Loading filament is one of the first things you'll do with your new 3D printer — and changing it when you want a new color is something you'll do often. Here's how to do it correctly.
What You'll Need
- Your 3D printer (heated and ready)
- A spool of filament (1.75mm PLA recommended for beginners)
- Scissors or flush cutters
How to Load Filament
- Heat the nozzle — set it to your filament's printing temperature (190–220°C for PLA). Never try to load filament cold.
- Cut the filament end at an angle — a clean, angled cut makes it easier to feed into the extruder
- Feed the filament into the extruder — push it in until you feel resistance, then continue pushing until filament starts coming out of the nozzle
- Purge old filament — extrude a few centimeters until the new filament color comes through cleanly
- You're ready to print
How to Change Filament (Mid-Spool)
- Heat the nozzle to printing temperature
- Retract the filament — use your printer's retract function or manually pull the filament back out slowly while the nozzle is hot
- Remove the old spool and secure the filament end so it doesn't tangle
- Load the new filament following the steps above
- Purge until the new color is consistent
Tips for Smooth Filament Changes
- Always heat the nozzle before loading or unloading — cold filament can break inside the extruder
- If filament won't come out, heat the nozzle slightly higher and try again
- Store unused filament in a sealed bag with desiccant to keep it dry
- Cut the filament end cleanly before loading — a frayed end can cause jams
With a little practice, filament changes take less than two minutes. It's one of those skills that feels tricky the first time and completely natural by the third.
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