{"id":164658,"date":"2022-04-22T15:49:40","date_gmt":"2022-04-22T07:49:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/?post_type=kb&p=164658"},"modified":"2022-05-13T17:50:54","modified_gmt":"2022-05-13T09:50:54","slug":"the-strongest-3d-printer-filament-of-2021","status":"publish","type":"kb","link":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/the-strongest-3d-printer-filament-of-2021","title":{"rendered":"The Strongest 3D Printer Filament of 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you’re curious about the toughest materials to print with, read on to learn the strongest 3D printer filament types out there!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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While 3D printing can be fun, the produced parts can turn out weak and not fit for purpose. Often, this is the result of using standard materials that aren\u2019t designed for strength and endurance. The solution: Use a strong filament! Strong filaments can expand the possibilities of 3D printing, as you can print end-use parts for small projects without the fear of them breaking.<\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll be exploring three of the strongest types of filament. Before that, though, we\u2019ll detail what strength means in terms of filament materials.<\/p>\n

If you need a strong 3D printed part but don\u2019t have the means to print it yourself, try\u00a0Craftcloud, your 3D printing service marketplace<\/a>. You\u2019ll be able to order your part in all the strongest filaments (and other materials) and can be assured of the professional quality of the end product.<\/p>\n

Without further ado, let\u2019s home in on these mighty filaments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

What Does Strength Mean?<\/h3>\n
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We’ll measure filament strength in pounds and PSI (Source: Airwolf 3D)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Various factors can measure filament strength, but we\u2019ll mostly be using\u00a0tensile strength<\/a>\u00a0for this article, with references to elongation at break . The former measures a material\u2019s resistance to breaking by being pulled apart and is useful for determining the overall strength of a filament. On the other hand, elongation at break describes how much the material stretches before breaking and is great for looking at impact resistance.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll indicate each filament\u2019s tensile strength using pounds or pounds per square inch (PSI). For the elongation at break of a material, we\u2019ll give the percentage increase that a length of material can be stretched before breaking (this is mostly relevant for flexible materials like TPU).<\/p>\n

Despite the clear number of pounds or percentage elongation that a filament can handle, there\u2019s still a margin of error, depending on how a part was printed. We\u2019ve gathered research from multiple sources to ensure that the reported results are backed up.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to recognize that the material itself isn\u2019t the only element of a printed part\u2019s strength. Design,\u00a0post-processing<\/a>, and printing settings also alter a part\u2019s strength, so be sure to make, print, and process your parts optimally.<\/p>\n

Polycarbonate<\/h3>\n
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This polycarbonate jack lifted 529 pounds without breaking a sweat (Source: 3D Printing Solutions via YouTube)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to multiple manufacturers and reviewers,\u00a0polycarbonate (PC)<\/a>\u00a0is considered the strongest consumer filament out there. PC can yield extremely high-strength parts when printed correctly with an\u00a0all-metal hot end<\/a>\u00a0and an\u00a0enclosure<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By the Numbers<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Airwolf 3D<\/a>, after many filament tests, concluded that PC is the king of desktop 3D printer filaments. They were able to hang up to 685 pounds on a hook printed in PC and found that the material had a tensile strength of 9,800 PSI. In contrast, the same part printed in\u00a0PLA<\/a>\u00a0could only handle 285 pounds.<\/p>\n

Using a similar test,\u00a0MatterHackers<\/a>\u00a0studied this type of filament\u2019s tensile strength as well as a variety of other materials. They were able to hang an average of 409 pounds on a PC hook while PLA parts had a significantly weaker average of just 154 pounds.<\/p>\n

Lastly, noted 3D printing YouTuber\u00a0Thomas Sanladerer<\/a>\u00a0reviewed some PC filament and gave very positive feedback on the material\u2019s strength.<\/p>\n

Printing<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Perhaps unsurprisingly, PC doesn\u2019t print too well and doesn\u2019t handle\u00a0overhangs<\/a>\u00a0or fine detail the way other filaments do.<\/p>\n

PC mainly comes in a transparent color and has excellent thermal resistance as well as impact resistance,\u00a0according to Rigid.Ink<\/a>. You\u2019ll also need to print it at high temperatures, so make sure you have an\u00a0enclosed printer<\/a>\u00a0and an all-metal hot end.<\/p>\n