3D printer filament guide: PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU and carbon fibre

The filament you plan to print often decides the printer more than any other factor. Some materials print well on almost any machine, while others need an enclosure, a hardened nozzle, ventilation or a direct-drive extruder.

Read the PLA versus PETG guide first if this is your first printer; it covers where most people start and when to add a second material. If you need heat or weather resistance, read the ABS versus ASA guide next for enclosure and ventilation needs. Flexible parts and carbon-fibre blends each have their own guide, because both narrow the list of printers and multicolour units that can handle them.

Once you know your materials, return to the comparisons and reviews and rule out any printer that cannot print them.

Comparisons

Materials8 min read

ABS vs ASA: which to print in an enclosed printer and what ventilation it needs

Heat and UV resistance, warping, print settings and emissions for ABS and ASA from Bambu’s filament data and safety notes and UL research, and when PETG is the simpler choice.

Research comparisonRead guide

Guides and explainers

Materials8 min read

PLA vs PETG for a first printer: start with PLA, add PETG for a reason

Nozzle temperatures, enclosure needs, drying and listed price per kilogram from official filament pages, plus when ABS, ASA and TPU are the wrong first buy.

Research guideRead guide

Materials8 min read

Printing carbon-fibre filament: which printers and nozzles can handle it

Hardened-nozzle rules, temperatures and enclosure needs for PLA-CF, PETG-CF and PA-CF from Bambu’s material guide and filament listings, plus which current printers ship hardened and which need an upgrade.

Research guideRead guide

Materials9 min read

Printing TPU: which printers handle flexible filament and which multicolour units cannot

Shore hardness floors, nozzle limits and the AMS, CFS and ACE Pro restrictions on TPU from official manufacturer documentation, plus a buyer checklist for gaskets, grips and phone cases.

Research guideRead guide

Materials8 min read

3D printer build plate types explained: textured PEI, smooth PEI, cool plates and engineering plates

What each build surface is for, which filaments Bambu Lab’s compatibility table assigns to each plate and at what bed temperature, when glue is required, the underside finish you get, and official replacement prices from Bambu Lab and Creality.

Research guideRead guide

Materials8 min read

How to store and dry filament: humidity targets, dryer options and which materials absorb water fastest

A prevention plan built from Bambu Lab’s drying tables and storage-humidity guidance, with drying temperatures for PLA, PETG, TPU, nylon and PC, what the AMS 2 Pro, AMS HT, ACE 2 Pro and Creality dryers can do, and a priced starter checklist.

Research guideRead guide

Materials8 min read

Using third-party filament in AMS, CFS and ACE: spool sizes, cardboard spools and RFID

The published spool dimensions, cardboard-spool guidance and unsupported materials for Bambu’s AMS 2 Pro, AMS HT and AMS lite, Creality’s CFS and CFS Lite, and Anycubic’s ACE Pro and ACE 2 Pro, plus how to set up a spool without an RFID tag.

Research guideRead guide