{"id":164078,"date":"2021-11-11T17:13:13","date_gmt":"2021-11-11T09:13:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/?post_type=kb&p=164078"},"modified":"2022-05-13T16:47:04","modified_gmt":"2022-05-13T08:47:04","slug":"color-changing-filament-pla-filament-brands-compared","status":"publish","type":"kb","link":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/color-changing-filament-pla-filament-brands-compared","title":{"rendered":"Color-Changing Filament: PLA Filament Brands Compared"},"content":{"rendered":"

Color-changing is back in style to bring cool effects to your 3D prints. Read on to see the best color-changing filament options!<\/p>\n

How It Works<\/h3>\n
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The same technology in mood rings is used in color-changing filament (Source: eBay)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You\u2019ve probably heard of jewelry that changes color based on the body temperature of the wearer to \u201cshow\u201d their emotions. For example, it would change to pink for love or red for anger. But what does this have to do with 3D printing?<\/p>\n

Thermochromism<\/a>\u00a0is the scientific principle that makes the rings above change color that is now being applied to 3D printing filament. It\u2019s a property of a material where the color can change based on temperature. Materials utilize thermochromism in two ways, either through liquid crystals such as in strip thermometers or through\u00a0leuco dyes<\/a>\u00a0used in color-changing novelty items.<\/p>\n

Leuco dyes are simply organic chemicals that change their molecular structure with changes in temperature, thus changing their color. Usually, it can only change between two colors, one indicating a cooler temperature while the other a warmer temperature. In 3D printing, leuco dyes are mixed into the filament giving makers the ability to add trippy effects to their\u00a0projects<\/a>.<\/p>\n

These materials are safe to touch and give great finished print results. Makers have used this filament for prints ranging from temperature indicators for electronics to\u00a0toys<\/a>\u00a0to tablewear. The most common materials with this effect are\u00a0PLA and ABS<\/a>, but we\u2019ll be focusing on PLA for this list.<\/p>\n

Before we get to the list of brands that offer color-changing filaments, we\u2019ll go over some general printing recommendations. Let\u2019s dive in!<\/p>\n

Printing Tips<\/h3>\n
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You don’t want your filament to fall apart! (Source: rwg42985 via YouTube)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even though many reviews say color-changing filaments are equal in quality to standard filaments, a common issue is clogging. Some people suggest that you need a\u00a0metal nozzle<\/a>\u00a0to prevent this, but you can simply increase the nozzle temperature. Regular PLA asks for a nozzle temperature between 190-220 \u00b0C and it\u2019s recommended that you increase this range to 215-230 \u00b0C for color-changing material to prevent clogging.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also the issue of brittleness, which seems to be affected by low ambient temperatures. This can be minimized by following proper\u00a0filament storage<\/a>\u00a0guidelines for your spools when not in use. You could also consider adding an\u00a0enclosure<\/a>\u00a0to your setup.<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, you should always defer to the filament brand\u2019s printing suggestions. Now, let\u2019s look at some brands!<\/p>\n

Gizmo Dorks<\/span><\/h3>\n
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You’ll need to heat up this filament to 31 \u00b0C to see the color change (Source: GreyBeard3D)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Based in California, USA, Gizmo Dorks was created in 2009 by a group of longtime friends with the mission to make desktop 3D printing more accessible to the general public. They provide a wide array of filaments from\u00a0PLA<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0nylon<\/a>. Gizmo Dorks offers\u00a0temperature color-changing filament<\/span>\u00a0in both ABS and PLA material, which change colors around 31 \u00b0C.<\/p>\n

One of Gizmo Dorks\u2019 stated missions is to provide products that are both affordable and reliable. Reviewers praise this but also stated some quality issues, such as brittleness under certain temperatures.<\/p>\n