Our 3D printer filament is fully tested before it hits the shelf. Check out our samples in store!

Find us in Calgary

#101 3740D-11A Street NE, Calgary, AB

Our story

It started in 1992, when Dave Hrynkiw discovered BEAM robotics, making small, clever robots built from simple electronics, motors, sensors, solar cells, and a healthy amount of curiosity.

By 1994, that obsession had turned into Solarbotics Ltd., a Calgary company built around robot kits, electronic parts, and the joy of making things move.

Over the years, Solarbotics grew from tiny light-chasing robots and soldering kits into a full electronics and maker supply company. We built kits for beginners, stocked hard-to-find robot parts, supported hobbyists and educators, and helped a lot of people discover that electronics are much less intimidating once you hold the parts in your hand.

Then the story came full circle.

Solarbotics acquired Active-Tech Electronics’ Calgary branch — the same kind of local electronics shop where Dave’s own electronics journey began years earlier. Today, Solarbotics and Active Tech Calgary bring together robot-kit roots, industrial electronics supplies, 3D printing, tools, components, microcontrollers, sensors, motors, wiring, soldering gear, and real people who can help you figure out what you actually need.

We are not just an electronics parts store.

We are the place you go when you are building something, fixing something, teaching something, prototyping something, or standing in front of a project wondering why it almost works.

From light-following mousebots at Maker Faire to 3D printer filament, robotics parts, classroom supplies, accessibility projects, and the weird little components that save a build at the last minute, Solarbotics has always been about helping people turn ideas into working things.

Bring us your robot, your printer, your half-finished project, your mystery connector, or your “I think I need one of these?” moment.

We’ll probably know what it is.

And if we don’t, we’ll be nerdy enough to enjoy finding out.

Shop Our 3D Printing Filament

More of our most popular kits

Marble machines, mousebots, the Paris Flyer, the Useless Box, and the Gravitrack Mable Machine — our robot kits are where a lot of our customers’ journeys start.

Marble Machine

Shadow Clock

Solar Wheel Kit

The Useless Box

Gravitrack Mable Machine

Browse Solarbotics Kits

We also sell:

Featured

Brands

Electronic Kits

Consumables

Equipment

Parts

Development

Miscellaneous

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ABS+HS is a modified version of ABS material. Compared to conventional ABS, it exhibits lower shrinkage and superior interlayer adhesion, reducing the likelihood of warping and cracking during printing. It contains low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) components, resulting in a reduced odor during the printing process, making it more comfortable and stress-free. This material is optimized for high-speed printing, maintaining its performance even at higher speeds, providing an excellent printing experience. Additionally, it can be acetone polished to eliminate layer lines and further enhance the print quality.

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PETG+HS, PETG Formula Newly Optimized for Faster and Superior Cooling Solidification, Compatible with High-Speed Printing, Material Adhesion to Nozzle during Printing Issues Optimized, Reducing the Likelihood of Poor Printing, Cost-Effective Waterproof, Chemical Resistant, High Toughness, and Fast Printing Material.

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Fast printing requires materials that can melt and cool quickly. However, to balance the speed of material melting and cooling, the physical properties of materials printed using fast techniques usually experience some decline. In order to provide 3D printed products with superior mechanical performance under fast printing conditions, we have conducted numerous tests on various rapid formulations. As a result, we have selectively chosen PLA+HS, also known as PLA+HS, which is specifically designed to match high-speed printing and offers enhanced toughness.

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eSun is a top suppliers of 3D printer filament, and we’ve been happily representing their filament since 2016. Esun has excellent quality control and we’re extremely happy with the quality and consistency of their material.

eSun’s PLA-Basic series is a budget-minded filament best used in non-highspeed printers. Have lots something you want to print and don’t need the latest & greatest filament characteristics? PLA-Basic is your answer!

PLA-Basic filament specifications:

Base Chemistry: Polylactic acid biodegradable thermoplastic, modified for additional toughness & layer bonding
1.75mm nominal diameter (spec’d +/- 0.05, but is in practice closer to +/- 0.03)
FDA approved
1kg spools (now often shipping on cardboard spools)

Suggested build parameters:

Print temperature: 210-230°C (check the spool label for most-appropriate range)
Heated Base temperature: 0~60°C (45° is a strongly-recommended minimum)
Feed speed: 40-250mm/s

Physical Properties:

Density: 1.24g/cm³
Tensile Strength: 64MPa
Elongation at breaking: 4.2%
Flexural Modulus: 3085MPa
Heat distortion Temperature: 55°C (@ 0.45MPa load)
Melt Index: 4g/10min (190°C / 2.16kg)
Spool Length (1.75mmØ): ~340-345M

Please note: Colors may appear to slightly different to what is delivered due to color variances in photography/editing/device-display. Sorry, we don’t have Pantone-like numbers for these color specifications!

PLA-Basic filament specifications:

Base Chemistry: Polylactic acid biodegradable thermoplastic, modified for additional toughness & layer bonding
1.75mm nominal diameter (spec’d +/- 0.05, but is in practice closer to +/- 0.03)
FDA approved
1kg spools (now often shipping on cardboard spools)

Suggested build parameters:

Print temperature: 210-230°C (check the spool label for most-appropriate range)
Heated Base temperature: 0~60°C (45° is a strongly-recommended minimum)
Feed speed: 40-250mm/s

Physical Properties:

Density: 1.24g/cm³
Tensile Strength: 64MPa
Elongation at breaking: 4.2%
Flexural Modulus: 3085MPa
Heat distortion Temperature: 55°C (@ 0.45MPa load)
Melt Index: 4g/10min (190°C / 2.16kg)
Spool Length (1.75mmØ): ~340-345M

PLA is easily the most popular 3D printer filament, being non-noxious to use, most colorful, and among the stiffest plastics to use. Just be aware of it’s relatively low sensitivity to high-heat situations and UV exposure resistance!

PLA+ filament specifications:

Base Chemistry: Polylactic acid biodegradable thermoplastic, modified for additional toughness & layer bonding
1.75mm nominal diameter (spec’d +/- 0.05, but is in practice closer to +/- 0.03)
FDA approved
1kg spools (now often shipping on cardboard spools)

Suggested build parameters:

Print temperature: 210-230°C (check the spool label for most-appropriate range)
Heated Base temperature: 0~60°C (45° is a strongly-recommended minimum)
Feed speed: 40-350mm/s

Physical Properties:

Density: 1.23g/cm³
Tensile Strength: 60MPa
Elongation at breaking: 20%
Bend Strength: 74MPa
Flexural Modulus: 1973MPa
Heat distortion Temperature: 53°C (@ 0.45MPa load)
Melt Index: 5g/10min (190°C / 2.16kg)
Spool Length (1.75mmØ): ~340-345M

PLA+ filament specifications:

Base Chemistry: Polylactic acid biodegradable thermoplastic, modified for additional toughness & layer bonding
1.75mm nominal diameter (spec’d +/- 0.05, but is in practice closer to +/- 0.03)
FDA approved
1kg spools (now often shipping on cardboard spools)

Suggested build parameters:

Print temperature: 210-230°C (check the spool label for most-appropriate range)
Heated Base temperature: 0~60°C (45° is a strongly-recommended minimum)
Feed speed: 40-350mm/s

Physical Properties:

Density: 1.23g/cm³
Tensile Strength: 60MPa
Elongation at breaking: 20%
Bend Strength: 74MPa
Flexural Modulus: 1973MPa
Heat distortion Temperature: 53°C (@ 0.45MPa load)
Melt Index: 5g/10min (190°C / 2.16kg)
Spool Length (1.75mmØ): ~340-345M