lot of care to avoid melting the part. Using PLA filaments is the perfect starting point for 3D printing because the cost of buying them is relatively low, giving you the advantage of buying what you can afford.
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