📖 Glossary
Technical terms and filament parameters – what they mean and why their values matter.
🖨️Print Parameters
Nozzle / Hotend Temperature
Teplota trysky / hotendu
Recommended hotend temperature for printing this material. Too low causes poor layer adhesion; too high degrades the polymer and causes stringing.
Print Bed Temperature
Teplota tiskové podložky
A heated bed slows cooling of the first layer and prevents warping. Essential for ABS, ASA, PC, and PA materials.
Enclosed Print Chamber
Uzavřená tiskárna (komora)
An enclosed print chamber maintains a stable ambient temperature around the print, preventing warping and layer splitting. Required for ABS, ASA, PC, and PA.
Hardened Nozzle
Tvrzená tryska
A hardened or wear-resistant nozzle is required for carbon fiber and glass fiber filled filaments, which quickly wear out standard brass nozzles.
Filament Drying Before Print
Sušení filamentu před tiskem
Recommended temperature and duration for drying filament BEFORE printing. One-time preparation – distinct from a drybox which protects filament during printing.
Drybox – active storage during printing
Drybox – zásobník při tisku
A sealed container with desiccant from which you print directly. Protects hygroscopic materials (PA, TPU, PVA) from moisture absorption during printing.
🔥Thermal Properties
Vicat Softening Temperature (VST)
Vicat Softening Temperature (VST)
Standardized heat resistance test (ISO 306). The temperature at which a penetrator needle sinks 1 mm under 50 N load. Good indicator of maximum service temperature.
More on Wikipedia →Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT)
Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT)
The temperature at which a test bar reaches the standard deflection under a flexural load of 1.80 MPa (ISO 75-2, method A). Practical indicator for load-bearing parts in heat. Note: 1.82 MPa = 264 psi belongs to ASTM D648, a slightly different method.
More on Wikipedia →Glass Transition Temperature
Teplota skelného přechodu
The temperature at which an amorphous polymer transitions from a rigid (glassy) to a soft (rubbery) state. Below Tg the material is stiff; above it becomes flexible. Typically measured by DSC per ISO 11357-2.
More on Wikipedia →Melting Temperature (Tm)
Teplota tání (Tm)
The temperature at which the polymer's crystalline phase melts (ISO 11357, DSC). Applies to semi-crystalline materials (PLA, PA, PP, PET); purely amorphous ones (ABS, PC, PETG) have no distinct Tm – for them Tg matters. Not the same as nozzle temperature.
More on Wikipedia →Maximum Service Temperature
Maximální provozní teplota
The highest temperature at which a print keeps its shape and function long-term without deforming. A practical manufacturer figure – usually below the HDT/Vicat value. Important for parts in cars, near heaters, or in direct sunlight.
⚙️Mechanical Properties
Tensile Strength
Pevnost v tahu
Maximum stress a material can withstand in tension before breaking (ISO 527). Higher = stronger material.
More on Wikipedia →Tensile Modulus (Young's Modulus)
Modul pružnosti v tahu (E-modul)
Material stiffness in tension (ISO 527) – how much stress is needed for a given strain. Higher = stiffer, stretches less under load. Note: stiffness ≠ strength (that is tensile strength).
More on Wikipedia →Flexural Strength
Pevnost v ohybu
Maximum stress in a three-point bending test (ISO 178). Relevant for parts subject to bending forces – brackets, frames, mounts.
Flexural Modulus
Modul pružnosti v ohybu
Material stiffness in bending (ISO 178) – resistance to deflection. Higher = stiffer part that bends less under load. Relevant for brackets, frames, and load-bearing parts.
Elongation at Break
Tažnost při přetržení
How much % the material stretches before breaking (ISO 527). Low = brittle (PLA). High = ductile/flexible (TPU).
Charpy Impact Strength
Rázová houževnatost (Charpy)
Energy needed to break a sample with an impact hammer (ISO 179-1, notched specimen type A). Unnotched values (1eU) are substantially higher and not directly comparable. Higher = more impact resistant. Important for enclosures and mechanical parts.
More on Wikipedia →Hardness (Shore)
Tvrdost (Shore)
Surface resistance to indentation (ISO 868). Shore A scale for soft materials (TPU, TPE), Shore D for hard ones (PLA, ABS, PC). E.g. "95A" is a semi-rigid flex, "70D" a hard engineering material.
More on Wikipedia →Material Density
Hustota materiálu
Polymer density (ISO 1183) affects print weight and filament length per spool. Lower density = lighter prints and more material per standard spool.
Melt Flow Index (MFI/MFR)
Index toku taveniny (MFI/MFR)
Grams of melt flowing through a die in 10 minutes at a set temperature and load (ISO 1133). Higher MFI = thinner melt, easier flow; lower = more viscous. Test conditions differ between materials – compare values with care.
More on Wikipedia →✨Special Properties
Flexible Material
Flexibilní materiál
The material returns to its original shape after deformation (elastomer). Typically TPU and TPE. Suitable for gaskets, tubing, and protective covers.
Food-Safe Certification
Food-safe (potravinářská bezpečnost)
Material meets food contact requirements (EU 10/2011, FDA 21 CFR). Note: certified filament alone is not enough – a food-safe nozzle and smooth print surface are also required.
ESD-Safe (Antistatic)
ESD-safe (antistatický)
Material dissipates static charge to protect sensitive electronics from ESD damage. Surface resistance 10⁶–10¹¹ Ω. Used in electronics manufacturing and cleanrooms.
More on Wikipedia →Suitable for Outdoor Use
Vhodný pro venkovní použití
Material resists UV radiation, moisture, and temperature changes without significant degradation. ASA is specifically designed for outdoor use. PLA is not suitable outdoors.
📊Data Quality
Data Quality
Kvalita dat
Data quality: ✓ complete (TDS + all values filled), ~ partial (some values missing), ! basic (print parameters only).
Technical Data Sheet (TDS)
Technical Data Sheet (TDS)
Link to the manufacturer's technical data sheet (PDF) with standardized mechanical and thermal properties.
🚩How to report a data error
FilamentCat data comes from automated crawlers and PDF extraction. Mistakes happen — if you spot a discrepancy with the manufacturer's data sheet, let us know using the 🚩 button in the catalog.
Find the filament with incorrect data in the catalog.
Click the 🚩 flag icon in the table row, or the "Report" link on a filament card.
Select the field that contains the error (e.g. "Nozzle min", "Density").
Enter the correct value in the same unit as the database uses (°C, MPa, g/cm³…).
Paste the URL of the manufacturer's technical data sheet or official product page as evidence. Forums and shops are not accepted.
Optionally attach a spool label photo URL — helps the AI validator.
Submit. The report goes through AI pre-validation and then manual admin review. Approved corrections appear in the database.
✅ Example of a well-filled report
❌ Sources that will be rejected:
- Forums and discussions (Reddit, Facebook, Printables comments)
- Shops and review sites (Amazon, AliExpress)
- Social media (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok)
- Personal blogs without citing the original TDS
- Other filament aggregators