Standard PLA+ Print Recommendations

Recommended Print Settings:

• Hot End Temp: 220° - 250°C (Start at 230°C)
• Heated Bed Temp: 0-60°C (heated bed not required, but it makes Standard PLA+ adhesion much more reliable)
• Bed Surface: Smooth PEI, Textured PEI, or any other buildplate surface known to work with PLA filaments. On Smooth and Textured PEI, we've found that 60°C works very reliably.
• Speed: 0 - 250mm/s is the range, but 60 - 200mm/s is good. Note: If you go faster, you may need to increase the temperature as well.

Regarding speed, higher speeds mean the material spends less time in the heated nozzle, so it may not have time to reach the optimum temperature. If running above 150 mm/s, you may need to increase the temperature. 

In short, Standard PLA+ should be glossy when printed at a correct temp/speed combination. If you're getting a matte finish, it should be fine as long as you're not printing WAY too fast. If you are, you may encounter extruder motor load errors because the Standard PLA+ is not being sufficiently melted in time to extrude from the nozzle.

Printing Notes

In general, 3D-Fuel PLA products require a slightly higher temperature than less expensive PLA products. This is generally because our products contain no fillers and are made from 100% virgin PLA resin from NatureWorks. So you may have to print slightly higher in many cases. But this is not a rule, just a guideline.

Watch for Heat Creep

Heat creep can occur when the nozzle temperature “creeps” up the tube, causing the material to melt before entering the nozzle area. This can cause the material to bulge, creating a blockage or jam. If this occurs, you’ll need to improve the cooling of the hotend heatsink area. 

This can be done by opening the door and lid of your 3D printer to let cool air in.

Our PLA products are not as susceptible to this as some, but it can happen when a temperature higher than recommended is being used. For more information, see our page on 3D printer heat creep.

What if I get stringing or threading? 

This typically happens if you are printing at too high a temperature or the retraction length/distance is not set high enough. If you experience stringing when the print head is moving, decrease the temperature by 5-10° and/or increase your retraction distance or length by 1mm at a time. You can find a good 3D model for testing this by searching online for “retraction test model”.

If you have any other issues not addressed in this document, feel free to email us at sales@3dfuel.com for a speedy response! We’re here to help you get the most from your 3D-Fuel filament products.