If you are a 3D printer owner, you know that choosing the right 3D filament is key to get successful prints. However, with the hundreds of brands available on the market, it can be very difficult and time consuming to compare all the options and identify the best choice of 3D printer filaments for your project. Here are some tips that might help you to find the best 3D filament for your FDM 3D printer.
A good starting point in your research for the best 3D filament is a 3D filaments comparison chart such as this one on Aniwaa. Their database covers all the major brands of filaments for 3D printers. Their comparison engine allow you to easily filter hundreds of 3D filaments by material, diameter, colors and properties. In a few clicks, you can compare all the wood 3D filaments available and select the right one for you!
Before you buy your 3D filament, you need to figure out what type of filaments are compatible with your 3D printer. It sounds obvious but some machines only accept proprietary filament, in which case don't gamble on trying a different kind. PLA filament is the most common consumable for 3D printers, while ABS filament is less frequently used because it requires a heated print bed on the 3D printer. All these 3D filaments come in spools, usually of 1kg but sometimes less (especially for the more expensive exotic filaments).
Once you've determined the technical characteristics 3D filaments compatible with your 3D printer (material, diameter, extrusion temperature...), you need to think about what type of object you want to 3D print. There are many kind of plastics-based 3D filaments available on the market, in a wide range of colors. It is even possible to use exotic filaments with awesome properties: some are flexible, glow-in-the-dark, or transparent. There are even some 3D filaments which contain wood or metal, to give a great feel to your printed object.
Note:
I usually recommend to stay away from the cheaper brands of filaments, as they're often low-cost but also low-quality and can even damage your 3D printer.
Here is a list of some of the top reliable brands which I do recommend: ProtoPasta, FormFutura, Kobo, Taulman3D, AllProfessional3D, Voltivo, ColorFabb, MadeSolid, OO-Kuma, NinjaFlex, Polymaker, 3DFuel.
