MakeShaper is OFFICIALLY moving into the Village!
Keene Village Plastics (KVP), known for their high-quality, engineering grade 3D filament, is pleased to announce the expansion of their online store to include MakeShaper, a brand of user-friendly, economical 3D filament, starting in April 2022.
Since its foundation in 2004, KVP has developed a strong reputation in the 3D printing industry among dealers, distributors, and customers for its extensive variety of high-end filaments, as well as its commitment to quality & service.
Back in 2019, KVP announced the acquisition of a North Carolina based 3D filament manufacturer, MakeShaper. In addition to providing materials for the 3D printing industry, both companies shared a common denominator in that all their filaments were engineered, tested, and manufactured in the USA.
The addition of MakeShaper brought with it a portfolio of products, including several of the most popular 3D printing filaments, specifically designed to be used with fused deposition modeling (FDM) printers for the consumer and hobbyist market.
Since then, KVP has been able to extend its reach to provide high-quality filaments to a much wider demographic amongst the 3D community. However, such efforts up to this point have been done through two separate channels— the KVP online store and the MakeShaper online store.
Starting in April 2022, MakeShaper’s selection of user-friendly, economical 3D filament will be available to purchase exclusively through the KVP online store. This will include the following filament, all of which will be listed at $21 per 1kg spool:
PLA Filament
Features of PLA Filament (Polylactic Acid):
– Ease of Use: Very easy, PLA is the easiest material to print with. Most Printing software comes with a profile already made for PLA
– Print Quality: Prints well for basic filament, glossy finish
– Print Durability: Poor, unfortunately PLA print parts are not strong and can be damaged with minor force
– Price: PLA is one of the cheaper 3D printing filaments you can buy. Great for beginners, but will struggle as a functional part.
PETG Filament
PETG filament (Polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified) has the benefits you would find in ABS (strength, temperature resistance, durability) with the printability of PLA. It has excellent layer adhesion and produces prints with less warpage and shrinkage. PETG is more flexible and durable than PLA and easier to print than ABS, making it the perfect middle ground.
Features of PETG Filament:
– Ease of Use: Moderate. PETG can extrude well, but can be difficult at times. Most printing software has a profile to get you started, but some adjustments may need to be made.
– Print Quality: Moderately High. It is more difficult to get highly detailed prints with PETG because it can become stringy. For this reason, setup is important.
– Durability: Moderately High. PETG can take more impact than ABS and works well for parts under abrasive conditions
– Price: PETG is more expensive than ABS, but the final prints are stronger than ABS. Natural PETG is translucent, so there are some more fun color options available as well.
ABS Filament
Features of ABS Filament (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene):
– Ease of Use: Moderate. ABS extrudes well, but setup needs to be correct. Most printing software has a profile that will work for ABS. An important aspect is consistent cooling so low fan speeds and enclosed printers are recommended.
– Print Quality: High. If ABS has the correct setup, it creates high detailed parts with an opaquer finish
– Durability: Moderate. ABS can be used functional parts and to an extent will hold up well
– Price: ABS is more expensive than PLA, but is the cheapest material when printing for functionality
“As a company that prides itself on having an open, community-based, village mentality, this divided model of business is proving to be antithetical to our core values. Ultimately, our goal for both companies is to foster the ideas of the 3D community by inspiring Makers of all skill-levels, need-levels, and I-can-change-the-world levels to make anything.”
Beau Kuhn, Director of Marketing (KVP + MakeShaper)
The phrase “make anything” is a line pulled directly from MakeShaper’s original tagline— “We make filament so you can make anything" — which, according to Kuhn, will be reimplemented throughout the marketing campaign for the website merger.
For further information call 330.753.0100 or email: makeshaper@villageplastics.com.