The electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a silent killer of electronic components – a single spark can damage a sensor, breach a MOSFET, or “vaporize” entire traces on a printed circuit board. When 3D printing enclosures, fixtures, or tools for electronics, the material itself must dissipate the charge. Polymaker offers three specialized filaments for 3D printing that address the problem in different ways and for different scenarios:
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PETG-ESD – an affordable first step towards ESD-safe parts.
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PolyMax™ PETG-ESD – the same conductivity, but reinforced with Nano-reinforcement for double impact resistance.
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PA612-ESD – high-temperature nylon with carbon fibers and HDT 157 °C for industrial conditions.
Why ESD filament at all?
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Guaranteed protection – surface resistance 10⁴ – 10⁷ Ω/sq dissipates charge before it “jumps” to sensitive pins.
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Clean integration – no need for conductive paints or metal inserts that complicate design and increase part cost.
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Less waste – ESD-safe tools withstand longer runs, reducing discarded electronics.
Overview of the three ESD filaments
1. PETG-ESD – the initial variant
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Material base: standard PETG with carbon nanotubes.
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Impact resistance (Charpy): ~2.6 kJ/m².
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Working temperatures: nozzle 250–270 °C; bed 70–80 °C; no chamber.
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Surface resistance: 10⁴ – 10⁷ Ω/sq at 270 °C nozzle.
2. PolyMax™ PETG-ESD – reinforced for higher durability
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Additional Nano-reinforcement increases impact resistance to 5.7 kJ/m² – more than double compared to regular PETG-ESD.
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The same temperatures for 3D printing, but higher bending energy.
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Suitable for JIGs, clamps, housings that will endure repeated fastening or dropping.
3. PA612-ESD – the engineering beast
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Matrix PA612 + 10 % CF – low moisture absorption, high strength and hardness.
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HDT 157 °C – the detail remains stable in polymerization ovens.
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3D printing temperatures: nozzle 280–300 °C; bed 45 °C; chamber is recommended.
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Ideal for production tools that enter wave soldering machines or sit in a hot environment.
PETG-ESD filament for 3D printer – when and why?
Advantages
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Easily 3D printed without a chamber; behaves almost like PolyLite PETG.
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Lowest price among ESD filaments – convenient for quick prototypes.
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Wide temperature window: 250–270 °C.
Typical applications
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Casing for IoT sensors on the roof (ESD + UV resistance).
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Press-fit JIGs for functional testing.
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Insulating tools for assembly lines where metal would be risky.
Settings
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Dry the roll for 3 h at 65 °C.
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0.4 mm hardened nozzle; 270 °C at high detail.
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Speed up to 60 mm/s; supports made from the same material.
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Blowing 15 % for perfect side walls.
“I use PETG‑ESD for Raspberry Pi holders and not a single chip has burned out so far.” – user Xander779 on r/3Dprinting. Reddit
PolyMax™ PETG‑ESD filament – when and why?
What does Nano‑reinforcement provide?
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Microscopic crystalline domains distribute stress and stop microcracks.
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The part “springs” instead of breaking – important for conveyor rollers or snapping covers.
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One roll is ~20 % more expensive, but saves multiple rewrites of G-code for repairs.
Real benefits
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Manufacturer of FFC cables replaces ABS‑ESD with PolyMax™ PETG‑ESD and reduces JIG breakages by 70 %. Polymaker
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Updated rolls on the Pick-and-Place conveyor last three times longer before wearing out.
Settings
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Nozzle 0.4–0.6 mm; 255–285 °C.
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Bed 75 °C; no chamber.
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Drying 6 h @ 65 °C for maximum impact resistance.
PA612‑ESD – when and why?
Why PA612, and not PA6 or PA12?
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The longer chain provides thermal stability, lower moisture absorption, and better cooperative balance between PA6 strength and PA12 printability.
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Carbon fibers make the part rigid and dimensionally stable, even at 150 °C.
Applications
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Tooling tips in selective soldering machines.
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JIGs for 'bake-out' processes where the kits are dried 2 h @ 120 °C.
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Boxes for smart cameras on production lines with varying temperatures and vibrations.
Settings
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Nozzle 0.6 mm hardened; 290 °C.
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Bed 45 °C + layer of glue.
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Chamber 60 °C minimizes deformation.
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Drying 6 h @ 80 °C; store in an airtight box with a powerful desiccant.
How to choose the right ESD filament?
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Prototype, short life cycle, budget key factor? → PETG‑ESD.
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Parts that are treated roughly or are assembled/disassembled frequently? → PolyMax™ PETG‑ESD.
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Industrial environment above 100 °C or need for maximum hardness? → PA612-ESD.
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Don't have a high-temperature nozzle? → Stick with PETG-based materials.
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Do you need an ESD safety certificate? → Each of the three covers IEC 61340-5-1, but PA612-ESD is the most stable under cyclic loading.
Best practices for hassle-free 3D printing of ESD filaments
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Always dry: moisture in CNT filaments leads to bubbles and unstable conductivity.
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Use a hardened nozzle – carbon wears out brass for under 500 g..
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Low blowing – more cooling = higher resistivity.
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Ground the bed – this way the detail is discharged even while finishing.
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Check the resistance of every second roll with an ohmmeter.
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Unify supports – foreign material interrupts the conductive network.
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Plan for wear – have a spare nozzle and pad.
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Use a filament sensor – the moist ESD PETG causes “stringing,” which the sensor detects in time.
Real cases and ideas for use
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Enclosures for IoT sensors – PETG-ESD ensures that static from the assembler's hands will not kill the radio chip.
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Mounting brackets on conveyors – PolyMax™ PETG-ESD withstands vibrations and impacts without cracking, reducing line stoppage costs.
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Fixtures in ovens for removing flux – PA612-ESD does not deform at 140 °C and remains conductive.
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JIG for testing FPC connectors – PolyMax™ PETG-ESD eliminates “black spots” from ESD breakdowns, reducing defects by 30%.
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Covers for FPV drones – PA612-ESD protects the flight board from diluted insulators when landing on grassy terrain.
If you do not have a suitable printer or want single pieces, the 3D printing service from 3dlarge.com 3D prints the selected filament and sends the parts in ESD-certified packaging – ready for clean room or assembly line.
