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Choosing filament & materials
Filament is the "ink" of a 3D printer. For a classroom, the right choice is mostly about safety, reliability, and cost — not exotic performance.
The short answer
For almost every school project, use PLA. It prints at lower temperatures, gives off the least odor, and is the most forgiving for beginners.
The three you'll actually meet
| Filament | Feels like | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | Rigid, easy | Nearly all classroom prints | Softens in a hot car / sunny window |
| PETG | Tough, slightly flexible | Parts that must survive drops or heat | Stringier; needs a little tuning |
| TPU | Rubbery, bendable | Phone cases, bumpers, flexible parts | Prints slowly; tricky on some printers |
Try it yourself: filament picker
Filament picker
Buying for a classroom
- Buy 1.75 mm PLA unless your printer's manual says otherwise (most common size).
- Start with a few neutral colors plus one or two bright ones — students love choice.
- One 1 kg spool is roughly 300+ small student prints. Budget accordingly.
- Store spools in a sealed bin with a desiccant pack — filament absorbs moisture and prints worse when damp.
Skip these for now
ABS and nylon need higher temperatures and good ventilation, and resin printers involve chemicals and stricter safety handling. None are beginner- or classroom-friendly — leave them until you have a dedicated, ventilated space and training.
Next
Loaded a spool? See Slicer settings that matter to get a clean first print.