5th Gen Side Spool Holder

Why? ... Because Makerbot filament is expensive.

With that being said, Makerbot filament is my favorite, and probably some of the best filament out there. The quality of detail you can get with Makerbot filament is simply fantastic.

However, if you're doing a lot of printing, the cost of those spools can add up fast.

IMPORTANT: Not all 3rd party filaments are created equal.
There are several factors you should should consider when shopping for 3rd party filament.
Few things to look for:
- The dimensional accuracy should never be more than +/- 0.05mm.
- The filament should not contain any bubbles
- The melting temperature should not be drastically greater or less than 220c
- The filament itself (before printing) should not be brittle or brake easily

My favorite 3rd party filaments are:
- ZYLtech http://www.zyltech.com/pla/
- Hatchbox https://hatchbox3d.com/collections/pla