About materials used in 3-D printers

　

PLA

PLA (poly-lactate) is a resin from plants. It has low heat denaturation, and is a filament that is easy to shape and suitable for beginners. But it is easy to absorb moisture and once hardened, it is difficult to polish or paint the surface.

　

ABS

This is a material that has high heat resistance and is stickier and stronger than PLA. It can be processed with files and be painted. But it easily shrinks or expands when heated, and the shape changes are reflected on the resulting models, thus requiring more care when shaping. It is a filament for experts.

TPC

This is a polyester type, previously known as TPEE. It is an Elastomer filament that has elasticity like rubber, and has flexibility that is difficult to break even if it is bent.

SB

This is the abbreviation for Styrene (S) and Butadiene (B). It is a soft resin that allows for flexible shaping if thin. It is characterized by high flexibility that allows it to not break even if bent.

PVA

This is a filament that is commonly used as supporting materials for double-head printers because it is can be easily dissolved with tap water. Liquids used to dissolve PVA can be discharged directly as sewage.