Beginner’s Guide to 3D Printer Filaments in Malaysia – PLA, PETG & More

Beginner’s Guide to 3D Printer Filaments in Malaysia

Hey guys, I’m sharing what I’ve learned since getting my first 3D printer — not perfect, but enough to help you avoid the same mistakes I made. Let’s talk about the main types of filament, what they’re used for, and which one is best to start with.

🧵 What is filament, anyway?

It’s the plastic spool you feed into your FDM printer — typically 1.75 mm thickness — that melts and builds your model layer by layer. There’s PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU, Nylon and more — but don’t worry, we’ll just go through the usual suspects.

🔸 PLA (Polylactic Acid) – Start here lah!

• Why I love it: Super easy to print, usually no heated bed needed. Clean, low-warp, smells a bit sweet, and eco-friendly.
• Print temp: ~190–220 °C
• What I made with it: Toys, keychains, mini figurine models
• Heads up: Some PLA is brittle, not great for mechanical stress.
• My advice: Start with PLA — it’s the easiest to work with.

Recommended PLA on Lazada:

• eSUN PLA+ 1 kg – 4.8★ from 1,700+ reviews, smooth prints and good adhesion.
• Creality Ender-PLA 1 kg – Affordable (~RM39), works well with Creality printers.
• Bambu Lap PLA 1 KG - Bambu Lab Basic PLA Filament 1KG 1.75mm Spooless with RFID Eco Friendly User Friendly High Speed Printing with AMS

🔸 PETG – Next-level strength, still relatively easy

• Why try after PLA: Durable, flexible, good for outdoor prints.
• Print temp: ~220–250 °C
• Tip: Store dry! It absorbs moisture easily in our humid weather.

🔸 ABS – Strong but tricky for home users

• Why people like it: Heat-resistant, strong for mechanical parts.
• Cons: Needs a heated bed, proper ventilation, and enclosed printer.
• Beginner warning: Try only if you’re ready for more advanced printing.

Recommended ABS: eSUN ABS 1 kg – 4.6★ from 250+ reviewers. Use with caution and ventilate!

🔸 TPU, Nylon, PVA… the advanced bunch

• TPU: Flexible, good for phone cases — tricky to feed though.
• Nylon: Super tough, but very moisture-sensitive.
• PVA: Water-soluble support material — only useful for dual extrusion setups.

✅ Final Take: Start with PLA first

• Go with 1.75 mm PLA — it’s the easiest and most forgiving.
• Try PETG later when you want stronger prints.
• Only try ABS if you have a good setup (and patience!).

📌 Local Tips

• Order from Lazada Malaysia — fast delivery and often on sale.
• Store filaments in dry boxes or with silica gel packets.
• Always check for 1.75 mm compatibility — most printers in Malaysia use it.
• Read reviews — look for terms like “no warping”, “consistent diameter”.