Start Here: The 5 Essentials for Printing PET-CF

3D-Fuel PET-CF is PET reinforced with 15% carbon fiber. It's stiff, strong, very low warp, absorbs very little moisture, and handles far more heat than PLA, PETG, or PCTG. It also has a soft, matte finish. Get these five things right and it prints beautifully.

1. Use a hardened nozzle, 0.5 mm or larger. Carbon fiber is abrasive and will wear out a brass nozzle. You also need an all-metal hotend. See Nozzles, hotends, and feeding.
2. Print hot: 290–310°C. PET-CF needs a lot of heat to bond its layers. Independent testing found 305°C nearly tripled layer adhesion compared with 285°C. See How print temperature affects strength.
3. Turn the part-cooling fan off. Or keep it at 20% at most. Cooling weakens the bond between layers.
4. Dry it if it's been open. Dry at 80°C for 12 hours. See Drying and storage.
5. Anneal for maximum heat resistance. Annealing makes PET-CF stiffer, stronger, and far more heat resistant. See Annealing PET-CF.

Where to go next

• Is PET-CF right for my project?
• PET-CF print settings
• Weak layers, delamination, and crackling parts
• PET-CF FAQ