3mm vs 1.75mm Filament

You may be interested in 3D printing, especially since, in recent years, it’s become much more affordable and available to general consumers. However, selecting the best 3D printers can prove to be a difficult task. The reason is that choosing the best printer takes a lot of knowledge. From the printing method to the type of material, there’s no shortage of foundational information that goes into choosing the right device. However, we’re here to help. Below, we’ll discuss printer material as we compare the differences between 3mm vs 1.75mm filament.

Understanding the various printer types is one of the essential steps in selecting a printer, and we have tons of resources on them. In addition, we have some comparing FDM vs SLA printers and yet another about FDM vs DLP 3D printers.

Differences Between 1.75mm vs 3 mm Filament

The filament is the material used in FDM (fused deposition modeling) devices, one of the most affordable, common types of 3D printers. The filament is made from a plastic or cornstarch substance and is the material that’s layered on the printer’s build plate to create an object.

So why would the size of the filament even matter? It matters a great deal because it helps determine the object’s overall quality and the time it takes to print. And, of course, these things determine the overall cost of production.

The 1.75mm filament is the standard size used in FDM printing.

However, 3mm is also a very common filament used in 3D print communities, but it’s considered a higher durability substance and is usually used for larger industrial machines.

The first thing to remember when choosing a filament is to consult your 3D printer manufacturer. They may specify which size to use, which should always be the size you stick with. Otherwise, you can choose based on your needs.

If you finish this and want to continue learning, we have more comparison articles, like our guide explaining 32-bit vs 8-bit 3D printers. Additionally, we have a piece that outlines the strengths and weaknesses of 3D printers vs laser cutters.

Durability

Choosing a filament for print quality always depends on your situation. Those looking for durability should go with a 3mm filament, given it is more flexible and usually has greater heat resistance.

Intricacy

For finer details, 1.75mm filament works better because it gives the printer more control over the amount of filament that comes out of the nozzle. Because of this, it lets printers create objects in greater resolutions.

Print Time

The most significant difference between thinner and thicker filaments is “flow time.” Thinner filament melts much quicker, so 1.75mm filament will lead to speedier print times than 3mm.