1. Define the application
What will the part do? Decoration, mechanical, food contact, outdoor? Each case sharply narrows the options. For a visual prototype, PLA is hard to beat.
For functional parts, use the filters in the comparator.
The right filament,
the right setting,
first try.
The open resource to compare filaments, diagnose visual print defects, and dial in your slicing profiles. Maintained by and for the 3D printing community.
comparator.live
profiles.json
Live · 4 selected
·
Export
PLA
PETG
Nylon
Nylon-CF
+ Add
Avg. stiffness
2.3/5
↑ 0.4 vs PLA only
Avg. impact
3.5/5
↑ 250%
Difficulty
3.2/5
↑ drying needed
Avg. cost /kg
$47
↑ +56% vs PLA
— radar overlay
— Why sliceLab
No disguised ads.
Just the right settings.
Ratings are the same for everyone — dated, signed, contestable.
Every filament,
side by side.
Multi-criteria sorting, filtering, radar overlay. Export JSON or AI-ready prompt. Ratings calibrated against datasheets and community testing.
ComparatorOpen →
Every printer,
side by side.
FDM and resin compared on speed, quality, build volume, multi-material and temperature. Filter by use, radar overlay and export. Specs sourced from our guides.
ComparatorOpen →
Identify your print defect.
Pick a visual defect, answer a few questions, get the most likely cause and the fixes to apply — in order.
DiagnosticStart →
The craft of 3D printing.
Practical guides, filament and printer tests, 3D printing news. Short reads, sourced, updated when the info changes.
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Run by makers,
for makers.
Active contributors, two reviews per guide minimum. Data is licensed CC-BY 4.0 — exportable, contestable.
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« The right filament, the right setting, first try. »
Louis
slice-lab member
— Recent guides
Quick reads,
durable references.
— Method
How to choose the right filament.
Four criteria are enough to eliminate 80% of candidates. Ask these in order.
2. Evaluate mechanical needs
Stiffness measures resistance to deformation under load. Stiff materials — PC, GF-Nylon, CF-PETG — suit structural parts.
Layer adhesion drives Z-axis strength. A poorly tuned Nylon will delaminate under stress.
3. Consider the environment
Sun? Water? Heat? ASA and GF-Nylon excel outdoors. For high temperatures, PC, PPA-CF or PEEK.
Conversely, PLA and TPU soften from 50–60 °C.
4. Printability and cost
Advanced materials need an enclosure, hardened nozzle, precise thermal control. PEEK and PEI require nozzles above 380 °C.
Budget: $15–30/kg for standards, $200+/kg for high-performance.