The use of multi-material 3D printers is no longer limited to different colors of the same material. Different filaments are increasingly being combined with each other to create stable support structures, clean surfaces or flexible component segments, for example. According to 3D printing expert Thomas Sanladerer, both print quality and post-processing can be significantly influenced by the clever selection of materials.
In extensive tests, Sanladerer compared several common filament types with each other. These included PLA, PETG, ASA, ABS and flexible materials. Among other things, he investigated how well a particular filament can be used as a support material and whether the two materials can be cleanly separated from each other. He also analyzed whether certain combinations bond permanently, for example to combine individual components into a whole without additional fasteners.
The results show that PLA bonds particularly well to itself, but only adheres weakly to other filaments. PETG, on the other hand, adheres very strongly to almost every surface except PLA. This makes it possible to use PLA as an easily removable support material for PETG components, for example. Those who use flexible filaments, on the other hand, can remove them from PLA parts after printing with little effort. This results in particularly smooth contact surfaces.
Conversely, PETG and flexible filaments form an almost inseparable bond, which is interesting for components with flexible sections or non-slip undersides, for example. This means that mechanical parts made of PETG can be printed directly with a flexible component without the need for additional adhesives or screws.
As a practical tip for post-processing, Sanladerer recommends using hot water for stubbornly adhering PLA support structures. PLA begins to soften at relatively low temperatures, whereas PETG or ABS/ASA, for example, are significantly more heat-resistant. This makes it easier to remove the PLA support without damaging the finished component.
Sanladerer shows details in his YouTube video:
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