Stonefil PLA

Stonefil is the range of filaments based on PLA and stone powder developed by the renowned manufacturer Formfutura. PLA (Polylactic Acid) is a biodegradable plastic obtained from natural resources. In particular, it is obtained from starch extracted from corn, beet and wheat.

The choice of the filament to be used in each project can contribute to a more sustainable future. The use of biodegradable thermoplastics such as PLA or filaments composed of PLA and natural particles, has a lower impact on the environment than other thermoplastics derived from fossil fuels, such as ABS. Formfutura is constantly working on the development of sustainable materials such as those of the Stonefil family.

PLA is one of the most widely used materials in 3D printing today because it does not give off harmful gases and because it is need to have a 3D printer with a hot bed, which makes it very easy to print with it on any FDM technology 3D printer using the standard PLA configuration.

Thanks to its PLA base, Stonefil filaments are very easy to print and do not have warping even when printed on 3D FDM printers that do not have a hot bed.

Stonefil contains a filler of approximately 50% stone particles.

Thanks to the stone particle filler, Stonefil filaments have inherited some of the properties of this material. Stonefil filaments have a density up to 37% higher than standard PLA. In addition to this quality, these materials offer a matt rough finish, similar to stone.

Image 1: Stonefil filaments and texture. Source: Formfutura.

This finish can vary, as with the filaments with wood fibres, depending on the printing temperature; different tones or veins can be generated in the same piece by playing with the printing temperature parameters. However, the contrast will always be less than with the wood filaments. We recommend consulting the following article for further information.

Due to the stone particle load of its composition, Stonefil filaments are recommended to be printed with a nozzle of at least 0.5 mm output diameter to avoid clogging.

Due to the particle load they contain, a hardened steel nozzle is recommended for printing these materials. This is because the filler particles of Stonefil filaments can be abrasive and progressively damage standard brass nozzles.

Stonefil filaments are particularly suitable for 3D printing of decorative elements. By combining the new geometries that can be produced through 3D printing and the various surface finish possibilities offered by Stonefil, very aesthetic and striking results can be achieved. With the materials of the Stonefil range, surface finishes similar to those obtained with 3D printing of ceramics can be obtained without requiring post-processing or firing, significantly reducing processing time.

Image 2: Parts printed with Stonefil. Source: Formfutura.

When using materials such as standard PLA for artistic or decorative applications, layer lines and other imperfections or manifestations of FDM manufacturing technology can be clearly distinguished and can affect the result of the parts by incurring a longer post-processing time to achieve the desired finish. The natural texture and grain of Stonefil filaments smooth out these lines and defects. In addition, parts printed with Stonefil can be sanded to obtain a smooth and soft surface finish.

Another field of application for this material is architecture. In the architectural sector, it is often necessary to produce scale models of each project. In order to correctly visualize the design, as well as the construction materials, it is important that the model is as faithful as possible to reality. Sometimes it is complicated to find materials that correctly simulate real ones and that allow a good level of detail and finish.

Thanks to the filaments of the Stonefil family it is possible to find filaments that realistically simulate the appearance and texture of construction materials such as plaster, cement or brick.

Stonefil comes in 4 colours: cement, granite, clay and terracotta, and in diameters of 1.75 mm and 2.85 mm. Stonefil does not owe its colour to synthetic dyes, but the tone is given by its composition and the filling of particles of different origin.

Stonefil packaging is environmentally friendly. Stonefil PLA filaments are wound on recycled cardboard reels, which are easy to recycle and dispose of. These reels are in turn packed in recycled cardboard boxes.

Due to their ease of printing and their spectacular finish, these filaments are ideal for architectural models and artistic or decorative applications.