What is the material used in 3D printers that typically comes on a roll or spool?

The correct response is filament, which is the primary material used in many 3D printers, particularly those that employ Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology. Filament is available in various thermoplastic types and usually comes wound on a roll or spool, making it easy to feed into the 3D printer.

Filament is often made from materials such as PLA (Polylactic Acid), ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol), and several others, depending on the specific application and desired properties of the finished print. The spool allows for continuous feeding of the filament into the printer's extruder, where it's melted and deposited in layers to create 3D shapes.

Other materials mentioned, like resin, are typically used in different types of 3D printing processes, such as stereolithography (SLA). PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol) is primarily known for its use as a support material in combined 3D printing applications, and ABS is just one type of filament material rather than a type of printing medium itself. Filament’s characteristics, such as durability and versatility, play a vital role in its widespread use in various 3