ColorFabb
Dutch Premium Specialty Filament Pioneer — nGen, LW-PLA, and More
About ColorFabb
ColorFabb is a Dutch filament manufacturer that has been at the forefront of specialty filament innovation since the early days of consumer 3D printing. The company first gained widespread recognition for its PLA/PHA blend — a tougher, less brittle alternative to standard PLA that remains one of its best-selling materials. But ColorFabb's real contribution to the hobby has been pioneering entirely new material categories.
The nGen line, developed in partnership with Eastman Chemical Company, is an all-around co-polyester that bridges the gap between PLA and PETG. It prints at 220–245 °C, offers excellent layer adhesion and overhang performance, and produces parts with a smooth, matte finish that needs minimal post-processing. LW-PLA (Lightweight PLA) is another ColorFabb innovation — a foaming filament that expands during printing, allowing users to create lightweight parts with adjustable density by varying nozzle temperature and flow settings.
The catalog also includes PETG Economy (a high-quality, affordable PETG with 49 MPa tensile strength), semi-matte PETG, carbon fiber reinforced materials, and flexible filaments like nGen_Flex and TPU 95A. ColorFabb publishes detailed technical data sheets for every material and maintains open-source printer profiles on GitHub. The price is in the premium tier (~$35–50/kg), but for specialty materials that simply don't exist from other brands, ColorFabb is the only game in town.
Key Filament Specifications
| Material | Nozzle Temp | Bed Temp | Tensile (MPa) | HDT (°C) | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA/PHA | 190–220 °C | 50–60 °C | 45 ± 5 | 55 ± 5 | Tougher and less brittle than standard PLA thanks to PHA addition. 100% biodegradable. Excellent bed adhesion, minimal warping. Large color range including nude and specialty finishes. Print speed 50–80 mm/s. |
| PETG | 235–255 °C | 70–80 °C | 49 ± 4 | 70 ± 5 | PETG Economy and Semi-Matte variants. Tensile strength 49 MPa (ISO 527), density 1.28 g/cm³. Good layer adhesion, low warping. Cooling fan 75–100% for best aesthetics; less cooling for mechanical performance. |
| nGen | 220–245 °C | 75–85 °C | 47 ± 5 | 80 ± 5 | Co-polyester developed with Eastman Chemical. Bridges PLA and PETG — easy to print, strong, excellent overhangs. Smooth matte finish, minimal post-processing. Glass transition temp 81 °C. Print speed 40–70 mm/s. |
| TPU 95A | 220–230 °C | 30–40 °C | 35 ± 5 | 50 ± 5 | Shore 95A flexible filament. Print speed 30–40 mm/s, cooling fan 25–50%. Direct drive recommended. Good abrasion resistance and elasticity. For gaskets, seals, phone cases, and wearable parts. |
All values sourced from ColorFabb official technical data sheets (colorfabb.com) and GitHub printer profiles. Standard 1.75 mm diameter, ±0.02 mm tolerance, 1 kg spool, vacuum-sealed with desiccant across all lines.