Tools / Fabrication

3D Print

Estimate filament mass, cost, print time and length from part volume, infill density and material properties.

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PLA · 20% infill

Parameters

Volume (cm³)

Infill (%)

Wall share (%)

Density (g/cm³)

Price ($/kg)

Print speed (mm/s)

Filament mass—

Cost—

Print time—

Filament length—

Properties and working parameters for common FDM/FFF filament types.

Material	Density	Print Temp	Bed Temp	Strength	Flexibility	Ease	Outdoor	Food Safe
PLA	1.24 g/cm³	190 – 220 ℃	0 – 60 ℃	Medium	Low	Easy	No	Conditional
ABS	1.04 g/cm³	220 – 250 ℃	90 – 110 ℃	High	Medium	Moderate	Moderate	No
PETG	1.27 g/cm³	220 – 250 ℃	70 – 90 ℃	High	Medium	Easy	Good	Yes
TPU	1.21 g/cm³	210 – 230 ℃	0 – 60 ℃	Medium	Very high	Moderate	Good	No
Nylon	1.14 g/cm³	240 – 270 ℃	70 – 100 ℃	Very high	High	Hard	Good	Conditional
ASA	1.07 g/cm³	235 – 255 ℃	90 – 110 ℃	High	Medium	Moderate	Excellent	No
PC	1.19 g/cm³	260 – 310 ℃	100 – 130 ℃	Very high	Medium	Hard	Good	No
PVA	1.23 g/cm³	180 – 210 ℃	0 – 60 ℃	Low	Low	Moderate	No	No
HIPS	1.04 g/cm³	220 – 250 ℃	90 – 110 ℃	Medium	Low	Easy	Moderate	No
Carbon Fiber	1.30 g/cm³	200 – 260 ℃	50 – 80 ℃	Very high	Low	Moderate	Good	No
Wood Fill	1.15 g/cm³	180 – 220 ℃	0 – 60 ℃	Low	Low	Easy	No	No

Choosing the right layer height balances print time, surface finish and mechanical strength.

Layer Height	Nozzle	Quality	Speed	Strength	Best For
0.05 mm	0.2 – 0.4 mm	Ultra fine	Very slow	Medium	Miniatures, detailed figurines, jewelry prototypes
0.10 mm	0.2 – 0.4 mm	Fine	Slow	Medium	Display models, visual prototypes, smooth surfaces
0.15 mm	0.3 – 0.4 mm	High	Moderate	Good	General purpose, balanced quality and speed
0.20 mm	0.4 mm	Standard	Fast	Good	Functional parts, enclosures, everyday prints
0.25 mm	0.4 – 0.5 mm	Medium	Fast	High	Structural parts, jigs and fixtures
0.30 mm	0.5 – 0.6 mm	Draft	Very fast	High	Rapid prototypes, large models, test fits
0.40 mm	0.6 – 0.8 mm	Coarse	Fastest	Very high	Rough drafts, non-cosmetic structural parts

Each pattern offers different trade-offs between strength, weight, speed and material usage.

Pattern	Strength	Print Speed	Material Use	Flexibility	Best For
Grid	Medium	Fast	Medium	Low	General purpose, balanced performance
Lines	Low	Fastest	Low	Medium	Visual models, non-structural parts
Triangles	High	Moderate	Medium	Low	Load-bearing parts, structural pieces
Tri-Hexagon	High	Moderate	Medium	Low	Strong parts needing even load distribution
Cubic	High	Moderate	Medium	Low	Equal strength in all directions (3D isotropy)
Gyroid	Very high	Slow	Medium	Medium	Flexible parts, equal strength in all axes
Honeycomb	Very high	Slow	High	Low	Maximum strength-to-weight ratio
Concentric	Medium	Fast	Medium	High	Flexible objects, transparent parts
Lightning	Low	Fastest	Lowest	Low	Visual models, top-surface support only

Techniques for improving surface quality, strength and appearance after printing.

Method	Compatible Materials	Difficulty	Surface Improvement	Tools Needed	Notes
Sanding	PLA, ABS, PETG, Nylon	Easy	High	Sandpaper (120 – 2000 grit)	Wet sanding prevents dust and clogging. Work through grits progressively.
Acetone Vapor	ABS, ASA	Moderate	Excellent	Acetone, sealed container	Smooths layer lines by dissolving surface. Requires ventilation. Not for PLA.
Filler Primer	All rigid filaments	Easy	High	Spray filler primer	Fills small gaps and layer lines. Multiple coats with sanding between.
Painting	All rigid filaments	Moderate	Medium	Primer, acrylic or enamel paint	Prime first for adhesion. Airbrush gives best results on detailed parts.
Epoxy Coating	PLA, ABS, PETG	Moderate	Excellent	Two-part epoxy resin	Creates hard glossy shell. Adds waterproofing and UV resistance.
Heat Gun	PLA, ABS	Hard	Medium	Heat gun, gloves	Risk of warping. Keep moving and use low settings. Good for localized smoothing.
Annealing	PLA, PETG, Nylon	Moderate	Minimal	Oven, thermometer	Increases crystallinity and heat resistance. Parts may shrink 2 – 5%.
Metal Plating	ABS, PLA (with conductive paint)	Hard	Excellent	Conductive paint, electroplating kit	Apply conductive layer first, then electroplate with copper, nickel or chrome.
Support Removal	All	Easy	Medium	Pliers, flush cutters, files	PVA dissolves in water. HIPS dissolves in limonene. Manual for all others.