In the realm of home 3D printing, polylactic acid (PLA) is king. Although it’s often compared to ABS – next in line to the throne – PLA is easily the most popular 3D printer filament, and for good reason.
First and foremost, it’s easy to print with. PLA has a lower printing temperature than ABS, and it doesn’t warp as easily, meaning it doesn’t require a heating bed (although it definitely helps). Another benefit to using PLA is that it doesn’t give off an evil smell during printing. It’s generally considered an odorless filament, but many have reported smelling sweet, candy-like fumes. Finally, as a biodegradable thermoplastic, PLA is more environmentally friendly than most 3D printer filaments, being made from annually renewable resources such as corn starch or sugar cane.