• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Technipages

Tutorials and fixes for smartphone, gadget, and computer problems

  • Topics
    • Android
    • Gaming
    • Hardware
    • Internet
    • iOS
    • MacOS
    • Office
    • Software
    • Windows
    • Definitions
  • Product Reviews
  • Downloads
  • About Technipages
3D Printing Material Guide – What to Know About PLA

3D Printing Material Guide – What to Know About PLA

Posted on July 12, 2021 by Mel Hawthorne Leave a Comment

Polylactic acid or PLA is one of the most popular filament types, primarily because of its ease of use. It doesn’t require particularly high temperatures or needs a heated bed and results in great dimensional accuracy. Particularly favored by beginners, PLA is inexpensive and results in parts that you can use in a wide variety of applications.

PLA is also environmentally friendly as it’s produced from crops such as sugarcane and corn. This means that PLA is both renewable and biodegradable; it also makes it one of the few filament types that actually smells nice during printing, with a sweet aroma. However, it’s still not recommended for you to breathe it in too much.

Hardware requirements

  • Bed Temperature: 45-60 °C
  • Heated Bed Optional
  • Build Surface: Painter’s tape, PEI, Glass plate, Glue stick
  • Extruder: Temperature 190-220 °C
  • Cooling: Fan required

Best Practices and Tips

Oozing is the most common issue with PLA. Unfortunately, the downside of it flowing easily is that it can sometimes continue to flow when it shouldn’t. To deal with the oozing issue, it’s best to configure the retraction settings.

Cooling is a must for PLA. A dedicated art cooling fan can make a huge difference in the quality of your prints. You need to cool the printed plastic below the glass transition temperature as quickly as possible. It’s best to set the fan to 100% except for the first or two layers for optimal print bed adhesion.

Different brands of PLA melt at different temperatures, so it’s important to ensure you’re within the manufacturer’s recommended temperature settings.

Advantages

  • Cheap
  • Strong and stiff
  • Dimensionally accurate

Disadvantages

  • Low heat resistance
  • Not suitable for sunlight exposure
  • Can ooze during printing

Conclusion

This information should give you a great starting point for PLA printing. Have you got any specific projects you’re planning to use PLA for? Let us know down below.

You Might Also Like

  • 3D Printing Material Guide - What to Know About TPU
    3D Printing Material Guide - What to Know About TPU
  • 3D Printing Material Guide - How to Use ABS
    3D Printing Material Guide - How to Use ABS
  • 3D Printing Material Guide – What to Know About ASA
    3D Printing Material Guide – What to Know About ASA
  • 3D Printing Material Guide – What to Know About PVA
    3D Printing Material Guide – What to Know About PVA
  • 3D Printing Material Guide - What to Know About HIPS
    3D Printing Material Guide - What to Know About HIPS
  • 3D Printing Material Guide - What to Know About PETG
    3D Printing Material Guide - What to Know About PETG
  • 3D Printing Material Guide - What to Know About Nylon
    3D Printing Material Guide - What to Know About Nylon
  • 3D Printing Material Guide – What to Know About Polycarbonate
    3D Printing Material Guide – What to Know About…
  • 3D Printing Material Guide – What to Know About Polypropylene
    3D Printing Material Guide – What to Know About…

Filed Under: Hardware Tagged With: 3D

Reader Interactions

Did this help? Let us know!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Excel: Useful Tips Every User Should Know About
  • Microsoft Excel: How to Enter Basic Formulas
  • Windows 11: How to Change the Keyboard Layout
  • Security Tips to Keep Your LinkedIn Account Safe
  • What Is DIMM?
  • SATA Vs NVMe SSDs
  • How to Block Someone on LinkedIn
  • LinkedIn: How to Remove a Connection

Who’s Behind Technipages?

Baby and Daddy My name is Mitch Bartlett. I've been working in technology for over 20 years in a wide range of tech jobs from Tech Support to Software Testing. I started this site as a technical guide for myself and it has grown into what I hope is a useful reference for all.

You May Also Like

  • Buyers Guide: Best Wireless Charging Stations
  • Buyers Guide: 9 Galaxy Watch Bands You'll Love

© Copyright 2022 Technipages · All Rights Reserved · Privacy