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 Products Page.

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).

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.