PETG filaments offer ABS’ durability and PLA’s flexibility making it one of the 3D printers’ top choice every time they print.
Do you need a flexible and durable 3D printer filament for your next project? Do you wish to use one that offers the best of what PLA and ABS offer?
If you say “yes” to any of the questions above, you will probably love PETG! This 3D print filament has great potential because it is durable, flexible and reliable.
Contents
I understand that you are on this page because you wish to learn more about PETG and that’s exactly what we will give you. At the end of the article, we will give you a list of the best brand on the market.
What is PETG Filament?
PETG print filament is similar to PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) but with enhanced properties due to the addition of glycol (PET+G = PETG or polyethylene terephthalate glycol modified).
It is as easy to use as PLA, as durable as ABS, as flexible as PET but with minimal shrinkage and warping, which makes it not just good but a great 3D printing material for durable and flexible objects.
PETT (Polyethylene terephthalate) is another variant of PET. It is slightly more rigid than PETG and is popular for being transparent.
PETG doesn’t require a heated bed because it doesn’t undergo warping. However, you should take note that without a heated bed the filament might not stick to the bed. When that happens, you can use adhesives like a glue stick or blue painters tape.
For newbies, using it could be challenging, so here are some details that you need to know for the PETG print and bed temperature
- Hot end 240-260 Degree Celsius
- Bed Temperature 50-70
- Layer cooling fans on
- Blue Tape for Bed Adhesion
- Same speed as your PLA settings
PETG 3D Print Filament Uses
PETG is commonly used in water, juice and soft drink bottles, and cooking oil containers thanks to its easy transforming and chemical resistance properties. Since this material is FDA-approved, it’s also used in food storage containers and intricate kitchenware designs.
It is also popular across the medical field because its rigid structure helps survive harsh sterilization processes making it the perfect choice for medical implants, and pharmaceutical and medical device packaging.
In addition, it is an excellent material for modern 3D printers. It provides easy plastic printing without compromising its overall strength and rigidity once the plastic is allowed to harden.
It is also the no. 1 choice for point-of-sale stands. It is easy to manufacture in a wide range of shapes and colors, so businesses opt for it when they print signages that attract customers. In addition, it is easy to customize and very affordable.
PETG is worth considering if you want to print a project that needs to be tough, durable, flexible, and impact-resistant. This is also ideal for use in the production of a wide array of mechanical parts.
PETG Filament Benefits
PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol modified) is a viable and attractive alternative to ABS and PLA. Here are some of its advantages.
- Excellent layer adhesion
- Warp resistance
- Reduced shrinkage
- High density
- High water resistant
- High temperature resistant
- Chemical resistance to both acidic and alkali compounds
- Flexible printing on glass, acrylic, glass, blue tape, and polyimide tape
- Odorless during printing
PETG 3D Printing Filament Properties
PETG is rich with awesome properties that make it among the 3D printer users’ favorite materials for 3D printing. If you are also wondering why you should get this, here are some of the reasons why you should.
Sustainability
SustainabilityOne of the most impressive properties of PETG is being recyclable. Compared to others, it can be used as a gas barrier due to its chemical resistance. For 3D printers who are pro-environment, this supports your cause.
Food Safe
This material is considered FDA-approved, so yes, it is “food safe.” However, it’s the 3D printing process that ruins it’s safety credibility because it’s difficult to clean all those little layers trap. It’s best if you still use a food-safe coating spray for your parts.
Combined Functionality
PETG combines PLA’s reliability and ABS’ durability. So, if you want to 3D print a reliable and durable item, use this material.
Reduced Warping And Shrinking
Although it shares some attributes with ABS, the two are different in terms of warping and shrinkage. PETG has minimal shrinkage and warping rate.
3D Printing Tips
Unfortunately, PETG is not as easy to use as PLA and ABS, but if you know how to set your 3D printer accordingly, you’ll see that they are actually not difficult to work with. So, in this section, we will be giving tips to help you enjoy 3D printing with PETG.
1. Get the First Layer Right
Getting the first layer right is essential for a successful print with PETG. However, this might take a number of tweaks to get the right perfect setting according to your printer. Experiment with different types of beds and adhesion methods until you find the perfect setting.
2. Print on Blue Painter’s Tape
Blue painter’s tape with or without heat is the best surface when printing with PETG plastic. It delivers a fairly smooth finish that is not glass-like. By using blue painter’s tape you’ll have to clean off any tape that sticks to the part and not ruin your build surface since you can apply it right over the top of any other build surface.
3. Get the Right Temperature
Keep an eye on your project while printing. How much filament doesn’t end up where it’s supposed to? Remember this, PETG filament is prone to stringing and oozing and might stick on the nozzle and end up deposited on another part of the print. When this happens, you will certainly not like it.
If ever you encounter problems while 3D printing, you can check out some solutions here.
Best PETG Filament
I understand that at this point, you want to know the best PETG filaments on the market. A number of brands claim to be the best but not all of them deliver what they promise.
To cut your research time short, we present our top pick. This is our best choice in terms of quality, performance, and price.
Overture PETG is as easy to use as PLA and as durable as ABS. In short, this offers the best of both filaments for a more enjoyable 3D print experience. It doesn’t require a head bed, offers easy bed adhesion, is stiff and has a glossy type of finish.
Initially, I thought Overture PETG would be unremarkable, but I was wrong. I know that PETG is not easy to use but I’m surprised that it is not that difficult to handle. Plus, it is resistant to high temperatures.
Each Overture PETG comes with two pieces of quality 200 x 200mm filament. This is designed and manufactured with Clog-Free patent to guarantee a smooth and stable 3D printing experience.
The brand is also very careful when it comes to handling the item because they know that PETG is sensitive to moisture, so they pack this in a complete drying 24 hours before vacuum aluminum foil packaging.
Overture’s products are cost-effective and reliable. Most importantly, it is compatible with most common 3D printing machines including MK3, Ender 3, Monoprice FlashForge and more.
Overall, this brand is a killer deal in terms of price, performance, and quality of 3D prints. It is very popular in the United States, so we highly recommend it!
Conclusion
PETG filament is one of the most popular 3D printing filaments today. More and more are using this material due to its flexibility and durability.
If you are considering trying a new material other than PLA and ABS then get a PETG as it offers the best of both worlds. Also, it is fairly easy to use and doesn’t even require a heated bed but it can withstand high temperature. It’s also high water-resistant.
The only downside with this material is that it tends to be more expensive than the other aforementioned materials. However, in terms of quality and results, you can rely on this.
If you wish to learn more about 3D printing materials then you may check our homepage.
References
- makeshaper.com/2016/11/15/important-advantages-of-petg-filament-in-3d-printing
- 3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/8210/is-petg-filament-food-safe
- 3dinsider.com/petg-filament
- tomsguide.com/us/3d-printing-materials,news-24392.html
- acmeplastics.com/content/petg-uses-and-benefits
- matterhackers.com/news/how-to-succeed-when-printing-with-petg-filament
- all3dp.com/1/petg-filament-3d-printing/#section-petg-filament-explained-and-compared
- all3dp.com/1/petg-filament-3d-printing
