Standard PLA is Actually Strong

Many people in the 3D printing community often consider standard PLA to be a weak or fragile material. However, this perception doesn’t tell the full story. In reality, standard PLA exhibits impressive strength in several important mechanical aspects. It is known for being very rigid and having good tensile strength, allowing it to withstand substantial loads and maintain its shape under pressure. This makes PLA well-suited for many applications where stiffness and dimensional stability are critical.

The misconception about PLA’s weakness largely stems from its relatively low impact resistance. While PLA can handle steady forces and tension well, it is more prone to cracking or breaking when subjected to sudden impacts or drops. This means that although a PLA print might not bend or deform easily under normal use, it can be brittle when faced with sharp shocks or accidental falls. Therefore, impact resistance is just one way to measure material strength, and PLA’s excellent rigidity and tensile capabilities mean it can be quite strong when used in the right contexts and for parts designed to avoid impact stresses.