Infusing tiny, strong carbon fibers into a polymer base, carbon fiber filament has become a favorite among craftspeople looking to make high-performance and durable parts. While carbon fiber filament has been around for decades, it’s only recently begun to bring unmatched strength, lightweight performance, and durability to 3D printing. Like any innovation, it comes with perks and pitfalls. To help you use this material to its fullest potential, let’s take a close look at the pros and cons of carbon fiber filaments.
Pro: Exceptional Strength and Stiffness
One of the most notable advantages of carbon fiber filaments is their exceptional strength and stiffness. When we compare it to PLA or ABS, carbon fiber-reinforced filaments offer greater structural integrity.
This makes them ideal for creating parts that need to withstand heavy loads or intense stress, such as drone frames, automotive components, or sporting equipment. The stiffness of carbon fiber filaments also means that shapes and models with this material maintain their form with minimal deformation.
Con: Printer Wear and Tear
While the benefits of carbon fiber filaments are impressive, they do come with a downside: significant wear and tear on your 3D printer. Carbon fiber is an abrasive material, and over time, using it can damage a printer’s nozzle and extrusion system. For example, standard brass nozzles will wear out much faster than you might expect. To mitigate this, it’s best to use nozzles made of hardened steel.
Pro: Lightweight Properties
Another major advantage of carbon fiber filaments is their lightweight nature. Despite the filament’s exceptional strength, objects printed with carbon fiber filaments are surprisingly light, making them excellent for applications where weight is a critical factor.
Aerospace parts, racing components, and bicycles benefit from materials that provide both rigidity and lightness. With carbon fiber filament, you can create parts that are easy to handle, transport, or integrate into larger projects without adding bulk.
Con: Brittle Nature
On the flip side, the same stiffness that makes carbon fiber filaments so desirable can also lead to brittleness. Carbon fiber doesn’t bend well under stress—it tends to snap or fracture when pushed beyond its limits. This means parts with carbon fiber filaments are less suitable for applications that require impact resistance or flexibility. Some builders might combine carbon fiber with more resilient materials to avoid breakage.
Pro: Dimensional Stability
Carbon fiber filaments excel in dimensional stability during the printing process. Because of their reduced thermal expansion, carbon fiber parts tend to resist warping and shrinking as they cool.
This supports accuracy and consistency in your prints, which is vital when working with tight tolerances or intricate details. Whether creating delicate prototypes or precision tools, you can rely on carbon fiber filaments to deliver great results with minimal post-processing.
Now that you know a little bit more about the pros and cons, you can determine if carbon fiber filament is right for your next project. If you’re ready to dive in, 3D Printers Depot has the equipment you need! We sell a range of carbon fiber 3D printers to handle your toughest printing projects.