Technology has revolutionized our world and increased work efficiency in different sectors. The manufacturing sector is one of the sectors that benefit from continuous improvements in different technologies, one of which is 3D Printing. The impressive results from 3D Printing make it considered the future of manufacturing! But what exactly is 3D Printing? 3D Printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is the creation of a three-dimensional object from a CAD or digital 3D model. You can do it in various processes in which material is deposited, joined, or solidified under computer control, with the material being added together typically layer by layer.
Advantages of 3D Printing over traditional manufacturing methods
Rapid design and production: Depending on an object’s design and complexity, 3D Printing can print objects within hours, much faster than molded or machined parts. It is not only the manufacturing of the object that can aid in saving time through 3D Printing but also the process of designing can be very fast by creating STL or CAD files ready to be printed.
Minimizing Waste: The manufacture of parts only requires the materials needed for the part itself, with little or no wastage compared to other methods, which are removed from large chunks of non-recyclable materials. Not only does the method save on resources, but it also reduces the cost of the materials being used.
Cost Effective: As a single-step manufacturing process, 3D Printing saves time and costs associated with using different manufacturing machines. 3D printers can also be started and left to run with no need for an operator to be present throughout. As mentioned earlier, this manufacturing method can also reduce expenses on materials as it only requires the amount of material for the part itself, with little or no wastage.
FDM 3D printing feedstock: Like any other manufacturing technique, 3D Printing requires a feedstock. The feedstock in FDM (fused deposition modeling) is a 3D printing filament. There are various types of 3D printing filaments, each with its properties. In this article, we will focus on PETG filament.
PETG is an immensely popular 3D printing filament, widely used for its high strength, relative flexibility, and temperature resistance compared to the ever-popular PLA. It’s measured in many ways as ABS but is generally much easier to work with and has the added advantage of being food safe. As a result, it displaced ABS as the second most popular 3D printing filament on the market.
But what exactly is PETG?
PETG filament is also referred to as Polyethylene Terephthalate. Glycol is a thermoplastic known for being long-lasting and easy to use. The G in PETG stands for glycol-modified, which makes the final product clear, and has a glass-like visual appearance. It is often referred to as the “best of both worlds” because it has ABS’s rigidity and mechanical properties but is still easy to print like PLA.
When Should PETG Filament Be Used?
PETG is a good all-around material but stands out from other filaments given its flexibility, strength, temperature, and impact resistance, making it ideal for objects which might experience sustained or sudden stress, like mechanical parts, 3D printer parts, and protective components. Additionally, since the material is considered food-safe, petg filament can be a good option for objects that encounter food or drink. Just check your particular material to make sure first.
Where can you get the best PETG filament?
There are many PETG filament brands on the market, but not all are high-quality, and if you end up using low-quality 3D printing filament, you will get poor-quality printouts. The Snapmaker offers the best petg filament and other filaments at an affordable price. Below are the features of Snapmaker petg filament.
Description of Snapmaker petg filament
• Heat-resisting and long-lasting, with high rigidity and flexibility
• Low warping; thus, easy to print with
• Chemical-resistant, tolerant to various chemicals and detergents
• High dimensional accuracy of 1.75 mm (±0.03 mm) diameter
• Wide applicability, compatible with most 3D printers
