Buying guide
3D Printer Supplies and Filament: Spools, Prices, Ordering for Schools
Every classroom printer needs material to print with, so 3D printer supplies and filament keep a library, lab or classroom running. The classroom technology seller (AGC Education), previously known as Tonas Graphics, sells PLA (a common printing plastic) spools in a 1.75mm diameter, as well as a maintenance kit. It has partnered with educators since 1985, serving 4,000+ schools. This page covers colors, costs, ordering, support and funding, so teachers can plan 3D printing for their students.
Why AGC
What Schools Get When Ordering Spools From AGC Education
AGC Education sells classroom technology equipment and accessories to schools. It only sells brand new equipment from manufacturers, with most products in stock, ready to ship. Its tagline is 'Helping Schools to Communicate, Educate, and Inspire'.
The store offers educational pricing, with discounts based on order quantity shown in the cart. The cart shows the discount at each quantity, so a buyer can see the price of the whole order before placing it.
Educator support includes lifetime technical support, with basic user training at no charge on all tools. The store sits at 600 Bursca Drive, Suite 601, Bridgeville, Pennsylvania 15017. That help covers every tool a school buys from the store.
A classroom-ready spool supports STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs, so students can turn a digital design into a 3D print.
Pricing
Filament Prices, Kit Costs, Shipping
Here are the prices for these colors of 3D printer filament and spools, followed by the kit:
- PLA spools, 1.75mm, in orange, green, dark gray or purple: $35 for each color
- Metallic copper PLA spool, 1.75mm: $65
- 3D Printer Maintenance Kit: $95
Open any product page to read its description, check its price range or see related products. Prices for every other color or item are shown in the product grid above.
AGC Education sends most products out the same day. An order placed after 3 in the afternoon, Eastern time, takes until the next business day to ship. Average UPS (the delivery carrier) transit time is 1-5 days.
How it works
How to Order Spools for a Classroom Machine
The steps below show how spools reach your students.
- Check the manual for the diameter your machine takes. The shop sells spools in a 1.75mm diameter.
- Choose colors, then add the spools to the cart along with a maintenance kit.
- Read the quantity discount in the cart, which depends on how many items you order at one time.
- AGC Education sends most products out the same day.
- UPS delivers the order, usually within 1-5 days.
- Call lifetime technical support whenever a question comes up.
Shop Spools for Your School
The shop has a supply category, a filament category and a PLA collection, so you can compare 3D printer supplies and filament before you order. Every product page shows its description, its price range as well as related products, so you can check a color before it goes in the cart.
More detail
What the Shop Carries in 3D Printer Supplies and Filament
The category in the AGC Education shop holds PLA spools in several colors, with a maintenance kit. Each spool is listed under three categories (filament, supply, PLA), so buyers can find it from any of them. Some products come in multiple variants, such as colors, and the product page shows each choice.
Choosing Colors for 3D Printer Projects
Choose a color to suit the project. Orange, green, dark gray or purple spools share one price, so color does not change the cost among those four. Metallic copper costs more and gives display prints a different finish.
The machines these items fit sit on the 3D printer page. Teachers who want hands-on learning can start with brand new equipment from manufacturers.
Other Printing Materials to Ask About
The shop sells PLA in orange, green, dark gray, purple and metallic copper, among other colors. ABS (a stronger printing plastic) is a different material that this page does not list, so ask before you order ABS filament for a machine that needs it. Metallic copper gives students a different finish on display prints.
What Diameter Does a Spool Need?
A machine melts filament layer by layer, a process called extrusion, so the spool needs to meet its requirements. Check the manual for the diameter or material it supports, or call support. New users get dependable results when the spool matches the machine.
Other Classroom Technology From the Same Store
Learning environments often run more than one machine, from classrooms to makerspaces. AGC Education also sells poster printers (the Educator Plus line), laminators, laser engravers, heat presses, sublimation stations and the Cut-Out Studio contour cutter. Each kind of machine has its own category, so classroom printers of every kind can be stocked from one store.
FAQ
Filament FAQ
How much does a PLA spool cost?
Orange, green, dark gray or purple spools are $35 for each color, while metallic copper is $65. Educational pricing is available, and the cart shows discounts based on order quantity.
How fast do orders ship to a school?
Most orders go out the same day, and average UPS transit time takes 1-5 days. An order placed after 3 in the afternoon, Eastern time, takes until the next business day to ship.
What are the shop returns terms for a damaged order?
Report damages or shipping discrepancies within 10 business days of receipt. Returns need a return authorization number, with products unopened in resalable condition, and approved returns are credited to the customer account. The store does not accept returns on products received 30+ days ago.
Is training or support included?
Basic user training is provided at no charge on all tools, with lifetime technical support included. Schools can book on-site training or on-site service, hourly or flat-rate.
Can funding help a school buy 3D printers?
The AGC Education funding page offers downloadable justification guides that cover 3D printers. Your district decides whether a purchase qualifies.
What 3D printer filament does AGC Education sell?
The shop sells PLA in 1.75mm diameter in orange, green, dark gray, purple or metallic copper, among other colors. A maintenance kit sits in the same category as the spools.