What Makes PLA Filament a Popular Material in 3D Printing?

PLA (polylactic acid) filament is a popular material. It is a preferred choice due to a number of reasons.

Different Uses

PLA filament is useful for a variety of applications, including industrial applications and enthusiast projects. Because of its many uses, it can be used to create prototypes, instructional models, decorative items, and much more. There are virtually endless possibilities with 3D printer PLA; people can freely explore their creativity.

Ease of use

PLA is well renowned for being a very simple material to print on. It usually adheres well to print beds and exhibits no propensity to warp or deform during printing. Additionally, PLA doesn't clog nozzles as frequently as some other thermoplastics do. For both novices and experts, this makes PLA filament dependable and hassle-free.

Print Quality

In addition, PLA also produces high-quality print results. Prints made with PLA filament can achieve good detail, smooth surfaces, and accurate dimensions when sliced properly. The material is stiff enough to bridge small gaps without drooping or deforming. PLA's clarity also allows it to be used for transparent prints.

Strength & Stability

PLA offers adequate strength properties for most hobbyist prints, prototypes, and end-use parts. Items printed from PLA exhibit high rigidity and stability as well as decent tensile and bending strength. This makes it suitable for a wide range of applications.

Affordability

With most standard PLA filaments costing $20-30 per 1 Kg PLA filament spool, it is also one of the most economical 3D printing materials available today. This approachable price point further encourages beginners to try out desktop 3D printing without worrying about the costs of failed prints. Even advanced users appreciate being able to prototype and test prints cheaply with PLA.

Safety

PLA emits negligible fumes when heated to print temperatures. Unlike some plastics, it has low toxicity and is generally regarded as safe for desktop 3D printing use, even in home and office environments. This gives users the flexibility to place their printers wherever needed.

Environmental Impact

One of the most environmentally friendly 3D printing plastics, 3D printer PLA filament is made from renewable plant sugars and breaks down faster than oil-based plastics. Most PLA can be disposed of normally and will degrade within 1-2 years in the right conditions. Using PLA lets makers reduce waste while still enjoying high-quality 3D-printed parts.

In summary, PLA's ease of printing, print quality, mechanical properties, affordability, safety, and sustainability make it the ideal material for beginners and advanced users alike. With so many key advantages concentrated into a single material, it's no wonder the best PLA filament remains one of the most popular filaments for 3D printing today.

Why You Should Start Using 3D Printer PLA

One of the most widely used materials for 3D printing, particularly FDM, is polylactic acid (PLA). 3D printer PLA filaments are the ideal starting material for 3D printing because of their simplicity and lack of warping concerns. In addition, PLA is one of the most environmentally friendly 3D printing materials because it is biodegradable, unlike ABS. The affordability of PLA and the variety of colours and blends available are two further benefits. PLA is better suited for ornamental, low-stress, and non-functional prototyping due to the material's brittleness.

Why use PLA for 3D printing?

Contrary to many other thermoplastics made from non-renewable sources like petroleum, PLA is a common thermoplastic polymer created from natural sources like maize starch or sugar cane. Various industries, including the automotive and food packaging sectors, use PLA to create 3D-printed products.

1.       Low printing temperature:

Compared to other thermoplastics, PLA has a comparatively low printing temperature (for example, the ideal printing temperature for PLA begins at about 180°C, while the perfect printing temperature for ABS is around 250°C). This indicates that PLA has a lower propensity to distort and clog the nozzle during printing. Additionally, PLA often yields superior surface details and sharper features than ABS and other thermoplastics with higher melting temperatures.

2.       Easy to use

One of the simplest materials to use as filament for 3D printing is PLA. Its versatility in adhesion and lack of need for a heated print bed further contribute to the material's usability. PLA, unlike ABS, doesn't release unpleasant fumes during printing.

3.       Biodegradable: 

Since PLA can be 3D printed with less energy and generates fewer greenhouse gases than materials derived from petroleum, it is an environmentally friendly material. It is also biodegradable and non-toxic. PLA parts often (naturally) decompose in a few years or even months, unlike petroleum-based thermoplastics, which take thousands of years.

4.       Post-processing is simple.

Because PLA prints are simple to sand, polish, and paint, a better surface finish can be achieved with minimal effort. Additionally, PLA pieces can be milled, drilled, and glued; be careful not to melt the part. Ensure the procedure is gradual, and the tools are fantastic to avoid melting your PLA part (you can achieve this with water, WD-40 or proper cutting fluid).

5.       Options for a wide range of colours and mixes: 

PLA is easily coloured and is available in a wide variety of colours and blends. The material can also be combined with wood, carbon, and metal to create luminescent or sparkly filaments. Pigments can also be added. As a result, the variety of PLA mixtures is essentially limitless.