PLA is currently the most popular FDM 3D printing material. This polylactic acid material is biodegradable, relatively inexpensive, and easy to print on. Quickly understanding its properties can help you achieve better 3D printed products. Hundreds of color combinations are currently available on the market, and while intuitive application can be successful, we've compiled some key points to hopefully inspire your creations.
Basic performance
PLA is the easiest material to print on. Even without setting complex parameters, it offers advantages such as temperature adaptability, low warpage, and a mild printing odor. Besides industrial needs, many users have only ever used PLA for 3D printing . If you're new to 3D printing , it's the perfect starting point! Furthermore, its 3D printing quality is relatively stable, making it ideal for art models and industrial prototypes.
In terms of raw materials, PLA can be easily mixed with pigments; for example, gradient-colored threads are also available on the market. Except for some industrial applications that require heavy loads and durability testing, PLA can handle almost all basic everyday applications, and its durability has been further improved in recent years. For example, the latest Ultimaker Tough PLA has strength close to that of ABS while being easy to print.
Of course, no material is perfect. PLA has poor temperature resistance, which varies between different manufacturers and blends, but it typically softens between 50°C and 60°C. Using PLA in any environment requiring fire resistance, hot water protection, or direct sunlight could be dangerous. Furthermore, its biodegradability is a double-edged sword. In typical indoor environments, biodegradation is almost nonexistent. However, some outdoor environments, such as those with sustained high temperatures and pressures, or humidity levels conducive to microbial growth, can make PLA products brittle. In these cases, other materials like ABS , CPE , and PC are more suitable.
Currently, PLA filaments are still not recommended for direct food contact. Under natural conditions, the composition of the mixture can change due to additives and pigments. While some specific mixtures meet food safety standards, the stacked textures created by the printing characteristics of FFF may harbor bacteria invisible to the naked eye. Therefore, the recommended practice for tableware manufacturing is to first 3D print a prototype design, and then use the final product for silicone molding or casting in a compliant material. (Further reading: 3D Printing for Perfect Molds )
As mentioned above, PLA 's printing settings are easy to implement; as long as the platform is level and the 3D printer is in good working order, printing is usually successful. The following is a summary of suitable parameter ranges:
Platform temperature: 0°C (with blue tape) or 50-70°C
Printing speed: 10-100 mm/s (depending on the capabilities of the 3D printer )
As with other materials, ensure your print platform is level and clean before starting to print. If the object is difficult to adhere to the print platform, you may need to provide more detailed settings for the first layer of printing. (The above are common PLA printing reference values. If your 3D printer already has PLA parameters, you can usually use them directly.)
Physical methods:
Grinding, drilling, and cutting are possible, but care should be taken to avoid softening due to frictional heat, which could deform the PLA . For example, when drilling with a tool, please allow some time to pause to allow the 3D product and tool to cool down; if grinding is required, please use wet grinding (with wet sandpaper or water) to avoid overheating.
Chemical methods:
PLA 's 3D printed products can be smoothed using various methods. If you don't want to sand or clean the dust, you can also polish them. For example, PolySmooth 's special filaments can be polished with alcohol. When used with a Polysher alcohol polisher, it can produce uniform vapor particles, making the surface of the object smooth and even.
(ii) Composition
PLA is easy to paint and adhere, and most paints (spray paint, acrylic paint, etc.) and adhesives (super glue, polystyrene glue, etc.) can be used, making PLA an ideal choice for props and decorative parts. Considering its unique 3D printed texture, it is recommended to use a layer-by-layer drying method when using acrylic paint, as shown in the image below of the Minions.
Regarding components, the latest dual-head printers offer various options, automatically calculating support material in the hollow spaces of the latches of movable components. This allows for the creation of one-piece movable structures, eliminating the need for adhesives and enhancing testability. Alternatively, modeling methods can be considered before 3D printing, even enabling the creation of movable parts from structures without support. (Further reading: 3D printing a quadcopter fidget spinner )
Overall, PLA is an easy-to-use, multi-functional material suitable for post-processing, but its main drawback is its low heat resistance. Hopefully, this summary will provide more inspiration for its use. Considering that chemical or physical properties often produce different effects, please feel free to message us with other commonly used methods.
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