Best 3D Printer Filament Reviews 2018

SainSmart specializes in “maker” products, ranging from development boards and sensors to motors and testing equipment. Its business philosophy says: “Profit is vanity, quality is sanity.” SainSmart strives to create top-quality products you can always depend on, and still manages to offer them at the most competitive prices. It has a dedicated R&D team that is always researching new ways of improving its product offerings, and making production processes effective and efficient so it can keep churning out great products at affordable prices.

The SainSmart Flexible TPU 3D Printer Filament ($29.99) can be used to create prototypes. It has a rubbery texture, and is more flexible than ABS and PLA, making it especially suitable for 3D printers. This filament has a diameter of 1.75 millimeters, variations of ± 0.05 millimeter and roundness of ± 0.05 millimeters.

This highly flexible and elastic filament is great for making prototypes of flexible objects, as it lets you demonstrate the elasticity of the object with the prototype. With variations that small, you can guess how this filament’s low rate of shrinkage makes it great for storage over a period and still good for use when next you need it.

3D printing is a precision-sensitive process, and this high-precision plastic filament delivers the professional outcome you desire. The 2.2-pound spool has a wide core that can be automatically fed to the 3D printer, to prevent tight coiling of the filament. This filament has an accuracy of 1.7-1.8 millimeters, which is good as far as 3D printer filaments are concerned.

This SainSmart filament comes in nine different colors.

Shenzhen eSUN Industrial Co., Ltd. is a high-tech enterprise specializing in researching, developing, producing and operating degradable polymer materials such as PLA and Polymorph. eSUN owns three different R&D centers, which specialize in material syntheses, modification and application. It started researching 3D printing materials in 2007, and has since then developed PLA, ABS, PVA, HIPS, PA, polymorph, and PC filaments. Its filaments have come to be known for absolute roundness, accuracy and tenacity.

The eSUN 3D PETG Printer Filament ($25.99) is recommended for all FDM 3D printers. It comes in a solid black color with a 2.2-pound spool that’s highly compatible with most printers. It has a feeding speed of 30-80 millimeters per second, and an idling speed of 90-150 millimeters per second. The base temperature is 80℃ or no warming, and the best printing temperature is from 230℃-250℃. This 1.75-millimeter filament has a variation of +/- 0.05, and it is a type that combines the advantages of PLA and ABS filaments. Other features of this filament include the following:

• Odorless
• Hydrophobic – will not absorb water
• Good liquidity
• Low shrink rate
• Great toughness and impact strength
• High transparency
• Glossy prints
• Excellent flexibility
• Recyclable

IC3D is a 3D printer manufacturing company. It was the first to manufacture its own line of 3D printing filaments, as it realized that the filament from other industries, such as plastic welding, was not producing the type of output it required. It then recognized the need for a new material with properties made especially for 3D printing machines. Its manufacturing process, combined with its expertise and focus, provide some of the highest-quality filaments at affordable prices.

The IC3D ABS 3D Printer Filament (Suggested Retail Price: $34.99) is a 3-millimeter ABS filament that is compatible with most 3D printers. It has a diameter of 2.9 millimeters +/-0.1 and roundness of within 4%. Each hand-checked spool weighs 2.1 pounds, with an accuracy of +/-0.5 millimeters. It is vacuum-sealed with desiccant to avoid moisture absorption. It has also been extensively tested on various 3D printers, utilizing several extruder designs and hot-end styles.

Here are some other great filaments made by IC3D:

• IC3D Green 1.75mm ABS 3D Printer Filament – Highly compatible and extensively tested
• IC3D 3mm PLA 3D Printer Filament – An eco-friendly filament that is harder than ABS and melts at lower temperatures
• IC3D 1.75mm ABS 3D Printer Filament (20-Pound Spool) – Recommended for large 3D printers that print bigger objects

3D Solutech develops and manufactures innovative 3D printing filaments. It was started by a group of young people who believe the future of 3D printing has just started and want to be involved in its growth and direction. 3D printers allow you to bring your ideas to life, almost like thinking up something and then printing it to life just like that. That is why 3D Solutech creates top-quality filaments that will solidify your ideas. Its filaments come in various color selections. It also makes its products affordable, so anybody can enjoy the fun of 3D printing.

The 3D Solutech Black 3D Printer PLA Filament ($29.99) does not require a heated bed before it is used. It maintains smooth and consistent printing for the best printing outcome. It is very round, produces no oily residue or air bubbles, and will not kink or break. It is backed by the company’s 100% satisfaction guarantee.

This filament has a diameter of 1.75 millimeters, and the spool weight is 2.2 pounds. It's compatible with most popular 3D printers. The package is vacuum-sealed to ensure the filament does not absorb moisture.

Some other filaments made by 3D Solutech include:

• 3D Solutech Hot Pink 1.75mm 3D Printer PLA Filament -- Made in USA and has 80% more shine than regular PLA
• 3D Solutech Real White 1.75mm 3D Printer PLA Filament – Compatible with most 3D printers, and has great liquidity
• 3D Solutech Navy Blue 1.75mm 3D Printer PLA Filament – 100% satisfaction guarantee with no air bubbles nor oil residues

Hatchbox offers an extensive collection of 3D filaments that cater to numerous applications (suitable for home, business or just playful creativity). Its outstanding craftsmanship makes it unique and puts it at the forefront of the 3D printing race. For consistency in quality, variety in selection and affordability in pricing, Hatchbox has carved a niche for itself in the 3D printing world.

The Hatchbox Yellow PETG 3D Printer Filament ($22.99) is a great alternative to ABS or PLA filaments. The easy adhesion quality it possesses makes it unnecessary to use a heated bed. It can be printed on acrylic, glass, polyimide tape, or blue tape. This filament is also great for printing lightweight objects because of its durability. It has a 1.75-millimeter diameter, with a +/- 0.05-millimeter tolerance. The spool weighs a total of 2.2 pounds. The recommended extrusion temperature is 240°C-260°C.

This filament is hydrophobic; it does not absorb moisture. This makes it relatively easy to store, as you don’t have to look for any special storage system to ensure it stays dry. This is one major advantage of using a PETG filament for your 3D printing projects. Some other types of the filament will produce a smell when heated. This filament is odorless, avoiding any allergy issues for sensitive users.

A heated bed is not compulsory when printing with PETG, but it can be an advantage, especially when printing large pieces. PETG is considered to be food safe in many countries (no, not edible! You can’t eat it). You can print items to use with your food and drinks, but we still advise that you check the manufacturer’s specifications. It is also environmentally friendly and can be easily recycled.

Following are some other printer filaments by this brand:

• Hatchbox Black PLA 3D Printer Filament – Vacuum-sealed with desiccant and has an extrusion temperature of180°C - 210°C
• Hatchbox Wood 3D Printer Filament –1.75-millimeter diameter and dimensional accuracy of +/- 0.05 millimeters
• Hatchbox Blue PETG 3D Printer Filament – It does not absorb moisture, and it can be recycled