3D printing filament

3D printing filament is the thermoplastic feedstock for fused deposition modeling 3D printers.

[3] Filament consists of one continuous slender plastic thread spooled into a reel.

[4] 3D printing filament is created using a process of heating, extruding and cooling plastic to transform nurdles into the finished product.

Before the filament is extruded the nurdles are heated to 80 °C to dry it and reduce water content.

The nurdles must be dried as many thermoplastics are hygroscopic and extrusion of damp plastic causes dimensional flaws (this is also the case when the finished filament is being printed[7]).