By Material Type

The below tips are generic tips for the material type and are not related to tips for Polymaker filaments. If you would like print tips for a specific material made by Polymaker, visit the basic printing tips for Polymaker Products.

PLA (Polylactic Acid)

• Bed Temp: 50–60°C (optional for adhesion; unheated beds work with glue).

• Cooling: 100% fan speed for overhangs/bridges; disable for first 0.5mm.

• Layer Time: ≥3 seconds for small layers to prevent warping.

• Retraction: 1–2mm (direct drive); 2–5mm (Bowden) at 30–80mm/s.

• Post-Processing: Sanding/painting for smooth finishes; minimal warping.

• Special Tips: Avoid supports for angles ≤60°; use brims for tall parts.

PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)

• Nozzle Temp: 220–260°C (230–240°C optimal).

• Bed Temp: 65–90°C (textured/powder-coated sheets preferred).

• Cooling: Moderate fan speed (30–50%); disable for first layers. Turn off fan if getting weak layer adhesion.

• Speed: ≤60mm/s print; 120mm/s travel to reduce stringing.

• Adhesion: Use glue stick on smooth PEI; avoid excessive squish.

• Special Tips: Increase perimeters for strength; hygroscopic (dry filament).

• Many PET products, such as PET-GF and PET-CF, ifprinting with a clean textured PEI plate - it can be a bit difficult to remove prints. We highly recommend waiting until the build plate has cooled to room temperature before removal. Other build plate adhesives such as Magigoo, Vision Miner, gluestick, or hairspray can help to make the part easier to remove.

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)

• Nozzle Temp: 230–260°C.

• Bed Temp: 100–110°C (PEI sheets for adhesion, use Magigoo Original for better adhesion).

• Cooling: Minimal (≤25% fan) to prevent warping. Turn off if having layer adhesion or delamination issues.

• Enclosure: Mandatory for temperature stability.

• Post-Processing: Acetone vapor smoothing for glossy finishes.

• Special Tips: Use brims/rafts; avoid drafts. Print slow, hot, and with a larger nozzle if having warping or delamination issues.

ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate)

• Nozzle Temp: 240–260°C.

• Bed Temp: 90–110°C (PEI sheets for adhesion, use Magigoo Original for better adhesion).

• Cooling: 10–25% fan speed. Turn off if getting delamination or warping

• Enclosure: Required for warping prevention.

• Supports: HIPS or breakaway; adjust interface density (75–90%).

• Special Tips: Higher UV resistance than ABS; print slow, hot, and with a larger nozzle if having warping or delamination issues.

TPU/TPE (Thermoplastic Polyurethane/Elastomer)

• Nozzle Temp: 210–230°C.

• Bed Temp: 40–60°C (PEI/textured sheets).

• Speed: ≤30mm/s print; disable retraction for direct drive. Harder TPU options can print faster than softer ones.

• Retraction: 1–3mm (direct drive); avoid Bowden setups.

• Adhesion: Glue stick or hairspray for flexible parts. No additional adhesion needed if using textured PEI plate.

• Special Tips: Disable combing; increase extruder tension.

Nylon (PA6/PA12/PA-CF)

• Nozzle Temp: 240–280°C (dry filament critical).

• Bed Temp: Room Temp –100°C (Garolite or PVA glue for adhesion). Depends on manufacturer - some require very high heat, Polymaker does not.

• Enclosure: Required for some nylon manufacturers - ones by Polymaker this is not the case.

• Cooling: Minimal (≤20% fan). Turn off if getting weak layer adhesion.

• Speed: 30–50mm/s.

• Special Tips: Anneal for increased strength; store in vacuum sealed container. Use dryer entire time you print if you live in a humid climate.

Polycarbonate (PC)

• Nozzle Temp: 280–310°C (all-metal hotend required).

• Bed Temp: 110–130°C (PEI or adhesive sheets. Use Magigoo PC.)

• Enclosure: 50–60°C ambient to prevent cracking. The higher you can maintain the ambient air temps, the better.

• Cooling: None to prevent warping or cracking.

• Speed: ≤40mm/s.

• Special Tips: High impact resistance; prone to moisture absorption. Print very slow, very hot, and use larger nozzle diameter if possible. It is a good idea as well to put print directly into 90C oven right when print finishes for 2 hours to allow for slow cooling. Slow cooling is crucial to not have your PC print crack.

Polypropylene (PP)

• Nozzle Temp: 220–250°C.

• Bed Temp: 80–100°C (PP-specific adhesive sheets).

• Enclosure: Recommended for warping control.

• Cooling: None.

• Adhesion: Use PP tape or specialized coatings.

• Special Tips: Low density; chemically resistant. If having extreme difficulty sticking to build plate - use cardboard as a build plate surface.

PPS (Polyphenylene Sulfide)

• Nozzle Temp: 300–350°C (hardened nozzle required).

• Bed Temp: 70–150°C (PEEK or Garolite surfaces. PEI can work as well).

• Enclosure: 30–100°C ambient. Depends on how it was produced.

• Speed: ≤50mm/s.

• Special Tips: Exceptional thermal/chemical resistance; industrial use only for the material by itself not mixed with carbon fiber.

Carbon Fiber Composites (PLA-CF, PA-CF, PC-CF)

• Nozzle Temp: 5–10°C higher than base material (e.g., 240–250°C for PLA-CF).

• Bed Temp: Match base material (e.g., 60°C for PLA-CF).

• Nozzle: Hardened steel to prevent abrasion.

• Speed: ≤50mm/s.

• Special Tips: High stiffness.

General Best Practices

1. Material Drying: Store hygroscopic filaments (Nylon, PETG, PC) in sealed containers with desiccant.

2. Adhesion: Use appropriate build surfaces (PEI for PLA, textured sheets for PETG. Magigoo products generally work quite well).

3. Speed/Quality Trade-offs: Slower speeds improve layer bonding.

4. Supports: Minimize via design (45° rule); use soluble interfaces for complex geometries.

5. Post-Processing: Sand, vapor-smooth, or anneal based on material requirements.

Note: Always verify manufacturer-specific guidelines and conduct test prints (e.g., temperature towers, retraction tests) for optimal results.