RoadTest: Review Multicomp Pro 3D Printer Filaments, PLA and PETG
Author: nathandumont
Creation date:
Evaluation Type: Workshop Tools
Did you receive all parts the manufacturer stated would be included in the package?: False
What other parts do you consider comparable to this product?: https://uk.farnell.com/polymaker/pb01007/3d-filament-1-75mm-petg-blue-1kg/dp/3266764, https://uk.farnell.com/filamentive/1403010004/3d-filament-pla-grey-1-75mm-750g/dp/3252836
What were the biggest problems encountered?: The packaging isn't suited for long term storage, it isn't light-proof and the plastic bag isn't resealable which would make it much easier to store a range of coloured filament.
Detailed Review:
I've been 3D printing for many years now. I decided it looked like a good way to make parts for robotic projects back in the early days of the RepRap project and got myself a kit of parts and started building. I've still got some of those original parts in my printer which has been growing and evolving ever since. I've still got the A frame design of the original Mendel but with upgraded bearings belts and control electronics. Most importantly for this review I've upgraded the extruder several times and I'm currently using an E3D Revo Hemera (not pictured below, that was my Prusa Mk3S extruder) which is an integrated extruder and hot-end solution which works with 1.75mm filaments.
The first filament I took a look at was the blue PETG filament. I've printed a lot of PETG over the years, it has great mechanical properties for robot parts without any issues with fumes when printing. My go-to supplier for PETG has been PolyMaker with their PolyLite PETG. I was interested to see how the Multicomp Pro filament would compare.
I've printed two sets of hubs for a 60mm omni-wheel that I designed (Printables.com) the first set pictured is printed with the Multicomp Pro filament and the set on the right with Polymaker PolyLite blue PETG.Polymaker Blue PETG
The parts have come out pretty much identical. The Multicomp filament has printed just as well as the PolyMaker, in fact it looks a little glossier. I was wondering if I'd get more stringing or blobs which are a common problem with PETG especially if the filament diameter is a little inconsistent but I saw none of these issues. As far as I can tell the parts have come out just as strong with no layer adhesion issues. I print directly onto a sheet of FR4 (fibre glass and resin material best known for being used in circuit boards) and there were no bed adhesion issues.
PETG is a food-safe plastic, that is it's stable and doesn't leak chemicals into stuff pressed against it. I don't think I'd trust a 3D print with something I was eating or drinking from because the 3D printed layers may allow build-ups of food material in gaps in the print which would be unhygienic. I do like the idea of using it for less critical things that need cleaning regularly though. I had a design I'd made years ago for a personalised coaster, it's a really simple rounded-corner square with my "Coaster Demo" initials pressed into the top surface. This is another challenging print although it looks simple:
1. It has a large flat area, it would be quite likely to suffer from warping if the corners don't adhere to the bed nicely
2. The large smooth flat surface will only come out well if the filament diameter is good and consistent, otherwise you get thin patches and over-extruded patches which end up looking a bit "woolly" where the extra filament bulges up and gets swept along by the nozzle.
The print came out first time and has a really nice shiny finish. The surface is great, at least as good as any other material I've printed this design with.
Now for the interesting test. As PETG is food safe and a coaster may suffer some spills I decided to put it through the dishwasher and see what happened. As you can see from the picture below, it came out unscathed. I put it on the top rack with glasses and mugs and it came out looking nice and clean and none-the-worse for the hot water. I suspect that many brands of PETG would pass this test but I've not done it on any others. Over time the water will be absorbed by the plastic and make it more brittle so while it has passed this test with no issues it may well suffer noticeable deterioration after repeated washings.
The second filament I'm testing was the Multicomp Pro Silk Gold PLA. First a couple of notes about the packaging, I've used Multicomp filament before and the packaging is a bit disappointing, the filament is shipped shrink-wrapped in plastic to avoid moisture getting into it. With some other brands the packaging has a resealable strip which makes it useful for storing the filament after you've opened it, but the Multicomp ones are just disposable. Once ripped open they have no further use. Another thing that could be improved is the window in the cardboard box. There are two, one on either side and they let you see what filament is inside, but PLA is particularly susceptible to UV exposure and I've had reels (admittedly bought at a discount on clearance) where the filament that was next to the window in the box is unusably brittle. So I'd like to see resealable bags and solid cardboard boxes.
Once past the packaging this filament is truly fantastic. The colour and texture of the gold filament is beautiful. It's not the first of the Multicomp Silk PLA filaments I've used, I've got a reel of the silver which is pretty decent as metallic filament goes but not as striking as the gold.
To take advantage of the gold colour I designed a trophy to print (Printables.com). I've made printed trophies like this before as a prop for kids games but the designs weren't quite what I wanted. I designed this trophy in FreeCAD and printed it first time in the gold filament. The filament was really easy to print, good bed adhesion no stringing or blobs and a lovely smooth finish. The model has come out consistently shiny and smooth. You can see some interesting geometric patterns in the print which are caused by the way the 3D CAD has made the smooth curves into a sequence of straight lines. The design has handles on the trophy which build out from the body, I was able to print these with no support and no special settings. With some metallic filaments I've had frequent nozzle clogs as the filament contains glittery material which is harder but this silk PLA is one smooth plastic and has none of those issues. Finally I designed a base which I printed in black PLA and glued to the bottom of the trophy to make it a bit more substantial without needing more z height.
I also had a go at printing a Star Trek comm-badge from (Printables.com) the design allows you to print the two different colours separately and then glue them together. This suited me as my printer can only do a single material. I used the silver Multicomp Pro silk PLAMulticomp Pro Silk PLA Silver I already had and the gold from this RoadTest to produce the badge and it came out looking really good.
My previous favourite gold PLA was one made by the now defunct Faberdashery company. They were a UK supplier of filament back in the early days of the RepRap project. It's a little difficult to capture in a photograph how warm and glowing the Multicomp Pro Silk Gold PLA is, below is a picture next to an Astro Pi case I had printed with the Faberdashery filament. The Faberdashery filament seems more glittery it's like a translucent yellow with sparkly bits. The smooth glowing gold of the Multicomp filament looks so much more gold.
This really is a great filament, it's smooth and easy to print like any other coloured filament but it has a genuinely shiny metallic look to the finished article. There are loads of decorative uses for this, bits of jewelry, steampunk embellishments, sonic screwdriver parts, the list goes on and on...
Unfortunately the black PLA listed was unavailable when the filament was shipped out and although I was offered an ABS or HIPS option for review I have absolutely no experience with either material so I've got no way to compare them.
I was really pleased with the filaments I tried on this Road Test. I've used Multicomp Pro filament before (I used quite a bit of the 2.85mm stuff back when my printer was still running on a 3mm extruder) in general I've always found it to be reliable but unremarkable. Decent for day-to-day use.
I'd say the blue PETG I tried is a little bit above the standard I expected, it's really glossy and consistent. It printed with no custom settings and I'd be happy to use it for general purpose makes.
The Silk Gold PLA has been stunning, prints as well as the best PLA I've used and looks fantastic.
Learn more about Newark's information on Multicomp Pro's 3D Printer Filaments
