PLA filament printing tips

PLA 3D printer filament .

Polyactic Acid, also known as PLA, is one of the most popular materials for desktop 3D printing. PLA filament is widely used with FDM 3D printers, because it is quite easy to print. This is because it can be printed at a low temperature and a heated print bed is not mandatory. Even beginners can make fantastic prints with PLA filament. PLA is relatively very cheap and can be used for many different applications. In addition, it is also one of the most environmentally friendly filaments. It is made from corn and sugar cane. PLA filament is renewable and biodegradable.

Advantages

✔Cheap.

✔Sturdy and quite strong.

✔Good dimensional stability.

✔Can be stored for a relatively long time.

Cons

✘ Low heat resistance.

✘ Filament can become brittle and break

✘ Not suitable for outdoor use (exposure to sunlight).

Hardware requirements.

Before you order PLA filament. It is advisable to check whether your 3D printer has the correct hardware. So that you too can achieve optimum print quality with PLA.

Bed

Heated bed is not necessary.

Temperature: 45-60 °C

Closed printer is not necessary per se.

Construction area

Painters tape.
Build branch .

3DLac .

Glass plate.

extruder

Temperature: 190-220 °C.
No special hotend needed.

cooling

Fan speed: 100%.

Pro Tips.

We recommend using a fan that can cool the part from all sides. Modifications are available for most printers to optimize airflow.

By increasing the number of outlines / walls, you create a better layer adhesion and therefore stronger parts that break less quickly.

Avoid problems when printing.

With these tips you can reduce the most common problems when printing with PLA filament. Such as stringing, oozing, and under-extrusion.

Prevent oozing with the correct retraction settings.

Oozing is one of the most common problems when printing with PLA filament. Because PLA flows very smoothly through the nozzle, this can also happen when moving to the next point to print. This creates very thin lines. You can prevent this with the correct retraction settings. This ensures that the filament is pulled back in a bit. The perfect retraction settings differ per 3D printer. It can also differ per PLA filament. So we recommend that you alternate with this until you get the perfect settings. Of course you can always ask us for advice if you are unable to do it yourself.

Optimize the cooling settings.

Good cooling is very important when printing with PLA filament. For best results, it is nice to cool the part well from all sides. The filament that has just been deposited should actually be cooled as quickly as possible. If this does not happen, the filament will still remain too liquid when the next layer is already placed on it. Usually the fan speed is set to 100%. Except for the first layers. By cooling it less hard, you will get a better bond with the bed.

The right extruder temperature.

Of course the right extruder temperature is important for every filament. This is extra important with PLA filament. Many manufacturers use different additives. As a result, the correct extruder temperature varies from 190 to 230 °C. Incorrect temperature can be the cause of oozing, stringing and under-extrusion. PLA filament is also combined with other materials such as metal, wood and carbon. These filaments require different settings or even hardware. Most manufacturers put the correct temperature on the packaging. If you suffer from stringing, lower the temperature by 5-10°C. if you suffer from under-extrusion, increase the temperature by 10°C.

Overview different filaments