What Are The Raw Materials For 3D Printing?

Are you a new beginner in three-dimensional printing and wondering something like “what are the raw materials for 3D printing?” For instant, you will have to do some of the homework and studies to have a better look at them. And as a result, some studies and research have been done independently to help you to have a clearer look. So, here is what I have found and will be shared shortly.

Unlike normal 2D ink printing, 3D printing technology allows us to work with a super-wide range of materials. This is like a dream come true for most of us (for me at least). Three-dimensional printers earn their credit for what they can do and what they can do.

Furthermore, there are thousands of new printers coming home with new users every day. Besides, there is nothing to talk about when experts or professionals buy a new 3D printer.

But for the new users getting their first 3D printer, the question many ask is “what are the raw materials for 3D printing?” This is what we will put on the table in this writing, so, shall we begin?

Related:

What Are The Raw Materials For 3D Printing – The Definition

Most printers on the market will use a specific kind of material for a printing process.

Printing filaments for 3D printers are materials collected from multiplying various bacterias which will offer different kinds of uses.

Sounds too complex? Yes, but in terms of basics, the printers will use that special 3D ink to print objects layer by layer.

3D printers use a wide-range list of many filaments including resins, plastics, metals, or even ceramics, and many more.

Yet, not all printer filaments were easy to get for common and civil using purposes, some are banned or limited.

Also, the price can depend on your government laws and policies about 3D printing. As a result, here are some facts about printing filaments that you will need to know.

1. Processed Materials – What Are They?

Processed printer materials are filaments for three-dimensional printers that have been through processes.

For example, that plastic bottle most of us are having right now is made from processed plastic filaments.

Processing materials allows manufacturers to increase the speed of the making process of their products in mass production. However, processing them will play a very big role in harming the living environment.

Furthermore, they will increase the overall habitat temperature, which will make the ices on the 2 poles melt faster.

This also means treating plastics has the potential to destroy the whole planet Earth. Sounds dangerous? Hold on tight, there is more!

2. The Danger Of Using Treated PLastics

Plastic filaments such as ABS are extremely toxic for users.

Furthermore, if ABS is getting into humans through the nose or mouth, the tiny plastic pieces will stick into the lungs.

This means that tiny plastic pieces will eventually travel to the brain through the bloodline, which will cause hazardous brain damage.

Also, if the ABS is contacted directly with your skin for a while, your skin might get burned.

3. What Are The Raw Materials For 3D Printing?

3D printing raw materials are filaments for three-dimensional printers that have not been through processes.

In terms of printing, we will just talk about direct raw filaments.

These raw filaments allow printers to print the object without using treated filaments, therefore helping in lowering the overall costs. Furthermore, raw filaments are way cheaper than the others and are easier to process.

This will reduce the power consumption rate of the printer during the printing process.

Some of the plastic filaments that you can find

What Are The Raw Materials For 3D Printing – The Plastics

As we have learned about the natural state of raw materials for 3D printing.

As a result, It is time to know each of their properties and what they can do.

Furthermore, the list below will also answer your questions such as the 3D printer raw material price, its advantages, and disadvantages. So, shall we begin?

1. ABS Plastic:

Whenever it comes to three-dimensional printing, the very first thing that comes up in almost anyone’s mind is plastic filaments, especially ABS, which is one of the most popular filaments in printing technology.

This ABS is famous for its sturdiness yet still has enough flexibility, therefore people usually call it “Lego plastic”.

The average price for this is just around $15 to $20 for a kilogram.

This material has so many advantages to earn its popularity, one of them is the cost, which is very low.

For example, buying a set of keycaps on the market will cost you around $30, usually.

In the meantime, making one with ABS plastic will only cost you about 25 percent of that price.

Secondly, ABS plastic is available in many colors, red, white, blue, green, you name it.

If there is some color that you can imagine, it might be available on ABS. Plus, ABS plastic is super easy to master.

You will not need such fancy systems to print using this filament so that it is extremely suitable for beginners.

The downside of ABS plastic is the fume it will produce while printing.

First of all, because being a plastic filament, it will produce a “plastic smell” when being heated.

This smell can annoy you if you have a sensitive nose.

This means you will have to prepare yourself a mask to prevent this.

Secondly, like being said, the plastic particulate will get into your nose or mouth if you have no protection accessories.

This will get you into a lot of health issues that you will not want to involve.

2. PLA:

PLA is too, one of the most popular three-dimensional printing filaments in many industries.

Being a sugar-based material, it’s not dramatic to say that this one is one of the most eco-friendly materials ever.

Why am I saying this one is sugar-based? Let’s take a closer look.

PLA is short of “polylactic acid”, which is sourced from sugarcane and corn starch.

This means this material can dissolve itself in nature.

Furthermore, if you are not a fan of that “plastic smell” when using ABS, you will love using PLA.

Why? Because being a sugar-based material, there will be no toxic fume when working with it. Sometimes you can even find a sweet smell when heating this material.

This plastic filament is available in both soft and hard forms.

The hard form is more widely used in many industries because of its flexibility and firmness.

This makes many people believe that this material will dominate the raw materials used for 3d printing market.

And the average price for this is just around $15 to $20 for a kilogram, the same as ABS plastic.

3. PVA Plastic:

PVA is short for Polyvinyl Alcohol Plastic, which is a water-soluble synthetic polymer.

This one is only used in low-end home printers, and only to be used as a supporting part.

But the average price of this material is somehow quite expensive, why?

Because it is a super popular support material, which makes many people want it and will increase the demanding rate so that the price is raised higher than it should be. Did I show you the price?

The average price tag of PVA plastic is around $20 to $30 for a kilogram of normal quality.

Furthermore, PVA won’t offer your object firmness and flexibility, so that you can only use it as a support material.

Therefore, you will want to use this material to make temporary objects as a low-cost option.

4. Polycarbonate or PC:

This one is not as popular as ABS or PLA. Why?

Because normal printers will not have the ability to print this material.

A printer that can work with PCs will need a nozzle that can work in super high heat.

Hence, with this property, you will want to make low-cost fasteners or molding trays.

But this is not quite possible because the average price tag of this PC is up to $35 for a kilogram.

The differences texture from 3 different material

The 3D printer raw materials above are available in plastic form, which is super popular in three-dimensional printing recently.

Why? Firstly, products made with plastic are extremely popular because of the low cost they will offer.

Secondly, the color range it offers is available in many colors.

Thirdly, the sturdiness, flexibility, and smoothness it will produce are nicely suitable in many terms.

What Are The Raw Materials For 3D Printing – The Powder

Since we have learned about what are the raw materials for 3D printing in plastic forms, it’s time to know about the materials in the powder forms.

It is not dramatic to say whatever can be powdered, it can be used to print.

So, in a simple way of speaking, firstly, the powder material inside the printer will make contact with a suitable heat.

Secondly, the melted material will be extruded and transformed into a solid-state, that’s all.

1. Nylons:

Nylons or polyamide is once again, a popular filament in the three-dimensional printing industry.

All because this one will offer high chemical resistance, sturdiness yet still have enough flexibility to prevent the object from breaking out, plus, nylons can offer a high detail for your object.

Furthermore, when it comes to printing, this filament is suitable for making parts that can join beneath/above other parts.

However, the only thing that can hold you back from using nylons is their price tag, which will cost you $50 to $75 for just a kilogram.

Yet, considering what nylon can do, the price tag is worth it.

2. Alumide:

Basically, Alumide is a printing filament that you will get when mixing up polyamide and gray aluminum, which is metal.

This means this material can offer one of the most sturdiness and strength for your products.

Plus, your products will get a grainy and sandy finish. Again, this means your products will not have enough flexibility.

Therefore, this one can only express its property in the making of industrial models or prototypes.

However, the temperature Alumide needs to melt is just at 120 Celcius degrees.

This means most printers on the market can work with it and it’s very easy for beginners to work with.

3. Other Metallic Materials:

As being said, if there is something that can be powdered, it might be used as printing filaments.

This also includes metallic filaments such as iron, copper, ceramic, or even gold.

This means the finish and construct of the final product will depend on the raw nature of which material you choose.

They can vary from grainy, firm, or other characteristics of metal such as electricity transparent or heat transparent.

However, the downside of these metallic filaments is the price tag, which can cost you an outstanding number.

Metallic filaments will offer an amazing texture for your objects

What Are The Raw Materials For 3D Printing – The Related Questions

Many people including both beginners and professionals who share the same interest in three-dimensional printing have come up and are making a printing community, which you can find easily on the internet.

You can just simply go to popular communities such as Reddit, they have a huge community on almost every subject.

All you have to do is ask them and they will answer, whether they know the answer or not.

Yet, in case you don’t want to scroll that many words, you might want to take a quick look at the related questions which many people are wondering below.

1. What Is The Most Common Filament For 3D Printer?

ABS plastic. Just like mentioned above, ABS plastic has a super wide range of using purposes for its characteristics.

First of all, making objects with ABS will offer the object a specific level of sturdiness yet still have some flexibility.

The second one, ABS plastic filaments are available in many colors, the choice is on you.

The third one, ABS will not need a special printhead to print, which is suitable for most printers.

And last but not least, ABS is the kind of filament that is very easy to work with.

This means a lot especially if you are a beginner, and the price is quite cheap too.

However, to work with this kind of plastic material, you will need some specific protection accessories.

Furthermore, some simple things you will need are a pair of glasses, gloves, and high-quality masks.

You will not want some skin burn on your arms or hands, which is the part that makes contact with ABS usually.

Or in the worst case, inhaling the tiny plastic particulate will cause you some of the most dangerous illnesses.

Besides, none of us want to let that tiny plastic get into our brain through the bloodline.

2. What 3D Printing Raw Materials Can Not Be Printed?

A 3D printer can not use things such as rocks, papers, clothes, or raw woods as a material.

Yes, we can grind them into powder, yet, those will burn to ashes before it meets the melting heat.

This means the fact that you can not print things with materials that can not melt.

However, woods are way more special, you can not print with raw woods.

But on the other hand, there are wood filaments that have 70 percent of PLA and 30 percent of wood fiber inside that can do the trick.

Yet, you can expect that the final product won’t have the sturdiness of woods, but it’ll have the wood texture.

The wood texture is there, but the sturdiness of raw woods is not

3. Can I Make Money With A 3D Printer?

Yes, you can make some good money with a 3D printer.

As many people have been making money with this kind of production for decades.

You can easily find 3D-printed keycaps, Legos parts, or decorations on the online market.

Because the cost of the making process is quite low, you can make profits with this by selling them online.

Furthermore, you can offer a printing service in both your area and worldwide.

All you have to do is get the 3D model the customers want to print first.

This part you can design by yourself and charge for more money.

Secondly, print the product and deliver it to them, and get the money, and that is all.

Besides, you can do it on many platforms such as online, offline, or you can start a B2B business.

4. Can You Mass Produce With 3D Printers?

Yes, you can mass-produce almost everything with 3D printers nowadays.

Furthermore, three-dimensional printing technology allows enterprises to mass-produce their products in a super short time.

Yes, the products won’t have good finishes, but placing them before the final process is kind of an ideal job.

What Are The Raw Materials For 3D Printing – The Conclusion

Some people are new or experts in the three-dimensional printing game.

Whether it is for a job or just a hobby, there are more things to learn.

This means in that journey of learning and experiment, you’ll have to keep yourself in the same interest as the beginning.

Hope that throughout this whole writing, you will know what are the raw materials for 3D printing.

Further Reading: