Understanding 3D filament types and prices before you buy saves money, failed prints, and frustration. The right filament matches your printer's capabilities, your project's mechanical demands, and your budget and South African makers have more choice than ever before. 3D Printing Store stocks a curated range of filaments from trusted brands including Wanhao, Creality Ender, and Cron, all in the universally compatible 1.75mm diameter.
Key Takeaways: 3D Filament Types at a Glance
| Filament | Best For | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| PLA | Prototypes, education, décor | Beginner |
| PETG | Functional parts, moisture resistance | Intermediate |
| ABS | Heat-resistant mechanical parts | Advanced |
| ASA | Outdoor and UV-exposed applications | Advanced |
| TPU | Flexible seals, cases, grips | Intermediate |
| Nylon | Gears, load-bearing parts | Advanced |
| PVA | Soluble supports for dual extrusion | Advanced |
PLA Filament Products
The Wanhao PLA Filament 1kg 1.75mm Black is a consistent, well-regarded option for everyday printing. Wanhao's tight diameter tolerances reduce clogging and deliver clean, predictable extrusion across long print runs. Available in black, this spool suits functional prototypes, cosplay parts, and mechanical housings where a neutral finish is preferred.
Wanhao PLA Filament 1kg 1.75mm Slate Grey
The Wanhao PLA Filament 1kg 1.75mm Slate Grey offers the same reliable Wanhao quality in a versatile neutral tone that photographs well and pairs cleanly with post-processing steps like priming and painting. Slate grey is a popular choice among product designers and model makers working on presentation-ready prints.
Wanhao PLA Filament 1kg 1.75mm Purple
The Wanhao PLA Filament 1kg 1.75mm Purple brings vibrant colour to desktop printing without compromising on Wanhao's consistent feed quality — ideal for educational props, artistic models, and display pieces that need strong visual impact straight off the printer.
Creality Ender PLA Filament 1kg 1.75mm Black
The Creality Ender PLA Filament 1kg 1.75mm Black is engineered specifically for Creality's Ender printer range, with material properties tuned to the default temperature profiles most Ender owners use out of the box. It delivers sharp detail and strong layer adhesion, making it a reliable daily-use spool for high-volume makers.
Creality Ender PLA Filament 1kg 1.75mm White
The Creality Ender PLA Filament 1kg 1.75mm White is the go-to choice for prints that will be painted, sanded, or used in photographic or display contexts where a bright, neutral base matters. White PLA from Creality consistently prints at the lower end of the PLA temperature range, producing clean surfaces with minimal stringing.
Cron PLA Filament 1kg 1.75mm White
The Cron PLA Filament 1kg 1.75mm White is a locally relevant option offering competitive 3D filament pricing for South African makers who need quality without importing costs. Cron filament delivers reliable diameter consistency and good surface finish across a wide range of FDM printers common in the local market.
Cron PLA Filament 1kg 1.75mm Blue
The Cron PLA Filament 1kg 1.75mm Blue produces a vivid, saturated finish well suited to visual prototypes, educational models, and branded display items. Like all Cron filaments, it is packaged vacuum-sealed to prevent moisture uptake during storage and shipping.
PETG Filament Products
Wanhao PETG Filament 1kg 1.75mm Black
The Wanhao PETG Filament 1kg 1.75mm Black is the standout functional filament in the 3D Printing Store range, offering the layer bonding strength and chemical resistance that PLA cannot match. Wanhao's PETG formula balances printability with mechanical performance, printing cleanly at 230–250°C with minimal stringing on well-calibrated machines.
Understanding the 3D Filament Types
With products selected, a quick overview of each material confirms you have chosen correctly for your project. Browse the complete range at the 3D Printing Store filament collection.
PLA (Polylactic Acid)
PLA is the most printed filament globally — low warp, easy bed adhesion, and wide colour availability make it the default starting material for beginners and experienced makers alike. It softens around 60°C, limiting use in hot environments like vehicle interiors.
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)
PETG bridges the gap between PLA's printability and ABS's toughness, offering strong layer bonding, chemical resistance, and a heat deflection temperature near 80°C. Slightly hygroscopic, so sealed storage with desiccant extends spool life significantly.
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
ABS is valued for heat resistance above 100°C and compatibility with acetone vapour smoothing for near-injection-moulded surface finishes. It requires an enclosed printer and a heated bed above 100°C to prevent warping.
ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate)
ASA is the outdoor-capable upgrade to ABS, maintaining structural integrity and colour under prolonged UV and weather exposure — particularly relevant given South Africa's high UV index across Gauteng and the Western Cape. It shares ABS's enclosed-printer requirement.
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)
TPU produces rubber-like, flexible parts that compress and recover — suited to phone cases, vibration-dampening feet, gaskets, and grips. Shore hardness ratings (typically 85A–98A) define how soft or semi-rigid the finished part will be.
Nylon (Polyamide)
Nylon delivers the highest mechanical performance of common desktop filaments, combining tensile strength, fatigue resistance, and low friction for functional gears, pulleys, and load-bearing brackets. It must be dried before every print session due to its intense hygroscopic nature.
PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol)
PVA is a water-soluble support material for dual-extrusion printers, dissolving cleanly in warm water to leave perfect surfaces on complex overhanging geometries. Moisture degrades PVA rapidly, requiring airtight storage and immediate use once opened.
Filament Selection Guide
| Project Type | Recommended Filament | Key Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Visual prototype or model | PLA | Surface quality, ease of printing |
| Functional mechanical part | PETG or Nylon | Strength and durability under load |
| High-heat environment | ABS or ASA | Heat deflection above 80–100°C |
| Outdoor, sun-exposed | ASA | UV and weather resistance |
| Flexible or compressible part | TPU | Rubber-like recovery properties |
| Complex overhangs (dual extruder) | PLA + PVA support | Clean underside surfaces |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which 3D filament type is best for beginners in South Africa?
PLA is the universal starting point — it prints at low temperatures, warps minimally, and requires no enclosed printer, making it compatible with every entry-level machine sold locally. The Wanhao and Creality Ender PLA options available from 3D Printing Store are ideal first spools.
What is the difference in 3D filament prices between PLA and engineering materials?
PLA and PETG are the most affordably priced filament types, with Cron offering competitive local pricing. Engineering materials like Nylon and ASA cost more per kilogram due to tighter manufacturing tolerances and specialised packaging requirements.
Can I print PETG on a Creality Ender printer?
Yes — Creality Ender printers handle PETG well at 235–250°C nozzle and 70–80°C bed temperature. The Wanhao PETG 1.75mm is fully compatible with the Ender range and prints reliably with minor retraction tuning.