How To Print With PLA Filament - A beginners guide
3D printing is an exciting hobby that has become increasingly accessible in recent years. One of the most popular materials for 3D printing is PLA filament, a biodegradable and eco-friendly material made from renewable resources such as corn starch, sugarcane, and potato starch. If you're new to 3D printing we recommend you learn hot to print with PLA filament as a good starting point. Here's a beginner's guide to help you get started on the right foot.
Print with PLA Filament flawlessly using the below steps
Prepare your print bed: Before you start printing, you'll need to prepare your print bed. This involves leveling the bed and applying a layer of adhesive such as glue stick or hairspray to ensure the filament adheres to the bed properly.
Load your PLA filament: Next, you'll need to load your PLA filament into the 3D printer. This involves inserting the filament spool into the printer and feeding the filament through the extruder.
Set the printing parameters: Once your filament is loaded, you'll need to set the printing parameters such as printing temperature, print speed, and layer height. These parameters can vary depending on the type of PLA filament you're using, so it's always a good idea to consult the manufacturer's recommendations.
Start printing: Once your printer is calibrated and your parameters are set, you're ready to start printing! Simply load your 3D model file into the slicing software, generate the G-code, and send it to the printer. Your printer will then start building your object layer by layer.
Post-processing: Once your print is complete, you may need to do some post-processing. This can include removing support structures, sanding or smoothing the surface of the print, or painting and finishing the object as desired.
Load your PLA filament: Next, you'll need to load your PLA filament into the 3D printer. This involves inserting the filament spool into the printer and feeding the filament through the extruder.
Set the printing parameters: Once your filament is loaded, you'll need to set the printing parameters such as printing temperature, print speed, and layer height. These parameters can vary depending on the type of PLA filament you're using, so it's always a good idea to consult the manufacturer's recommendations.
Start printing: Once your printer is calibrated and your parameters are set, you're ready to start printing! Simply load your 3D model file into the slicing software, generate the G-code, and send it to the printer. Your printer will then start building your object layer by layer.
Post-processing: Once your print is complete, you may need to do some post-processing. This can include removing support structures, sanding or smoothing the surface of the print, or painting and finishing the object as desired.
Here are some ideas to print with PLA Filament!
1. Toys and figurines: Great material for printing toys and figurines, as it can produce smooth and detailed prints.
2. Home decor: Can be used to print decorative items like vases, candle holders, and picture frames.
3. Replacement parts: If you have broken or missing parts for an object, you can use PLA filament to print replacements.
4. Jewelry: Can be used to print unique and personalized jewelry pieces, such as bracelets, earrings, and pendants.
5. Educational models: Great material for printing educational models, such as molecular models, anatomical models, and architectural models.
2. Home decor: Can be used to print decorative items like vases, candle holders, and picture frames.
3. Replacement parts: If you have broken or missing parts for an object, you can use PLA filament to print replacements.
4. Jewelry: Can be used to print unique and personalized jewelry pieces, such as bracelets, earrings, and pendants.
5. Educational models: Great material for printing educational models, such as molecular models, anatomical models, and architectural models.
Another thing to consider, like with other filament is to protect PLA from moisture. Exposure to humidity can cause the filament to become brittle and negatively affect print quality. Store your open filament in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and humidity. Airtight storage containers or vacuum-sealed bags can also help to prevent moisture from getting in. Desiccant packs, such as silica gel can help to absorb moisture from the air around the filament spool. These packs can be added to the storage container or bag to keep the filament dry.
If you are noticing a decline in print quality then try drying your filament. You can try drying it in an oven. Place the filament spool in an oven set to a low temperature (around 50°C) for a few hours to remove any moisture. Anything higher than this and you may start to affect the integrity of the filament and it can also present a fire hazard. We have done this ourselves and come back to a warped roll of filament sitting in the oven. So be careful. A better option is to purchase a purpose made 3D filament dryer.
If you are noticing a decline in print quality then try drying your filament. You can try drying it in an oven. Place the filament spool in an oven set to a low temperature (around 50°C) for a few hours to remove any moisture. Anything higher than this and you may start to affect the integrity of the filament and it can also present a fire hazard. We have done this ourselves and come back to a warped roll of filament sitting in the oven. So be careful. A better option is to purchase a purpose made 3D filament dryer.
Mastering how to print with PLA filament is a fun and rewarding hobby that can produce amazing results. With a little practice and patience, you can create unique and intricate objects that are limited only by your imagination. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced 3D printer, PLA filament is an excellent choice for all kinds of printing projects. The good news is discovering how to print with pla filament is relatively easy. One key point to note is that our PLA will print perfectly on a standard slicer profile. Prusaslicer for example, we just use the standard prusament pla profile to print faultlessly, every time!
