Developing our own filament line in Quebec is one of the most ambitious initiatives in 3DCentral’s roadmap. It represents a fundamental shift from being purely a consumer of materials to becoming a vertically integrated manufacturer with control over every stage of the production process, from raw pellets to finished collectible.
This update provides a transparent look at where the program stands, what challenges we have encountered, and what comes next. Vertical integration is not simple, but the strategic benefits for quality control, supply chain resilience, and the Quebec manufacturing ecosystem make it a priority worth pursuing.
Why We Are Making Our Own Filament
The decision to produce filament in-house is driven by three interconnected factors: quality control, supply chain independence, and cost optimization at scale.
Quality Control
When you purchase filament from a third party, you inherit their quality standards, which may or may not align with your production requirements. Diameter consistency, color accuracy, moisture content, spool winding quality, and additive formulation are all variables you cannot control as a buyer. By producing our own filament, we define and enforce every parameter.
For a 200+ printer operation producing thousands of collectible figurines per week, even small variations between filament batches can cascade into visible quality inconsistencies across the product line. A slight color shift between two batches of the same color means that a customer ordering a gnome today might receive a subtly different shade than a customer who ordered last month. That level of inconsistency is unacceptable for a brand built on quality.
Supply Chain Independence
The global supply chain disruptions of recent years demonstrated the vulnerability of depending on overseas filament sources. Shipping delays, container shortages, port congestion, and currency fluctuations created unpredictable lead times and costs. Quebec-based production eliminates transoceanic shipping dependencies and provides predictable, local sourcing.
Scale Economics
Our monthly filament consumption across 200+ printers is substantial. At this volume, the economics of in-house production become favorable. The capital investment in extrusion equipment is offset by per-kilogram cost savings that compound over time as production volume increases.
Current Development Status
Our filament extrusion line is operational and producing test batches. The core equipment, a precision single-screw extruder with laser diameter measurement and automated winding, is running and producing filament with dimensional accuracy within 0.02 millimeters of target diameter. This tolerance meets or exceeds the specifications of premium commercial filament brands.
PLA Formulation
PLA formulation is in the refinement phase. We are working with food-grade PLA pellets sourced from North American suppliers and adjusting the ratio of colorants, nucleating agents, and processing aids to optimize three critical properties: print quality (layer adhesion, surface finish, flow consistency), surface finish after cooling (matte versus gloss, texture), and color consistency between batches.
Early samples show promising results. Test prints from our initial batches are producing quality comparable to the premium filament brands we currently use in production. The remaining work is narrowing the process parameters to ensure that quality level is repeatable batch after batch.
PETG Development
PETG formulation work runs parallel to PLA development but at an earlier stage. PETG requires higher processing temperatures and more precise moisture control during extrusion. We are establishing the process parameters for our equipment and working toward the same quality benchmarks we have set for PLA.
The Color Matching Challenge
Achieving exact, repeatable color matches between filament batches is the most technically demanding aspect of the program. Collectors notice color differences immediately, and our product photography represents specific colors that every shipped product must match.
Spectrophotometric Workflow
We are developing a colorimetry workflow using industrial spectrophotometer measurements to define each color as a precise numerical specification. Every batch is measured against a master color standard, and only batches falling within imperceptible tolerance ranges proceed to production use.
This approach goes beyond visual comparison, which is subjective and inconsistent. Two people looking at the same spool under different lighting conditions may disagree about whether the color matches. Spectrophotometric measurement removes that subjectivity entirely.
Pigment Dispersion
Even with precise pigment ratios, color consistency depends on thorough pigment dispersion throughout the PLA matrix. Poorly dispersed pigment creates visible streaks or color variations along the length of the filament. Our extrusion process includes mixing stages designed to achieve uniform pigment distribution, but optimizing these stages for each specific color is an iterative process.
Testing Protocol
Every test batch undergoes a standardized evaluation protocol before being approved for production use. This protocol encompasses four areas.
Dimensional Verification
We measure filament diameter at 100 random points across each spool using a laser micrometer. All measurements must fall within plus or minus 0.02 millimeters of the nominal 1.75 millimeter diameter. Ovality (deviation from a perfectly round cross-section) is also measured and must remain below 0.01 millimeters.
Mechanical Testing
Tensile strength and elongation at break are measured on standardized test specimens printed from each batch. These mechanical properties must meet or exceed the baselines established by the commercial filaments we currently use.
Print Quality Evaluation
Reference models, including a detailed figurine, a calibration cube, a temperature tower, and a stringing test model, are printed from each batch on standardized printers with standardized settings. Output is evaluated for surface finish, dimensional accuracy, layer adhesion, and cosmetic defects.
Color Consistency
Each batch is measured against the master color standard using our spectrophotometric workflow. Color difference (Delta E) must remain below a threshold that is imperceptible to the human eye under standard viewing conditions.
Pieces from our shop demand this level of material consistency. Our customers, whether individual collectors or Commercial License holders producing for resale, depend on reliable, repeatable quality.
Timeline and Next Steps
Our target for initial commercial availability of 3DCentral Quebec-made filament is tied to achieving consistent pass rates across all four testing categories for our launch color range. We are prioritizing the colors most heavily used in our production lineup to maximize immediate operational impact.
Launch Colors
The initial color range will include our most-consumed production shades: white, black, and the primary colors used in our best-selling figurines and ducks designs. Expanding the color range will follow as we establish reliable colorimetry profiles for additional shades.
Distribution
Our filament will be available for retail purchase alongside its use in our own production. Commercial License subscribers will receive early access and preferential pricing as part of the subscription benefits. Retail availability extends the 3DCentral brand into the materials market and serves the community of operators and hobbyists who follow our blog for production insights.
Learn more about our production facility and the values driving this program on our about page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will 3DCentral filament be available for retail purchase or only for internal use? A: Both. While the primary motivation is controlling quality for our own production, we plan to offer our Quebec-made filament for retail sale. commercial license subscribers will receive early access and preferential pricing. Retail availability will follow the initial production launch.
Q: What diameter filament is 3DCentral developing? A: We are producing 1.75 millimeter diameter filament, which is the standard used by the vast majority of consumer and prosumer FDM printers, including the Bambu Lab and Prusa printers in our production fleet. We maintain dimensional tolerance within plus or minus 0.02 millimeters.
Q: How does locally produced filament benefit the environment? A: Quebec-based production eliminates transoceanic shipping, which is the largest single contributor to filament’s transportation carbon footprint. It also allows us to source raw materials from North American suppliers, further reducing total logistics distance. Combined with our waste management practices on the production floor, local manufacturing represents a meaningfully lower environmental impact per kilogram of filament produced.
