Ed Tyson of rigid.ink Challenges You to Find a Better 3D Printing Filament

Ed Tyson of rigid.ink says 3D printing can become a less than satisfying experience if you have filament that isn’t up to the standards of your creations.

“We use pure materials so the raw materials we start with are as good as you will get anywhere,” Tyson told TCTMagazine. “The machinery we use to get the tolerances tight is very consistent. We challenge people to find better quality.”

Ed Tyson of rigid.ink

Tyson says that the difficulty in finding a reliable supplier of filament led his company to make their own brand, and adds that rigid.ink went “all-out and invested in the best machinery and raw materials to produce a filament so good – our tolerances are an astoundingly low +/-0.03mm – we’d be surprised if you found better.”

“We’re not just interested in supplying outstanding quality filament either; we’re hot on excellent customer service,” Tyson says. “That means fast delivery, hassle free returns and a personal service with a smile. In the unlikely event there’s anything you don’t like about your order, just let us know. We’ll bend over backwards to help you out.”

From their location in Wetherby, UK, rigid.ink has launched two lines of filament in eight colors and available in 1.75mm and 3.0mm. But Tyson says his company sets itself apart from other filament manufacturers by providing sample materials to customers before they’re forced to commit to the purchase of a large batch of filament, and that rigid.ink offers their filaments in lengths of just 10 meters while providing sample packs to schools and universities free of charge.

“We want to really drive it in the education sector as best we can because we want to support, schools, universities and colleges,” Tyson says.

But according to Tyson, it’s the filament itself that makes the difference. He says that he’s heard that some companies use material like saw dust in their products, and he thinks that’s bad for the 3D printing industry as a whole.

“Here at rigid.ink, we decided enough was enough,” Tyson says. “There’s far too many poor quality 3D filaments out there. When 2 or 3 in every 5 of your prints are ruined, that’s less than optimal. That’s why in 2014, we decided to come up with something a little bit better, and do it a little bit differently. OK, a lot better and a lot differently.”

Tyson says customers can expect more color and material options coming from rigid.ink in the coming months, and that the current line of materials is available through the rigid.ink website and Amazon UK. The company is also offering a loyalty program for repeat purchasers of their filament to establish and encourage a strong customer base.

Have you ever used filament from rigid.ink? How important do you think quality 3D printing filament is to the finished product? Let us know in the rigid.ink Filament forum thread on 3DPB.com.