- Nozzle
- 190 to 220 °C
- Bed
- 50 to 60 °C
- Part cooling fan
- 100%
- Enclosure
- Not needed. Open the lid or door of an enclosed printer, or it can jam.
- Softens at about
- 55 °C
- Drying
- 45 to 50 °C for 4 to 6 hours
- Bed surface
- Smooth or textured PEI. No glue needed.
- Density
- 1.24 g/cm³
Good for
Models, prototypes, decorations, cosplay, and anything that stays indoors and doesn't get hot.
Watch out for
It's brittle compared with PETG, and it softens in a hot car or strong sun. Parts under constant load slowly bend over time.
Tips
Silk and matte PLAs print much the same. Silk looks best a little hotter and slower, but its layers bond less strongly.
- Nozzle
- 230 to 250 °C
- Bed
- 70 to 85 °C
- Part cooling fan
- 30 to 60%
- Enclosure
- Not needed
- Softens at about
- 75 °C
- Drying
- 65 °C for 4 to 6 hours
- Bed surface
- Textured PEI is best. On smooth PEI or glass, use glue stick as a release layer, or it can tear the surface.
- Density
- 1.27 g/cm³
Good for
Functional parts, brackets, clips, containers, and things that live in a shed or a hot room.
Watch out for
Stringing and small blobs, and slightly softer detail than PLA. It sticks very strongly to smooth PEI.
Tips
Don't squash the first layer as hard as PLA. Drying the spool cuts stringing a lot.
- Nozzle
- 230 to 260 °C
- Bed
- 95 to 110 °C
- Part cooling fan
- Off, or up to 20% for small details
- Enclosure
- Yes. Without one, parts warp and crack.
- Softens at about
- 100 °C
- Drying
- 70 to 80 °C for 4 hours
- Bed surface
- PEI, or glue stick for large parts.
- Density
- 1.04 g/cm³
Good for
Parts that get hot, car interiors, electronics cases, and anything you want to smooth with acetone vapour.
Watch out for
Warping and layers splitting in draughts. It gives off styrene fumes while printing, so ventilate the room or use a filter.
Tips
Let the enclosure warm up for 10 minutes before printing, and add a brim to big flat parts.
- Nozzle
- 240 to 270 °C
- Bed
- 90 to 110 °C
- Part cooling fan
- Off, or up to 30%
- Enclosure
- Yes
- Softens at about
- 100 °C
- Drying
- 75 to 80 °C for 4 hours
- Bed surface
- PEI, or glue stick for large parts.
- Density
- 1.07 g/cm³
Good for
Garden and outdoor parts, car exteriors, signs, and mounts that live in the sun.
Watch out for
The same warping and fumes as ABS, though it usually warps a little less.
Tips
Treat it like ABS: warm enclosure, no draughts, brim on large parts.
- Nozzle
- 210 to 240 °C
- Bed
- 30 to 60 °C
- Part cooling fan
- 50 to 100%
- Enclosure
- Not needed
- Softens at about
- Stays flexible; not for hot places
- Drying
- 50 °C for 4 to 8 hours
- Bed surface
- Smooth or textured PEI. Use glue stick on smooth PEI so parts come off.
- Density
- 1.21 g/cm³
Good for
Phone cases, gaskets, bumpers, feet, grips, watch straps, and RC tyres.
Watch out for
It has to print slowly, around 15 to 40 mm/s. Bowden printers struggle with it, and it strings.
Tips
Turn retraction down or off. Softer grades like 85A need a direct-drive extruder and even slower speeds.
- Nozzle
- 240 to 280 °C
- Bed
- 70 to 100 °C
- Part cooling fan
- Off, or up to 20%
- Enclosure
- Recommended
- Softens at about
- Varies a lot by type
- Drying
- 70 to 80 °C for 8 to 12 hours
- Bed surface
- Garolite (G10) sheet, or PEI with glue stick.
- Density
- 1.01 to 1.14 g/cm³
Good for
Gears, hinges, clips, bushings, and parts that bend and spring back.
Watch out for
It absorbs moisture within hours and then prints badly, with bubbles and weak layers. It also warps.
Tips
Print straight from a dry box. Carbon-fibre nylon is easier to print and much stiffer.
- Nozzle
- 260 to 310 °C
- Bed
- 100 to 120 °C
- Part cooling fan
- Off, or up to 10%
- Enclosure
- Yes, ideally heated
- Softens at about
- 140 °C
- Drying
- 80 °C for 6 hours
- Bed surface
- PEI with glue stick as a release layer, or it can fuse to the sheet.
- Density
- 1.20 g/cm³
Good for
Strong brackets, parts near motors or heaters, and clear covers.
Watch out for
It needs an all-metal hotend, because PTFE-lined hotends break down above about 240 °C. It warps badly without a warm enclosure.
Tips
PC blends such as PC-ABS are easier to print and still very tough.
- Nozzle
- Same as the base plastic, sometimes 5 to 10 °C hotter
- Bed
- Same as the base plastic
- Part cooling fan
- Same as the base plastic
- Enclosure
- Same as the base plastic
- Softens at about
- A little higher than the base plastic
- Drying
- As the base plastic
- Bed surface
- As the base plastic
- Density
- Slightly higher than the base plastic
Good for
Stiff frames, drone parts, jigs and tools, and anything that shouldn't flex. The matte finish hides layer lines.
Watch out for
The fibres are abrasive and wear out a brass nozzle in hours, so use hardened steel. Parts are stiffer but more brittle.
Tips
A 0.6 mm nozzle clogs less often than 0.4 mm. Wear a mask if you sand it.