Everyone goes through various struggles when choosing the clear filament for the first time. There are several types of clear filament on the list.
So if you have trouble making your decision, you are just getting the start, or you need to test all the material – don’t worry.
You are in the right place. Here are so many plastic materials could be used in 3d printer. The most commonly used clear or transparent 3D printer filaments are PLA, PMMA, PETG, PET, Clear ABS, Polycarbonate, and TPU. Let’sLet’s talk about the positives, negatives, and best printing tips one by one.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” custom_margin=”20px||14px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]PLA
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http://ecoreprap.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/transparent-PLA-filament.jpg” alt=”transparent PLA ” title_text=”transparent PLA ” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”700px” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#292929″ text_font_size=”17px” custom_margin=”||17px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]The natural PLA resin is not clear. It has a very faint yellow tinge. If you compared with clear PLA filament from different manufacturers, there will be a slight difference. The tip is the process temperature. If the temp setting is higher, PLA resin could be perfect recrystallization. Then the filament will be more transparent.
The transparency is different from the resin manufacturer. There are two manufacturers for PLA raw resin. One is NatureWorks, the other is Hisun, We have made opacity tests with 4032D, 4043D(from Naturelwork), and 190(from Hisun), The opacity of 190 is much better than 4032D and 4043D.
Liking ABS, PLA is a commonly used filament in 3d printing. It is biodegradable and has excellent properties. Translucent PLA filament is one of the easiest to print clearly and get good results. To get the smooth finish of the surface, sanded is needed after printed. The part is close to the clear after filed.
Choose the right sandpaper is essential. This depends on the layer height in the setting. Thicker layers need courser sandpaper. Then use more delicate and finer grits, sanding in a circular motion each time (this bit is crucial because you’re trying to remove all surface imperfections). Start at the start, maybe 800 grit, and upwards in 200 increments from there. Finish with 3000 or higher grit to get a smooth finish.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” custom_margin=”20px||14px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]ABS
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http://ecoreprap.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/clear-ABS.jpg” alt=”Clear ABS” title_text=”clear ABS” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”700px” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#141414″ text_font_size=”17px” custom_margin=”||12px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]The nature of abs is not transparent. Clear abs are the particular type of abs material. The short name is MBS. Other additives will add to make it clear.
Clear abs filament cannot print as clear as the material. It needs to be post-print finished with Acetone vapor smoothing.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” custom_margin=”19px||14px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]PETG
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http://ecoreprap.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/transparent-petg.jpg” alt=”transparent petg” title_text=”transparent petg” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”700px” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#292929″ text_font_size=”17px” custom_margin=”||12px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]PETG is a durable clear 3D filament with excellent layer adhesion (almost unbreakable) and less shrinkage than other filaments; it’s great for 3D printing clear, big stuff that won’t break under pressure. It is odorless when printing and often produces clear, smooth finishes. Meanwhile, PETG has abs material’s flexibility and PLA’s strength.
PETG can’t smooth with acetone pour, but it can sand. Compared with PLA sanding, PETG printed object is smoother, which means that you need to use higher grit.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” custom_margin=”20px||14px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]PMMA
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http://ecoreprap.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/clear-PMMA.jpg” alt=”clear PMMA” title_text=”clear PMMA” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”700px” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#292929″ text_font_size=”17px” custom_margin=”||12px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]PMMA is the most transparent material so far. It has high strength and impact resistance.
PMMA is commonly used to replace glass in a particular application, such as cellphone screen and sunshine glass. The opacity of pmma is about 92%, much more than other clear plastic.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#292929″ custom_margin=”20px||14px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]Polycarbonate
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http://ecoreprap.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/transparent-PC.jpg” alt=”transparent PC” title_text=”transparent PC” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”700px” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#292929″ text_font_size=”17px” custom_margin=”||12px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]Polycarbonate is an extremely durable and optically transparent 3D printing filament that should print in a warm environment. Its durability can be bent repeatedly without cracking, making it great for creating all sorts of hipster jewelry.
But seriously, Polycarbonate (PC) is an immensely underrated material to print. It finishes with a nice glossy sheen to it. It needs a very hot extruder to print it usually, and if you’re looking for translucent results, we’d recommend going even hotter still (300 C+).
A great advantage with PC is that it can smooth with acetone like ABS to bring out more apparent results.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#292929″ custom_margin=”22px||14px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]TPU
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http://ecoreprap.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/transparent-TPU.jpg” alt=”transparent TPU” title_text=”transparent TPU” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”700px” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#141414″ text_font_size=”17px” custom_margin=”||12px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]TPU is the only flexible material used for clear parts. It has good elongation and flexibility. Due to this property, Tpu is commonly used in bracelets and use wine and charge wine.
About the Tpu filament, printer settings are different from other materials. The extruder structures are different, and the printing speed is slower. For the details, we will write on the next page.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” custom_margin=”20px||14px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]Summary
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#292929″ text_font_size=”17px” header_font=”Overpass||||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_font_size=”35px” header_2_font=”Roboto Slab||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#141414″ header_2_font_size=”35px” header_3_font=”Roboto||||||||” header_3_text_color=”#3d3d3d” header_3_font_size=”24px” header_4_font=”Roboto||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]PETG is your first choice for clear filament. It has suitable property and is nicely finished. Meanwhile, if you need flexible material, TPU has the advantage.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”5px|10px|5px|10px|false|false” sticky_position=”top” sticky_limit_bottom=”row” border_radii=”on|20px|20px|20px|20px” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_blur=”50px” box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.08)” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Lato||||||||” text_text_color=”#292929″ text_font_size=”20px” header_3_font=”Lato|700|||||||” custom_margin=”20px||13px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]
