SLA/DLP Materials
Stereolithography can build large parts with very good accuracy and surface finish. A wide range of material allow to build parts with specific characteristics. However, stereolithography only works with photopolymers which are not stable over time and have not well defined mechanical properties. Read more about SLA/DLP process.
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SLS Materials
Laser sintering can manufacture parts in standard plastics with good mechanical properties. There is a constantly growing set of materials available. However, parts do not have exactly the same properties as their injection molded counterparts. Read more about SLS process.
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DMLS/SLM Materials
Laser melting can manufacture parts in standard metals with high density, which can be further processed as any welding part. However, the technology is rather slow and expensive as well as surface finishes are limited. Read more about SLM/DMLS process.
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MJF Materials
Multi Jet Fusion can manufacture parts in standard plastics(even with full color) with good mechanical properties. There is a constantly growing set of materials available. However, parts do not have exactly the same properties as their injection molded counterparts. Read more about MJF process.
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PolyJet/MJP Materials
Multiple materials can be jetted together allowing multi-material and multi-color parts. Functionally graded materials are possible. However, the technology does not work with standard materials but with UV-active photopolymers which are not durable over time. Read more about PolyJet process.
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Binder Jetting Materials
Binder jetting is a rather fast and cheap technology, working with a wide arrange of material types. Parts in full color are possible. However, parts coming directly from the machine have limited mechanical characteristics. Read more about PolyJet process.
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Wax Jetting Materials
Material jetting can achieve very good accuracy and surface finishes. However the technology only works with wax-like materials. The technology can achieve very good accuracy and surface finishes. Due to the type of material, parts are rather fragile. The build process is rather slow.
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FDM Materials
Fused deposition modeling can build fully functional parts in standard plastics. However, they have an anisotropy in the z-direction (vertical direction) and a step-structure on the surface. Read more about FDM process.
FDM Flashforge PLA
PLA is the most common and lowest cost 3D printing material. Unsuitable for high temperature applications. PLA is more brittle than ABS with a lower impact strength and elongation before break. Large color selection.
Max Size:
Min Size:
5 x 5 x 5 mm
Default Layer Height:
0.2 mm
Optional Layer Heights(mm):
0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3
Tolerance:±0.2% (with a lower limit of ±0.2 mm)
Heat endurance:Under 100 ℃
Smooth: ★★★
Detail: ★★★
Accuracy: ★★★
Rigidity: ★★★★
Flexibility: ★★★
Available Colors
Available Post Process
Suitable For
Cases, holders, adapters,
Large models,
Low-cost prototype
Not Suitable For
Functional prototypes and end products,
Complex designs with intricate details,
Fine-detail models with smooth surfaces,
Moving and assembled parts,
Cavities within design (unless making use of escape holes),
Functional prototyping and testing,
Jewelry, art
Additional Info
 Min Supported Wall ThicknessA supported wall is one connected to other walls on two or more sides. | 1 mm |
 Min Unsupported Wall ThicknessAn unsupported wall is one connected to other walls on less than two sides. | 1 mm |
 Min Supported WiresA wire is a feature whose length is greater than five times its width. A supported wire is connected to walls on both sides. | 2 mm |
 Min Unsupported WiresA wire is a feature whose length is greater than five times its width. An unsupported wire is connected to walls on less than two sides. | 2 mm |
 Min Embossed DetailA detail is a feature whose length is less than twice its width. The minimum detail is determined by the printer's resolution.When detail dimensions are below the minimum, the printer may not be able to accurately replicate them. Details that are too small can also be smoothed over in the polishing process. To ensure details come out clearly, make them larger than the indicated minimum. We may refrain from printing products with details smaller than the minimum, since the final product will not be true to your design. If your product has details smaller than the minimum, try making them larger, removing them, or considering a material with finer detail. | 0.6 mm |
 Min Engraved DetailA detail is a feature whose length is less than twice its width. Engraved or debossed details go into a surface. | 0.6 mm |
 Min ClearanceClearance is the space between any two parts, walls or wires. To ensure a successful product, make the clearance between parts, walls, and wires greater than the indicated minimum. If your clearance is too small, try making the gap bigger, or consider fusing the parts or features if their independence is unnecessary. You can also try a material with a smaller minimum clearance. | 0.5 mm |
 Min Escape HolesEscape holes allow unbuilt material inside hollow products to be removed. Normally you don't need to consider this, our technician will add escape holes before printing. When products contain hollow cavities, they are often filled with powder/liquid even after they are removed from the build tray. If escape holes are not large enough, or the geometry of the product makes it difficult to shake or blast the powder out, we cannot successfully clean it. | 0 mm |
 Interlocking/moving or enclosed parts?Sometimes the interlocking/moving parts can't be printed, since the supports inside the cross section can't be removed. | |
 Require Support Material?Because each layer needs to build off the last, for some material, angles of more than 45 degrees generally require supports to be printed along with the design. Supports are not inherently detrimental for your design, but they do add complexity to the printing process and lead to less smooth finish on overhanging parts. | Yes |
Feature
 Watertight |  Foodsafe |  Glueable |  Recycleable |
 Biocompatible |  Biodegradable | ||
3D Printer
Flashforge Creator 4Material Spec Sheet
FDM Flashforge PLA is 3D printed using FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) technology.
Fused Deposition Modeling is used to build your design with this material.
The principle is simple. You can compare it with a hot glue gun into which you put sticks of glue. The glue is heated up until it melts and is then pushed through a fine nozzle in the front of the glue gun.
In an FDM printer, a long plastic wire is used in place of glue. It is fed from a spool to the nozzle where the material is liquefied and ‘drawn’ on the platform where it immediately hardens again. The nozzle moves to drop the material at the correct location, drawing your model line by line. When a layer is drawn, the platform lowers by one layer thickness so the printer can start with the next layer.
When your model contains overhanging sections, the printer needs to build supporting material. Since the material of the model cannot be deposited in the air, the support material prevents it from falling down. This support material is fed through another nozzle.
Afterward, when the model is put into a bath with special soap, the support material dissolves.
How is FDM 3D Printing Working?
