User's Manual Part 2

CHAPTER 8. OPERATIONAL TIPS 222
truder nozzle. Metal PLA filament is considered quite a difficult
filament to get printing well, so be ready for a challenge!
ABS filament is second onl y to PLA filament in terms of
popularity for general 3D pri nter use. However, it is not usually
recommended for use in the classroom, due to the intense fumes
it generates during printing which can be dangerous for those
with breathing diffi cu l t i es; when printing ABS, the 3D printer
must be placed in a well-vent i l a te d area, and you must avoid
breathing in the fumes when it i s in use. Also, ABS sh r i n ks
while cool i n g, so it is very prone to curling, and pul l in g up from
the build plat e. Due to ABS’s thermal issues, it prints best on
printers that incorporate both a heated build plate (to lessen
the temperature di↵erential between the bottom and top of the
object whi l e printing) and an en cl o su r e around the print ar ea
(to lessen the e↵ect of cooling drafts); neither feature is part of
the Polar3D printer. However, by extra attentio n to issues of
adhesion and ther m al insulati o n , it is possible to print ABS on
a Polar3D printer: use of Elmer’s Xtrem e glue stick on the build
plate (to glue down the object even as it attempts to cool and
shrink) and adding a tall sk i rt around the main object (to shield
it from drafts) are techniques that can be used.
PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate) filament and PETG (a
blend of PET with Glycerol) filament are very versatile, reason-
ably easy to work with, newer filaments, with PETG being a
versi on better adapted for 3 D printi n g . However , PETG does
tend to be more expensive than regular PL A.
There are many more types of filament, wit h new kinds con-
tinuing to come out. While some types produce fumes requiring
ventilation (thus being less suitable for the classroom), or need