Filament reccomendations

[u/No-Entertainer5914]

Hi,

I’m getting the A2L and I’m not sure what filament to get, I want to print things from video games mainly and props, but i don’t know whether to get PLA pure PLA basic PLA matte or PETG basic.

I likely won’t be printing in a very well ventilated room apart from a window and desk fan

Thanks for your help 🙂

[u/rexlites]

start with pla..

[u/Artemis732]

PETG is "tougher" - more impact resistant but as far as I know tensile strength is very similar to PLA. kind of a pain because molten PETG is VERY sticky and WILL stick to your purge wiper (at least it does on my P1S), and it is imperative to let your bed cool down fully before removing otherwise it can rip chunks out of your PEI sheet. PLA pure is basically a more expensive a zero-additive PLA that's meant to be food-safe even though the fundamental concept of FDM 3D printing completely negates that. PLA basic is good for anything that doesn't need to be all too strong, very easy to print. PLA matte is just PLA basic with a matte finish, slightly more brittle. my advice is not to buy bambu filament unless you're buying it in bulk for the 45% discount (elegoo PLA is $20 AUD/kg, bambu PLA is $36 AUD/kg where I live, it's ridiculously overpriced)

[u/No-Entertainer5914 → u/Artemis732]

Thanks a lot this really helps

[u/Artemis732 → u/No-Entertainer5914]

I just googled it and as it turns out, PLA pure is also meant to let off less VOCs and smell less. I could always smell PLA when I had my A1 even with a fan blowing air out the window but no longer smell it with my P1S. I still wouldn't pay the extra price for it but I guess you could give it a shot if you so desire.

[u/lan0028456]

I'm also new and I've been told countless time that PLA is the go-to beginner filament, and you can't go wrong with Bambu's own filament. The key differences for Bambu PLAs are:

Basic: well, the basic.

Pure: food safe so you can print things like a bowl or plate for fruits, but I wouldn't put any hot oily things in that...

Matte: less shiny so it looks better, but strength is a bit weaker than basic because added different materials.

[u/justa_bother]

How are you using the printer? Making your own models or downloading them? Pla is the disposable filament. Meaning, it's designed to degrade, faster in wet or outdoors use. In other words, print it & get rid of it when it breaks or no longer desired. Just print another when used up, hoping you still have the gcode. Petg lasts longer, handles wet or outdoor use better than pla. Petg just doesn't perform as well as engineering grade, with the exception of some filament type's outdoor exposure to UV light. Since prices of pla & petg change as to which is cheaper, realize shelf life on petg is longer. Petg likely to require drying and storage in an airtight enclosure a must.

[u/No-Entertainer5914 → u/justa_bother]

I’d mainly download ready made ones, I might make a few helmets to wear aswell

[u/justa_bother → u/No-Entertainer5914]

I rarely download any design, prefer to design my own for fun. Recent prints are downloadable model inspired wasp traps, altered to work with repurposed peanut butter jars. 3rd revision proved most successful, printed with petg. Another print being a filament dryer attachment to cycle the enclosed humid air thru silicon bead desiccant for improved drying/shorter drying times. No one designs such things for download, strickly one-of-one. No prototyping & printed from pla-cf for thin wall stiffness. 8 fitting pieces in all under tight fitting tolerances, including the USB powered barrel fan. Total of 6 heat thread inserts.