Category: About Filaments

There are several ways, some simple and some requiring a little calculation. The simplest is if the spool has filament lengths printed on the side. Some manufacturers produce their filament spools...

Cura filament length estimates are accurate. They are not an estimate but outputs from given parameters. Given the dimensions of the model, slicing software can precisely determine how many steps the...

The brand of filament matters because good brands invest more in the quality of their product. They are incentivized to maintain a good product by a market that buys a good product. An inferior brand...

The clearest indication that PLA filament has gone bad is a poor-quality print. Poor prints typically have a rough or grainy surface, have a streaky color, or will be stringy. They also tend to be...

The lifespan of a thermoplastic ranges anywhere from a week right up to 15 years. The main determinant of lifespan is the conditions in which the filament is stored. Properly storing filament in...

Filament can be left inside a printer for very short periods, for example overnight. Leaving filament over longer periods like days or even weeks can damage the filament through exposure to humidity.