<p>FDM itself is not particularly food-safe, coating the print may prevent bacteria to settle in crevices. Furthermore, the filament should be able to withstand high temperatures for extended periods of time in case you want to clean the printed cups to kill bacteria.</p>
<p>An overview of food-safe filaments is given by <a href="https://all3dp.com/2/food-safe-3d-printer-filament-best-brands/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">All3DP</a>. Without going into details, this overview recommends the use of certain TPU, nylon, high-temperature resistant co-polyester, PETG and ABS filaments. All these filaments are located at the higher-end temperature region of the filament pool.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-03T15:57:06.553Z
Unfortunately the higher temp plastics (nylon, ABS in particular) emit toxic fumes when heated, so unless your 3d printer has a closed chamber with either filtered airflow or vented outside, it's differently dangerous.  PETG and TPU might be good alternatives though, but the heat resistance isn't that much higher.
user10489
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-02T12:42:01.603Z
2022-09-02T12:42:01.603Z
0scar
<p>A better alternative would be PETG, it's food safe on it's own and has more heat tolerance than PLA. It prints with much the same ease as PLA.</p>
<p>I'm not familiar with your particular printer, but nozzles are standard sizes. Swapping a brass nozzle for a stainless steel one doesn't need anything extra done. They both work the same, just the steel nozzle is harder wearing.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-02T12:23:14.737Z
Brass contains lead, therefore it is recommended to use a steel nozzle. But, I'm not aware of studies of lead contaminating the print from the nozzle.
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-02T12:56:33.230Z
@ZeissIkon Indeed, but brass nozzles do wear, even with PLA, albeit not much, but they do. I don't expect that there are concentrations found like the Romans had in their wine...
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-02T14:32:37.910Z
Thanks I thought of PETG - I just wasn’t sure how well it would work in a Makerbot Z18 or replicator plus.
Jesse
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-02T16:43:30.393Z
The amount of lead contamination from a brass nozzle is minuscule, even if your students ate kilograms of extruded filament. Stainless is better, but printed utensils from a brass nozzle are by no means unsafe.
Chris
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-02T12:09:03.237Z
2022-09-02T12:25:58.833Z
2022-09-02T12:25:58.833Z
Kilisi
<p>I am working with a bunch of Makerbot Replicator+ printers and one Z18 in a classroom. I would like my students to be able to print cups and stuff to drink from if they want. I know I need a food-safe material AND a food safe nozzle if it can be managed.</p>
<p>So, I wanted to check the following:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Is there a material data sheet for the PLA filament that Makerbots use? I am told you need to check for each color, so the general one doesn't seem to be what I need. If anyone knows where to find it, please let me know.</p>
</li>
<li><p>I am told stainless steel nozzles are best. I saw several sold on amazon and the like that will supposedly fit the Smart Extruders. Recs on which I should use (if any) are welcome. Especially as the nozzle width will differ, the stock nozzle I think is 0.4mm? I assume I will need to adjust the settings on the printer as well anyway if I swap out the stock nozzle.</p>
</li>
<li><p>Another procedure my research yielded was that I would probably want to coat the 3D prints in resin. It seems there are several food-safe brands. Would such resins stand up to acidic liquids like orange juice and the like? What about alcohol? I know they won't work with coffee or something because PLA melts as such a low temperature. Recommendations are welcome here, and whether I should paint on or dip the 3D print?</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>3a. Even if the PLA isn't itself officially food safe would just coating it in resin solve that problem?</p>
<p>Any assistance here is much appreciated.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-02T11:36:38.040Z
Why use PLA at all? Seems a terrible choice
Kilisi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-02T11:48:26.107Z
It's what I have available. And with a Replicator+ it requires less fiddling about, but if there's another filament that I can use without too much of a problem in that particular model of 3D printer by all means tell me!
Jesse
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-03T15:59:33.483Z
Printing food safe items is not safe or easy, and the results will likely not be durable or cleanable.  You'd be better off printing some of the thousands of toys and fidget widgets, and they'd probably print faster than a cup too.
user10489
<pla><food><replicator+>
How to Print Food Safe With Replicator + and Z18? Three specific questions
Jesse
# How to Print Food Safe With Replicator + and Z18? Three specific questions

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-09-02)

I am working with a bunch of Makerbot Replicator+ printers and one Z18 in a classroom. I would like my students to be able to print cups and stuff to drink from if they want. I know I need a food-safe material AND a food safe nozzle if it can be managed.

So, I wanted to check the following:

1. Is there a material data sheet for the PLA filament that Makerbots use? I am told you need to check for each color, so the general one doesn't seem to be what I need. If anyone knows where to find it, please let me know.
2. I am told stainless steel nozzles are best. I saw several sold on amazon and the like that will supposedly fit the Smart Extruders. Recs on which I should use (if any) are welcome. Especially as the nozzle width will differ, the stock nozzle I think is 0.4mm? I assume I will need to adjust the settings on the printer as well anyway if I swap out the stock nozzle.
3. Another procedure my research yielded was that I would probably want to coat the 3D prints in resin. It seems there are several food-safe brands. Would such resins stand up to acidic liquids like orange juice and the like? What about alcohol? I know they won't work with coffee or something because PLA melts as such a low temperature. Recommendations are welcome here, and whether I should paint on or dip the 3D print?

3a. Even if the PLA isn't itself officially food safe would just coating it in resin solve that problem?

Any assistance here is much appreciated.

**Tags:** pla, food, replicator+

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Why use PLA at all? Seems a terrible choice  
> **username_0**: It's what I have available. And with a Replicator+ it requires less fiddling about, but if there's another filament that I can use without too much of a problem in that particular model of 3D printer by all means tell me!  
> **username_2**: Printing food safe items is not safe or easy, and the results will likely not be durable or cleanable.  You'd be better off printing some of the thousands of toys and fidget widgets, and they'd probably print faster than a cup too.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2022-09-02. Score: 3

FDM itself is not particularly food-safe, coating the print may prevent bacteria to settle in crevices. Furthermore, the filament should be able to withstand high temperatures for extended periods of time in case you want to clean the printed cups to kill bacteria.

An overview of food-safe filaments is given by [All3DP](https://all3dp.com/2/food-safe-3d-printer-filament-best-brands/). Without going into details, this overview recommends the use of certain TPU, nylon, high-temperature resistant co-polyester, PETG and ABS filaments. All these filaments are located at the higher-end temperature region of the filament pool.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Unfortunately the higher temp plastics (nylon, ABS in particular) emit toxic fumes when heated, so unless your 3d printer has a closed chamber with either filtered airflow or vented outside, it's differently dangerous.  PETG and TPU might be good alternatives though, but the heat resistance isn't that much higher.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-09-02. Score: 1

A better alternative would be PETG, it's food safe on it's own and has more heat tolerance than PLA. It prints with much the same ease as PLA.

I'm not familiar with your particular printer, but nozzles are standard sizes. Swapping a brass nozzle for a stainless steel one doesn't need anything extra done. They both work the same, just the steel nozzle is harder wearing.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Brass contains lead, therefore it is recommended to use a steel nozzle. But, I'm not aware of studies of lead contaminating the print from the nozzle.  
> **username_3**: @ZeissIkon Indeed, but brass nozzles do wear, even with PLA, albeit not much, but they do. I don't expect that there are concentrations found like the Romans had in their wine...  
> **username_0**: Thanks I thought of PETG - I just wasn’t sure how well it would work in a Makerbot Z18 or replicator plus.  
> **username_4**: The amount of lead contamination from a brass nozzle is minuscule, even if your students ate kilograms of extruded filament. Stainless is better, but printed utensils from a brass nozzle are by no means unsafe.  

---

