PLA (poly lactic acid)
PLA is called the greed plastic. It is a bio-degradable type of plastic that is manufactured out of plant-based resources such as corn starch or sugar cane. It’s commonly used for packaging, such as food products, but do not worry you can also use it to print! Be sure to throw it in a filament recycler and you’re as green as can be.
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
ABS plastic is made out of oil-based resources and it has a much higher melting point than PLA plastic. It’s also stronger and harder. ABS is usually used for purposes ranging from motorcycle helmets and car bumpers to musical instruments, Lego and golfclubs.
So, which material is better?
PLA
| Pros | Cons |
| + Can be printed on a cold surface | – Can deform because of heat (like a cassette in a car) |
| + More environmental-friendly | – Less sturdy (than ABS) |
| + Shinier and smoother appearance | |
| + Smells sweet when being print =) | |
| + No harmful fumes during printing | |
| + Higher 3d printer speed | |
| + More detail |
ABS
| Pros | Cons |
| + Very sturdy and hard | – Made out of oil, so more damaging to the environment |
| + Suitable for machine or car parts | – Deformes when not being print on a heated surface |
| + Higher melting point | – Hot plastic fumes when printing |
| + Longer lifespan | – Therefore, you need ventilation |
| – More difficult to print | |
| – Not suitable for using with food |
In order to 3D print parts for machines, companies use ABS, because of its lifespan, its strength and its higher melting point. However, designer who is printing 3d models at home, will be better off choosing PLA, because PLA is easier to use, its appearance and also because you don’t need ventilation.
There are also disadvateges of printing models with plastics. Because, for example if you want to print new dishes or cup at home and you use PLA, you cannot put it in the dishwasher. Dishwasher would deform your model through the heat. ABS is also not the right option, because of its oil-base and therefore it cannot be used for holding beverages or food.
Technology
In 3D Spectrum we use CubePro TRIO from 3D Systems which is the largest-in-class build platform with ultra high-resolution. Our technology prints provides build volume (11.2″ x 10.6″ x 9.06″ or 285.4mm x 270.4mm x 230mm) with ultra high-resolution settings of 70-micron thin print layers.
You can Get more expressive with 3D printing in up to 3 simultaneous colors with 3 material options. You can select from over 24 vibrant colors for more unique combinations.
To build your 3D model with ABS we use Fused Deposition Modeling You can compare this 3D printing technology 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 3D printing technology, a long plastic wire is used in place of glue. It is fed by a spool to the nozzle where the material is liquefied and ‘drawn’ on the platform where material straight away hardens again. The nozzle moves to drop the material at the correct location, drawing your model line by line. Once a layer is drawn, the platform lowers by one layer thickness and then the 3D printer is able to start with the next layer.
If the model has overhanging sections, the printer has to construct supporting material. Because the material of the printed object cannot be deposited in the air, in order to prevent it from falling down is used support material. This support material is fed through another nozzle. Subsequently, when the printed model is put into a bath with special soap, the support material dissolves.