Written by James Hill
Quick answer: ESD (anti-static) filament contains conductive additives so a printed part can drain static charge instead of holding it. Use it for jigs, trays and fixtures that touch bare circuit boards or loose components, on a grounded bench. It supports static control but does not replace a certified ESD programme, so measure finished parts when a resistance level matters.
Static you can feel is only the top of the problem. NASA's ESD workmanship handbook notes that the smallest discharge most people can detect is about 2,000 volts, while some parts are severely damaged by events of tens of volts. That gap is why electronics benches use grounded mats, wrist straps and dissipative trays, and why people ask whether a 3D printed jig can safely join that setup.
OzFDM stocks two anti-static filaments, ABS-ESD and PETG-ESD. This guide explains what "ESD-safe" means, what our product data does and doesn't state, where the material earns its place, and where it doesn't.
What ESD-safe actually means
Most plastics are electrical insulators. When an insulating part rubs against a bag, a glove or a circuit board, charge can build up on its surface with nowhere to go. The ESD Association's fundamentals material describes charges on an insulative surface staying in place "for a very long time". Unfilled PLA, PETG and ABS behave this way: Wikipedia's summary of electrostatic discharge materials puts insulators and base polymers above 10¹³ ohms per square.
ESD filaments add a conductive filler, usually carbon based, so charge can move across or through the part. OzFDM's PETG-ESD listing names carbon nanotubes as an example of the additive used. When the part touches a grounded surface, charge flows away in a controlled way rather than jumping to the next component that comes close.
Surface resistance ranges
ESD materials are grouped by how easily charge moves across them, quoted as surface resistance (ohms) or surface resistivity (ohms per square). Different documents draw the lines in slightly different places, so check which definition your customer or quality system uses.
| Class | ESD Association (surface resistance) | NASA-HDBK-8739.21 (surface resistivity) | What it means for a printed part |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conductive | Below 1 × 10⁴ Ω | Below 10⁵ Ω per square | Charge moves very easily. Several carbon fibre engineering filaments list values in or near this range. |
| Dissipative | From 1 × 10⁴ Ω up to (not including) 1 × 10¹¹ Ω | From 10⁵ up to (not including) 10¹² Ω per square | Charge still flows to ground, but more slowly than from a conductive material of the same size. |
| Insulative | 1 × 10¹¹ Ω and above | 10¹² Ω per square and above | Charge can sit on the surface. Unfilled PLA, PETG, ABS and ASA. |
The ESD Association figures come from its ESD Fundamentals series. The NASA figures are from NASA-HDBK-8739.21, Workmanship Manual for Electrostatic Discharge Control.
What OzFDM's ABS-ESD and PETG-ESD data states
Neither OzFDM ESD product page lists a surface resistance figure in its specifications at the time of writing, so we won't quote one. Here is what the listings do say.
| Listing detail | ABS-ESD | PETG-ESD |
|---|---|---|
| How it is described | Electrostatic dissipative ABS for parts used around static-sensitive electronics | Static dissipative PETG with conductive additives such as carbon nanotubes |
| Published surface resistance | Not listed | Not listed |
| Testing advice | Test finished parts when a specific ESD resistance level is required | Technical specifications not yet published (new product) |
| Nozzle temperature | 220–240°C (230°C recommended) | Prints with PETG settings (no figures published) |
| Bed temperature | 100–120°C (110°C recommended) | Not published |
| Print speed | 40–60 mm/s (50 mm/s recommended) | Not published |
| Drying | 70°C for at least 5 hours | Not published |
| Nozzle type | No hardened nozzle requirement stated | Hardened nozzle recommended due to abrasive content |
| Enclosure | Strongly recommended | Not stated |
| AMS use | Possible when the spool fits and the printer supports ABS; manual loading may suit critical prints | Possible when the spool fits; manual loading or AMS bypass may reduce long-term feeder wear |
| Heat deflection temperature (0.455 MPa) | 98°C | Not published |
| Colour | Black | Matte black |
Two things follow. First, "ESD" on a label tells you the material is designed to dissipate charge. It doesn't tell you which class your finished part will measure in. Second, if a job has a resistance requirement written into it, measure the printed part itself, which is exactly what the ABS-ESD listing advises. ABS-ESD also has a downloadable data sheet on its product page.
You may notice that some OzFDM carbon fibre filaments do list surface resistance under IEC 60093, for example PPA-CF at ≤10³ Ω. Those materials aren't sold as ESD products, and a low figure also means the part is not an electrical insulator.
When electronics projects need ESD filament
The deciding question is whether the printed part will touch, hold or sit very close to exposed electronics while people handle them.
| Printed part | ESD filament? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| PCB assembly and soldering jigs | Yes | Bare boards sit in the jig while being handled and worked on. |
| Trays and bins for loose ICs, sensors and modules | Yes | Components slide against the tray every time they are tipped in or picked out. |
| Test and programming fixtures | Yes | Boards are inserted and removed over and over at the bench. |
| Cable combs, spacers and tool holders inside an ESD workstation | Often | Items inside a protected area shouldn't hold charge close to the work. |
| Sensor or instrument housings that are opened for servicing | Worth considering | The board is exposed whenever the housing is open. The ABS-ESD listing names sensor enclosures as a use. |
| A case around a finished, closed device | Usually not needed | Once the board is sealed inside, people touch the case rather than the circuit. Standard PETG, ABS or ASA is normally fine unless a customer specifies otherwise. |
| Housings that must electrically insulate mains or high-voltage parts | No | Carbon-loaded plastics are not insulators. Use a purpose-rated enclosure. |
What ESD filament can't do
- It needs a path to ground. Charge drains away when a conductive or dissipative item is connected to ground. A dissipative tray on an ungrounded bench, handled by an ungrounded person, does very little.
- It doesn't ground people. Wrist straps connect the wearer to ground, typically through a 1 megohm resistor, according to Wikipedia's article on antistatic devices. A printed tray can't do that job.
- It isn't certification. ESD control programmes built to ANSI/ESD S20.20 or IEC 61340-5-1 cover grounding, packaging, training and regular compliance checks. A printed fixture can become part of that programme only after it has been measured and accepted under it.
- It isn't electrical insulation. Don't use ESD or carbon fibre filaments to insulate exposed conductors.
- Dry air makes things worse. The ESD Association gives an example of walking across carpet generating 35,000 volts at 10–25% relative humidity against 1,500 volts at 65–90%. Dry days call for more care, not less.
Printing and handling tips
ABS-ESD
Treat it like ABS. Use an enclosed printer, start at 230°C nozzle and 110°C bed, and keep to the listed 40–60 mm/s. Dry the roll at 70°C for at least 5 hours before printing. Supports can be HIPS or ABS-ESD itself. Our guide to printing ABS without warping covers brims, drafts and first layers.
PETG-ESD
Start from a PETG profile, as the listing suggests, and fit a hardened nozzle because of the abrasive additive. If you run it through an AMS, consider manual loading or bypass for long jobs to reduce feeder wear. Because OzFDM hasn't published PETG-ESD figures yet, run a small temperature test before a batch of fixtures.
Keeping printed parts dissipative
- Measure the real part. Check surface resistance at the faces that touch boards or components, on the grounded surface the part will live on, using a resistance meter suited to ESD work. Record the result.
- Keep coatings off contact faces. Ordinary paint or lacquer can put an insulating layer back over the part. If a coating is essential, measure again afterwards.
- Keep support interfaces off contact faces. HIPS residue is ordinary insulating plastic. Orient parts so functional faces print without supports where you can.
- Store rolls dry. The ABS-ESD listing recommends an airtight bag or container with desiccant once a roll is opened, as covered in our filament storage and drying guide.
- Recheck over time. Worn, dirty or modified fixtures should be measured again, just like any other item in a protected area.
Shop the materials in this guide
- 1.75 mm ABS-ESD (Anti-Static) Filament - 1 KG: dissipative ABS with full print settings and a data sheet on the product page.
- 1.75 mm PETG-ESD (Anti-Static) Filament - 1 KG: the PETG-based option, printed with PETG settings and a hardened nozzle.
- Anti-Static (ESD) Filament: both ESD filaments in one collection.
- Anti-Static Stainless Steel Tweezers Set: for placing small parts into printed trays and fixtures.
- Filament Storage Refill Pack (10 Vacuum Bags and 10 Desiccant Bags): keeps opened ESD rolls dry between jobs.
Frequently asked questions
Is ESD filament the same as conductive filament?
Not necessarily. Conductive and dissipative are separate classes defined by resistance. OzFDM describes both of its ESD filaments as dissipative. Only a measurement of your printed part tells you which class it actually falls into.
Which should I choose, ABS-ESD or PETG-ESD?
Choose ABS-ESD if you have an enclosed printer and want published settings and a 98°C heat deflection temperature. Choose PETG-ESD if you prefer PETG handling, and budget for a hardened nozzle. Neither listing publishes a resistance figure, so plan to measure either one.
Can ESD filament go through a Bambu Lab AMS?
Both listings say it can, provided the spool fits. The ABS-ESD listing adds that the printer must support ABS and the filament must stay dry. The PETG-ESD listing suggests manual loading or AMS bypass to reduce long-term feeder wear, and the ABS-ESD listing suggests manual loading for critical prints.
Does an ESD enclosure protect the device inside it?
It helps reduce static build-up on the housing, but it doesn't replace the device's own protection or careful handling when the case is open. For a sealed, finished product a standard material is usually fine. For mains equipment, use an insulating, purpose-rated enclosure instead.
How do I check that a printed part is actually dissipative?
Measure surface resistance on the finished part with a meter made for ESD testing, on a grounded surface, and compare the reading with the definition your workplace uses. If there is no requirement to meet, a measurement still confirms the part isn't behaving like an insulator.
