SUNLU – PLA – Noctilucent(Glow In Dark) – White – 1kg – 1.75mm

CCTREE PLA filament is the new kid on the block, and is rapidly becoming known as the go-to affordable 3D filament in South Africa, which prints reliably and packs a punch when it comes to quality, smooth print finishes. If you are looking for a daily filament which offers great printing results every time without breaking the bank, then CCTREE Filament is the ideal choice for you.

PLA (Polylactic Acid) is a biodegradable thermoplastic which is derived from renewable organic resources such as sugarcane and corn starch.

This makes PLA Filament a surprisingly eco-friendly plastic to print with when compared to other petrochemical based filament options, and the wide range of colours and additives makes it one of the most versatile ranges too.

PLA is by far the most commonly used 3D Printer Filament in the world, partially due to its above-mentioned environmental friendliness, but mostly because it is extremely easy to use and print with as well. PLA is great for beginners who are just getting started, as it has a low shrinkage factor compared to ABS or Nylon, and due to the composition of the plastics, it doesn’t need an enclosure to print large objects - which would typically be prone to warping or layer separation.

A heated bed is not essential, but if used and set to a temperature of around 40° to 70°C, a heated build surface can go a long way in aiding print quality and bed adhesion. Commonly used Bed Adhesion Aids for PLA filament include Blue Painters tape (masking tape), cheap hairspray, Kapton Tape, PEI and BuildTak. PLA’s glass transition temperature (when it starts getting soft and malleable) is around 50°C, and is extruded at temperatures between 190° and 220°C. However, just remember that printing small or detailed parts will require a part cooling fan for optimal results.

As some of the world-leading manufacturers of 3D Filament, we aren’t as surprised anymore when eSUN 3D introduce new and unique polymers. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s not exciting when they do, and we are excited to introduce their recent range of eSUN eTwinkle PLA Filament.

This filament utilises the base polymer of PLA, but features some ultrafine glitter particles as the additive, and while this may seem quite kitschy at first, when viewing full prints in this filament, it ends up having surprisingly awesome aesthetics – especially for 3D Printing fun prints like desktop toys and decorative pieces.

In addition to the awesome glitter effect of eSUN eTwinkle, these spools offer an array of rainbow colours which stand out with an extra sparkling flare which creates incredible magical decorations. In fact, eSun eTwinkling Rainbow PLA is the perfect choice for fantastical prints of a poring magical potion, elaborate fairy wings or a unicorn’s sparkling colourful mane and tail.

These twinkly filaments are a lot more eye-catching than standard PLA Filaments, and as such it’s important to consider how much they are going to visually “pop”. While this is typically ideal for these kinds of filaments, if you are trying to emphasise other parts of your project or multi-part print, then you may want to tone it down a bit with standard PLA, or consider using the Clear eTwinkle for a subtle but beautiful effect.

And finally, as an added benefit of eSUN Twinkling PLA, the shiny particles within the filament help to hide layer lines and small faults very well, and instead of those tiny faults being the centre of attention, onlookers can’t help but focus their gaze on the mesmerising glittery effect.

Please Note: While this filament will not damage your nozzle, it's recommended to use a nozzle size 0.4mm or larger, so as to accommodate the particle additives within this filament and prevent unnecessary clogs.

The colours that appear on rainbow filaments are pseudo randomised, and as such we can’t guarantee the exact colours or the order of colours that will appear on your spool. However, after opening and “testing” many of these spools (we’ve got a fond spot for rainbow filaments) we’ve thoroughly enjoyed each and every one and the unique colour combinations they’ve each provided.

TOUGH YET FLEXIBLE

FIL X SBS

Did you know that you are in daily contact with SBS products such as the soles of your shoes or the tyres of your car? But how can SBS be used in FDM 3D printing?

SBS (Styrene-butadiene-styrene) has the unique properties of being both tough and flexible at the same time, thanks to its Polystyrene origin lending it a hard, tough consistency and the Polybutadiene giving it a bit more bounce with its rubbery properties.

This powerhouse combination offers, apart from good layer adhesion, no odour during printing and does not absorb moisture. Furthermore, it has been FDA and EU directive approved for food contact.

Fil X SBS filament is very easy to print with on a glass bed with some hairspray for better bed adhesion and best of all can be smoothed with d-limonene (also available from Fil X!) leaving you with a stunning finished product.