Make parts that protect equipment from electrostatic shocks without clogging your nozzle, warping your part, or needing a heated printer bed. These filaments have a base of PLA, the most common filament thanks to its low melting point, with a compound that diverts electrostatic discharges in a controlled way. PLA is also unlikely to drip and produce plastic strings for clean, detailed parts. However, it’s not as strong or as heat resistant as ABS, so it’s better for prototypes over load-bearing equipment. Since these filaments won’t produce toxic fumes, you can safely print them without ventilation. Print them on a fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printer.

To make sure your part dissipates static properly, use an electrical resistance tester to measure the surface resistivity. The target surface resistivity for PLA is 10⁷ to 10⁹ ohms. To adjust resistivity, change the temperature of your printer’s extruder. As the extruder’s temperature increases, so will the printed part’s resistivity.

Tensile strength is the best measure of a filament’s overall strength. Similar to the stress applied on a rope during a game of tug-of-war, it’s the amount of pulling force a material can handle before breaking. A higher rating means a stronger filament. A tensile strength of 5,000 psi and above is considered good; 12,000 psi and above is excellent.

Maximum exposure temperature is the point at which a printed part will begin to deform. Above this temperature, your part will start to lose structural integrity.

Create circuit prototypes and other conductive pathways with these low-maintenance PLA filaments. They combine a conductive additive with PLA, the most commonly used filament material. Their low melting temperature means they rarely clog nozzles and won’t warp while cooling, so they don’t need a heated printer bed. They produce clean, string-free parts that capture the details of intricate designs. PLA should primarily be used to print prototypes, as it isn’t strong or heat resistant enough to create parts for repeated use. Unlike other materials, PLA filaments won’t produce toxic fumes while printing, so they don’t require ventilation. These filaments are for use in fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printers.

To ensure your part conducts electricity properly, use an electrical resistance tester, which measures surface resistivity. In general, the target surface resistivity for printed parts is 10¹ to 10⁶ ohms. To adjust, change the temperature of your printer’s extruder. As the extruder’s temperature increases, so will the printed part’s conductivity.

Maximum exposure temperature is the point at which a printed part will begin to deform. Above this temperature, your printed parts will start to lose structural integrity.

Made of pliable TPU with a conductive compound, these filaments produce wire, circuits, and other components that direct the flow of electricity in wearable and flexible devices, from watches to grippers. Combine them with an insulating material so the electricity flows only through the filament’s pathways and not the rest of the device. In addition to being flexible, TPU is also durable and handles stresses better than ABS and PLA.

Print these filaments on a fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printer. You don’t need a heated printer bed, and printed parts resist shrinking and warping as they cool. Because they’re flexible, these filaments print best at a slow, consistent rate; high print speeds could cause them to jam. They don’t stand up well to moisture, so store them in a dehumidifying cabinet or other sealed container with a desiccant to keep them dry.

To make sure your part conducts electricity properly, use an electrical resistance tester to measure the surface resistivity. The target surface resistivity for TPU is 10¹ to 10⁶ ohms. To adjust, change the temperature of your printer’s extruder. As the extruder’s temperature increases, so will the printed part’s conductivity.

Tensile strength is the best measure of a filament’s overall strength. Similar to the stress applied on a rope during a game of tug-of-war, it’s the amount of pulling force a material can handle before breaking. A higher rating means a stronger filament. A tensile strength of 5,000 psi and above is considered good; 12,000 psi and above is excellent.

TPU blended with a static-dissipative compound, these filaments make gaskets, springs, grippers, and other pliable parts that divert electrostatic shocks in a controlled way, protecting nearby electronics and sensitive equipment. They meet ANSI/ESD and IEC standards for manufacturing, packaging, transporting, and storing items that can be damaged by electrostatic shocks. In addition to being flexible, TPU is also durable and withstands stresses better than ABS and PLA.

Print these filaments on a fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printer. You don’t need a heated printer bed, and printed parts resist shrinking and warping as they cool. Because they’re flexible, these filaments print best at a slow, consistent rate; high print speeds could cause them to jam. They don’t stand up well to moisture, so store them in a dehumidifying cabinet or other sealed container with a desiccant to keep them dry.

Durometer 80A filaments are more flexible than durometer 95A and 74D filaments. Durometer 95A filaments have a balance of flexibility and strength. Durometer 74D filaments are tough and durable. Similar to a tire tread, they can bend repeatedly without cracking.

To make sure your part dissipates static properly, use an electrical resistance tester to measure the surface resistivity. The target surface resistivity for TPU is 10⁶ to 10⁸ ohms. To adjust the resistivity, change the temperature of your printer’s extruder. As the extruder’s temperature increases, so will the printed part’s resistivity.

Tensile strength is the best measure of a filament’s overall strength. Similar to the stress applied to a rope during a game of tug-of-war, it’s the amount of pulling force a material can handle before breaking. A higher rating means a stronger filament. A tensile strength of 5,000 psi and above is considered good; 12,000 psi and above is excellent.

Maximum exposure temperature is the point at which a printed part will begin to deform. Above this temperature, your printed part will start to lose structural integrity.

Parts made with these filaments remain strong and rigid in temperatures that would soften most plastics. They are a lightweight alternative to machined metal parts. Use with a fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printer to make parts that will be used near ovens, engines, and other hot machinery. These filaments require an all-metal extruder to reach the recommended printing temperatures. Print parts onto a heated bed to keep them from warping as they cool.

PVDF, also known as Kynar, is the most wear-resistant high-temperature material. Parts made from these filaments also hold up when exposed to UV rays.

For parts that need to be sterilized, use PSU filaments. Parts printed with these filaments are rigid and hard. They won’t expand or deform when exposed to heat and steam, so you can autoclave them.

PEI filaments have electrical-insulating properties, which make them good for printing circuit-breaker housings and semiconductor components.

Parts printed from PEEK filaments hold up to wear from repeated use and do not degrade when exposed to most chemicals. They are often used to print parts for chemical processing applications.

Fiberglass-filled PEEK filaments produce parts that are stronger, shrink less, and are less likely to warp than unfilled PEEK. They also take nearly twice as much heat without deforming. To reach their full heat resistance and strength, parts printed with fiberglass-filled PEEK must be annealed.

PEKK filaments can be printed at a lower temperature than PEEK and produce parts that withstand more heat. Parts printed with PEKK must be annealed to reach their full strength and heat resistance. To skip the annealing process, use carbon-fiber-filled PEKK filaments. Once they are printed, they tolerate the same amount of heat as unfilled, annealed PEKK, while producing parts that are stiffer and more impact resistant. These filaments also meet UL 94 V-0, which means they self-extinguish within 10 seconds if they catch fire, and won’t cause additional fires by dripping.

Tensile strength is the best measure of a filament's overall strength. Similar to the stress applied on a rope during a game of tug-of-war, it's the amount of pulling force a material can handle before breaking. A higher rating means a stronger filament. A tensile strength of 5,000 psi and above is considered good; 12,000 psi and above is excellent.

Maximum exposure temperature is the point at which a printed part will begin to deform. Above this temperature, your printed parts will start to lose structural integrity.

Annealing is the process of heating prints to a specific annealing temperature and then slowly allowing them to cool. This makes the finished print harder, stronger, and more heat tolerant. Maximum temperature after annealing replaces the maximum exposure temperature once this process has been completed.

Not only do parts printed from these filaments protect sensitive electronics, but they also hold their shape in temperatures that would deform or degrade most plastic. Use them to make parts for hot environments, such as engines, ovens, or lighting equipment. These filaments combine heat-tolerant plastic with a static-dissipative material that keeps static from building up and prevents shocks.

Use these filaments with a fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printer. They require an all-metal extruder to reach the recommended printing temperatures, and should be printed onto a heated bed to keep parts from warping as they cool.

PVDF, also known as Kynar, is extremely wear resistant and holds up when exposed to UV rays.

PEI filaments have electrical-insulating properties, which make them good for printing circuit-breaker housings and semiconductor components.

PEKK filaments are nearly twice as strong as PVDF and PEI.

Use an electrical resistance tester to make sure printed parts meet proper resistivity levels. In general, the target surface resistivity for PVDF is 10⁶ to 10⁹ ohms, and for PEI and PEKK it's 10⁶ to 10⁷ ohms. To adjust your measurements, change the temperature of your printer's extruder. As the extruder's temperature increases, so will the printed part's resistivity.

Tensile strength is the best measure of a filament's overall strength. Similar to the stress applied on a rope during a game of tug-of-war, it's the amount of pulling force a material can handle before breaking. A higher rating means a stronger filament. A tensile strength of 5,000 psi and above is considered good; 12,000 psi and above is excellent.

Maximum exposure temperature is the point at which a printed part will begin to deform. Above this temperature, your printed parts will start to lose structural integrity.