With the rapid growth of 3D filaments and polymers in recent years, it's getting increasingly difficult to determine which brands are excellent, which are awful, and which are plain ugly. This is why we're so ecstatic when we find a supplier who not only meets but exceeds our expectations, and that's exactly what SA Filament has done with their new range of South African manufactured 3D Filaments, with their PLA range being an excellent example of exactly what we want from 3D Filaments – good quality and an affordable price.
These 1kg spools of SA Filament PLA Filament are extruded and spooled in South Africa to an international standard of quality, making them an excellent choice. They're a decent alternative to many of the other options we carry, and while they don't have quite the same color selection as many other brands (yet! ), they've chosen to focus first on creating a truly impressive product, after which they plan to expand their range with the winning solution they're hard at work refining. This devotion to the local SA and Namibian Maker movement is what truly sets them apart, and we're thrilled to have found a trusted source capable of producing the type of filament quality we're excited to share with you.
While it's always great to print in a variety of bright and colorful colors, you might need a sombre yet elegant color to fit a setting, blend into a surroundings, or stand out without drawing too much attention to it for some tasks. Grey SA Filament PLA is ideal for these occasions since it has a smooth look, almost silver and glossy but not to the point of being unappealing, guaranteeing that practically everything you print will be nice to the sight and won't detract attention from crucial components in a project. Grey PLA from SA Filament is a fantastic choice for nearly any time and occasion if you want a filament that is humble yet subtly stylish in its own manner.
Helpful tips for printing with a SA Filament:
PLA Printing Tips - Adhesion of the First Layer: When 3D printing with PLA, or pretty much any other polymer for that matter, First-Layer-Adhesion is likely the most critical aspect to get right, as it serves as the print's foundation, allowing it to be produced tall or broad (or both) without serious issues. This component, however, is also one of the most difficult parts for newbies to get right, so we're here to assist with our three best suggestions for first-layer-adhesion, which can also be used on other polymers, and they're as follows:
- The first step to a great first layer is to make sure that your machine's bed, X-Axis, and Y-Axis are all perfectly aligned. This can be done by making sure that all four sides of your crossbars are angled at exactly 90 degrees from the base, while also making sure that the gantry is perpendicular to both side bars. The nozzle should now be the same Z-height at all places on or above the bed, which is very straightforward to determine with a basic right-angle tool and substantially enhances your odds of leveling your bed precisely.
- The second stage is to lower the z-height such that the nozzle is almost touching the bed, with a little air gap visible below the spot. Then carefully slip a piece of normal (2D) printer paper behind the nozzle. If the paper slips through without scraping or pulling, lower the nozzle on your machine by the smallest amount feasible before sliding the paper through and trying it again. If the paper clings too tightly and you can't move it or even slide it under the nozzle at first, the nozzle is too low, and you should increase it by the smallest increment feasible until you can slide the paper beneath the nozzle with some mild "scratching" or grip between the nozzle and the bed.
- The third and last stage is to move the nozzle to various locations on the bed, with a major concentration on the four corners and the center. And after you've got that perfect hold on the paper in all of the areas you're inspecting, your bed will be leveled, and you'll be almost ready to print!
We hope you enjoy this product as much as us! Let us know on our Social Media pages what you thought of the SA filament PLA.