PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU and the hardware that goes with them. What each material is good at, what it needs, and when to pay more.
Four materials cover most home printing. Here is what each is good at, what it demands from your printer, and how to choose without overthinking it.
10 October 2026 · 2 min read
The standard 0.4 mm nozzle is a good all-rounder, but swapping size trades detail for speed and strength. Here is what changes and what to watch for.
10 October 2026 · 2 min read
ABS and PETG are both tougher than PLA. PETG prints easily on open printers; ABS needs an enclosure but can be smoothed with acetone. Here is how to choose.
10 October 2026 · 7 min read
ASA is the UV-stable successor to ABS with less warping and odor. Here is how they compare on temperature, outdoor use, printing and finishing.
10 October 2026 · 7 min read
What Bambu Lab sells, what its wiki says about temperatures, nozzles and the AMS, how RFID spools work, and what to check before using third-party filament.
10 October 2026 · 9 min read
Premium PLA can cost roughly double budget PLA, yet the stated tolerance is often the same. What the extra money buys when you compare cheap vs expensive filament.
10 October 2026 · 7 min read
1.75mm vs 2.85mm filament: most printers use 1.75 mm filament. 2.85 mm, often sold as 3 mm, is for UltiMaker, BigRep and some professional machines. Here is how they differ and how to pick.
10 October 2026 · 6 min read
A filament dryer is only useful if it reaches the right temperature for your material and fits your spools. Five checks, with maker figures and prices checked 2026-10-10.
10 October 2026 · 7 min read
PLA+ (also written PLA plus) is a marketing label for modified PLA, usually tougher and a little easier to print. Here is what the data shows, what the price gap is today and who should pay it.
10 October 2026 · 6 min read
PETG is a tough, low-warping filament that prints hotter than PLA. Learn what it is, its properties, typical print settings, common problems and when to use it.
10 October 2026 · 6 min read
TPU is a flexible, wear-resistant filament for grips, gaskets and tires. Here is what it is, how hardness works and how makers recommend printing it.
10 October 2026 · 7 min read
PLA is the easy default, PETG is the tougher all-rounder. Here is how they differ on temperature, strength, heat, warping and stringing, and how to pick.
10 October 2026 · 5 min read