So how does 3D printing work? I’ll try to keep this brief!

The main kind of printing I offer is known as “Fused Deposition Modeling,” or “FDM” for short. A long roll of filament feeds into a heated nozzle where the filament melts but does not burn. The melted filament is pushed through the nozzle in very thin lines, each less than a millimeter thick! As the filament is pushed through, the nozzle moves around to “draw” the model from the bottom up.

There are many different kinds of filament. Here are the ones I work with primarily. Other specialized materials are available, though!

PolyLactic Acid (PLA): 

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Many color/finish options
• Biodegradable

Cons:

• Lower Temperature Resistance
• Lower Impact Resistance
• Brittle

PolyEthylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG)

Pros:

• Higher Temperature Resistance Than PLA
• Higher Structural Integrity Than PLA
• Less Brittle than PLA

Cons:

• Fewer color/finish options than PLA

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS):

Pros:

• Even Higher Temperature Resistance
• High Durability for Functional Parts
• Excellent Tensile Strength

Cons:

• Most Expensive
• Limited Color/Finish Variety – Can Be Difficult To Print