PLA Filaments: What you should know

In this article we answer the most important questions about PLA filaments for 3D printing. In doing so, we show what to consider when buying PLA filaments.

What are PLA Filaments

PLA filaments are made of polyactides and are the basis of 3D printing. Good filaments ensure that the model can have the desired quality. By the way, you can find offers for quality-assured PLA filaments here in our store.

PLA filaments are made of a bio plastic and are considered biodegradable. Therefore, they are a very good and sustainable variant of filaments. PLA is usually produced from corn and sugar cane. Thus, it consists of biodegradable substances and materials.

PLA – the perfect filament for beginners

Since PLA filament is easy to print and very inexpensive, it is perfect as a filament for beginners. Compared to other filaments, it is considered easy to process. The temperature of PLA filament is about 185 – 215 °C, which is quite a bit lower than other materials. Optional is a heated print bed. The temperature is specified in each case for the filaments offered here. PLA filaments can even glow in the dark, depending on the model.

Properties of PLA filaments

Before buying the filament, the question is whether the individual materials can be processed by the 3D printer. Both the handling and some mechanical properties are different for the various filaments. They differ in quality, temperature of printing and in terms of diameter.

Usually, the filament is offered in two different sizes. 1.75 and 3.0 millimeters. However, most 3D printers use the 1.75 millimeter filament because it is a lot easier to handle. It is also more flexible and much easier to stretch. However, the larger filament achieves higher speeds when printing because more material can be printed in the same amount of time.

Consider the printing temperature

Depending on the temperature of the print are the material itself, the printer and the object. The specifications of the manufacturers on the printing temperature sometimes differ. For our PLA filaments offered here, you will find binding information on the temperature in the product descriptions. If the plastic is too cold, it will not become properly liquid and the layers cannot adhere to each other. Wrinkles could then even form during printing. However, if the temperature is too high, the model will warp because the plastic flows out of the mold and cannot cool down quickly enough. Especially with low-quality filaments, you can experience nasty surprises. The filaments offered here are of the best quality and are characterized by their very low processing shrinkage. Our PLA delivers reliable and aesthetic results and enables great accuracy. All important information about product properties, applications and print settings can be found on our PLA Shop.