Product Review

Gizmo Dorks
We provide the highest quality 3D printing materials such as ABS, PLA, HIPS, PVA, and more. Our filaments are run with tight tolerances. There are no air bubbles or oily residues. Every filament comes loaded on a durable, hard plastic spool, not a cheap, flimsy cardboard spool.

PLA, Polylactic Acid, is created from processing a number of plant products. PLA can be composted at commercial facilities unlike ABS which is derived from fossil fuels. PLA is a more earth friendly plastic. It is stronger and more rigid than ABS, and in general the printed objects will have a more glossy look and feel compared to ABS. Unlike ABS, PLA can be sanded and machined. PLA has a lower melting temperature compared to ABS. As a material, PLA has much less warping versus ABS. Additionally, a heated bed is not required to print it. PLA generally enjoys sharper details and corners compared to ABS without the risk of cracking or warping. PLA can also be printed at higher throughput speeds.

Now it is possible to print with metal filament from a desktop 3D printer. Bronze PLA is PLA plastic mixed and filled with real bronze. The resulting filament imparts the look and feel of bronze giving the printed part a sculpted bronze finish look. The finished part will look laser sintered. The filament prints just like normal PLA, so it is very easy to print and environmentally friendly.

PLA comes in a variety of different vibrant colors. Some of the more exotic colors are the fluorescent series and color changing series. The fluorescent series glows under UV light, commonly known as black. The color changing filaments change colors at 31°C (88°F). The filament is one color below 31°C, and when it is heated above 31°C, the filament will change to another color.