This guide provides general recommendations for printing with three of the most common 3D printing filaments: PLA, PETG, and TPU. Optimal settings can vary based on your printer, filament brand, and environment, so always consider these as starting points for your own calibration.
PLA (Polylactic Acid)
PLA is renowned for its ease of use and wide range of applications, making it a favorite for beginners and quick prototypes. It's biodegradable and generally has minimal warping issues.
Key Parameters:
190-220°C
20-60°C
40-100 mm/s
95-105%
Cooling Fan Speed:
PLA benefits greatly from high fan cooling (after initial layers) for sharp details and good bridging.
Quick Tips for PLA:
- Generally low odor, but good ventilation is always wise.
- Less prone to moisture absorption than PETG/TPU, but keep dry for best results.
- Avoid exposing prints to high heat (e.g., hot car) as PLA softens around 60°C.
- Excellent for detailed prints when cooling is optimal.
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)
PETG offers a great balance of strength, durability, and ease of printing compared to ABS. It's known for good temperature resistance and low warping.
Key Parameters:
40-60 mm/s
20-50%
95-105%
2-8 mm (tune!)
Temperature Ranges:
Nozzle: Optimal range shown above.
Bed: Optimal range shown above. Crucial for adhesion.
Quick Tips for PETG:
- 💧 **Keep it Dry!** PETG is very hygroscopic; dry it before use.
- Tune retraction and travel settings to minimize stringing.
- Ensure a good first layer squish, but not overly compressed.
- Use PEI or blue tape with a release agent (like glue stick) as PETG can over-adhere.
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)
TPU is a flexible, rubber-like filament offering excellent abrasion and impact resistance. Printing it requires patience and specific settings, especially slower speeds.
Key Parameters:
20-60°C
0-50%
100-115%
0-2 mm (if used)
🐢 Print Speed: VERY SLOW
15 - 30 mm/s
This is critical for successful TPU prints!
Nozzle Temperature:
Nozzle: Optimal range shown above.
Quick Tips for TPU:
- Direct drive extruder is highly recommended for easier feeding.
- Ensure a constrained filament path to prevent buckling.
- 💧 Keep TPU dry; it's hygroscopic.
- Loosen extruder tension slightly if filament jams.
Dialing-In Your Settings: A Basic Flow
These settings are starting points. Fine-tune them with test prints for optimal results with your specific setup.
1. Start
Use guidelines (like these!)
2. Test Print
(Temp Tower, Calib. Cube)
3. Adjust One
(Small increments)
4. Repeat
Until satisfied