PLA
PLA is the most beginner-friendly filament. It prints at low temps, needs little tuning, and offers good detail. It’s not ideal for heat or outdoors.
Typical print: Nozzle 200–215 °C, Bed 50–60 °C, 40–60 mm/s
Drying: 40–45 °C for 4–6h if moisture artifacts appear (popping, stringing).
Adhesion: PEI or glue-stick on glass. First layer slightly squished, 0.2–0.24 mm.
Notes: Low fumes compared to ABS/ASA. Ventilate as with any melting plastic.
Pros
- Very easy to print
- Good dimensional accuracy
- Great surface finish
- Wide color/finish variety
Cons
- Softens around ~55–60 °C
- Brittle vs PETG/ABS
- Poor UV/heat resistance
Tuning Tips
If top layers look under-extruded, raise temp +5 °C or slow outer walls 10–15%. Increase cooling for overhangs; reduce for stronger bonding.
Common Issues
Elephant’s foot → increase Z-offset slightly; Stringing → dry filament, higher retraction, lower temp 5–10 °C.