3D Printing Guides

These guides explain the factors behind the compatibility results in our database: why some printers need an enclosure for certain materials, when a hardened nozzle is required, how moisture affects filament and how to choose a material for your printer. Each guide links to the specific printer and material results it discusses.

Printing Nylon (PA) and PA-CF at Home: Requirements Checklist

Nozzle temperature, hardened nozzle, enclosure, bed adhesion and drying: what your printer needs before you buy a spool of nylon or PA-CF. Read the guide

PLA vs PETG vs ABS vs ASA: Choosing a Filament for Your Printer

A practical comparison of PLA, PETG, ABS and ASA: temperatures, heat and UV resistance, enclosure needs and how to choose for your printer. Read the guide

How to Dry 3D Printer Filament: Methods, Temperatures and Times

How to recognize wet filament, typical drying temperatures for PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU, nylon and PC, and the safest ways to dry and store spools. Read the guide

Hardened Nozzle for Carbon Fiber Filament: When It Is Required

Which carbon and glass fiber filaments wear brass nozzles, how to tell if your printer already has a hardened nozzle, and what else CF materials need. Read the guide

Do You Need an Enclosure for ABS and ASA? What Actually Changes

Why ABS and ASA warp and split on open-frame printers, what an enclosure really does, and how to check whether your printer is a good match. Read the guide

Looking for a specific combination? Use the compatibility checker or browse the printer database and the material database. How we research is described in the Methodology and Editorial Policy.