【3D Printing Knowledge】PLA Properties Comprehensive Overview: Achieve Finer Prints!
PLA is currently the most popular FDM 3D printing material. This polylactic acid material is biodegradable, relatively inexpensive, and easy to print. Understanding its properties quickly will make your 3D prints even better. There are hundreds of color combinations available on the market, and while intuitive use can yield success, we've compiled some key points that we hope will inspire new creative ideas.
．Basic Performance
PLA is the easiest material to print with. Even without complex parameter adjustments, it offers advantages like adaptability to temperature, low warping, and a faint printing odor. Besides industrial applications, many users have only ever used PLA for 3D printing. If you're a 3D printing novice, this is an excellent starting point! Its 3D printing quality is also more stable, making it ideal for artistic models and industrial prototypes.
In terms of raw materials, PLA can be easily mixed with pigments; for example, gradient-colored filaments are available on the market. Except for some industrial applications that require significant load-bearing and testing capabilities, PLA can handle most basic daily applications. Its durability has also improved in recent years. For instance, the latest Ultimaker Tough PLA offers strength comparable to ABS while still being easy to print.
．Low Heat Resistance
Of course, no material is perfect. PLA has poor heat resistance, varying among manufacturers and blends, but typically softens between 50°C and 60°C. Misusing PLA in environments requiring fire resistance, hot water, or even direct sunlight can be dangerous. Additionally, its biodegradable nature is a double-edged sword. While biodegradation rarely occurs in normal indoor environments, prolonged high temperatures, pressure, and humidity in some outdoor settings, which are conducive to microbial growth, can make PLA prints brittle. For such applications, it's better to use other materials like ABS, CPE, and PC.
．Food Safety
Current PLA filaments are still not recommended for direct food contact. In their natural state, the composition of mixtures can change depending on additives and pigments. While some special blends meet food safety standards, the layered texture produced by FFF printing can harbor bacteria invisible to the naked eye. Therefore, for manufacturing food utensils, the recommended approach is to 3D print a prototype, and then use the final product for silicone molding or cast it with compliant materials. (Further reading: 3D Printing "Plays" with Beautiful Molds)
．Nozzle temperature: 190-220°C
．Bed temperature: 0°C (with blue tape) or 50-70°C
．Print speed: 10-100 mm/s (this depends on the 3D printer's capabilities)
．Bed temperature: 0°C (with blue tape) or 50-70°C
．Print speed: 10-100 mm/s (this depends on the 3D printer's capabilities)
As with other materials, before you start printing, make sure your print bed is level and clean. If the object has difficulty adhering to the print bed, you may need more detailed settings for the first layer. (The above are common reference values for PLA printing. If your 3D printer already has PLA parameters, you can usually use them directly.)
．Post-Processing PLA Prints
(I) Cutting and Sanding
．Physical Methods:
You can sand, drill, and cut, but be careful to avoid softening due to friction-induced heat, which can deform the PLA. For example, when drilling with power tools, allow for cooling time between stops for both the 3D print and the tool. If sanding is required, use wet sanding (with wet sandpaper or by rinsing) to prevent overheating.．Physical Methods:
．Chemical Methods:
PLA 3D prints can be smoothed using various methods. If you prefer not to sand or clean dust, polishing is also an option. For example, specialized filaments like PolySmooth can be polished with alcohol. When paired with the Polysher Alcohol Polishing Machine, it generates uniform vapor particles, resulting in a smooth and even surface.
(II) Assembling Objects
PLA is easy to paint and bond. Most paints (spray paint, acrylics, etc.) and glues (super glue, foam glue, etc.) can be used, making PLA an ideal choice for props and decorative parts. Considering the distinctive 3D print texture, it's recommended to apply acrylic paint layer by layer, allowing each layer to air dry, as seen with the Minion in the image below.
For assembly, the latest dual-extruder printers offer different options. The hollow spaces in the joints of movable components are automatically calculated with support material, allowing for the creation of integrated movable structures without the need for glue and with stronger testability. Alternatively, consider modeling methods before 3D printing to create movable objects without support structures. (Further reading: 3D Printing a Four-Axis Movable Fidget Spinner)
Overall, PLA is an easy-to-use, versatile material that is also suitable for post-processing. Its main drawback is low heat resistance. We hope this summary provides you with more inspiration for its use. Considering how chemical or physical properties can often produce different effects, if you have other common practices, please feel free to send us a private message to share with everyone.
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