Materials · With some practice
Fiber-filled (CF and GF)
PLA, PETG, nylon or PP with carbon or glass fiber: stiffer, with a matte finish and steadier dimensions.
Stiff and firmHandles heat
What changes most if you're coming from PLA:
What it's for
- Parts that mustn't bend: brackets, arms, frames.
- Technical parts with a matte finish that hides the layers.
- Parts that must keep their size: the fiber makes them warp less.
What it's not for
- Parts that must flex or take impacts: the fiber makes them stiffer, but also more brittle.
- A brass nozzle: the fibers wear it from the inside.
If you're coming from another material
- Nozzle temperature220 °C 220 °CAbout the same: it melts at a similar temperature.
- Bed temperature65 °C 65 °CSimilar: the part sticks to the plate the same way.
- Part fan60–80 % 60–80 %Similar: it cools with about the same airflow.
- Max volumetric speed12 mm³/s 12 mm³/sSimilar: it prints at a similar speed.
- Softens at45 °C 45 °CIt handles heat about the same.
- Nozzleregular hardenedIt needs a hardened nozzle: the fibers scrape the inside of a brass nozzle and wear it out quickly.
What it's like to print
- For PLA-CF, PETG-CF and PA-CF, Bambu Studio asks for a hardened nozzle (hardened steel, not brass).
- It prints like the base material (PLA, PETG, nylon…), with similar values.
- Better with nozzles of 0.4 mm or larger: in a fine one, the fiber can block the tip.
Starting values
From Bambu Studio's generic profile for the A1: they're meant for any brand, so they're cautious. They're a starting point; the calibration tests get you to your filament's own values.
| PLA-CF | PETG-CF | PA-CF | PP-CF | PP-GF | PE-CF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nozzle | 220 °C (190–240) | 255 °C (240–270) | 290 °C (260–300) | 235 °C (220–250) | 235 °C (220–250) | 210 °C (175–220) |
| Bed, textured plate | 65 °C | 70 °C | 100 °C | 55 °C | 55 °C | 55 °C |
| Bed, smooth plate (PEI) | 65 °C | 70 °C | 100 °C | 55 °C | 55 °C | 55 °C |
| Bed, cool plate | 45 °C | not recommended | not recommended | 35 °C | 35 °C | 35 °C |
| Fan | 60–80 % | 5–40 % | 10–30 % | 100–100 % | 100–100 % | 100–100 % |
| Max flow | 12 mm³/s | 8 mm³/s | 8 mm³/s | 6 mm³/s | 6 mm³/s | 6 mm³/s |
| Softens at | 45 °C | 70 °C | 108 °C | 110 °C | 110 °C | 70 °C |
| Hardened nozzle | yes | yes | yes | not needed | not needed | not needed |
Moisture
Whatever the base material absorbs: PA-CF a lot, PLA-CF little.
Drying time and temperature come from your filament's maker: every brand and blend is different, so we don't give numbers here. Look for them on the filament's label or the brand's data sheet.
The settings that change the most
- Required nozzle HRCFilament › FilamentThis is how the profile says it needs a hardened nozzle.
- Nozzle temperatureFilament › FilamentThe base material's, sometimes a little hotter.
Typical problems:The part breaks or the layers splitParts don't fit or holes come out small
Calibrate first:1Temperature2Flow
The numbers come from Bambu Studio and the A1, but the material is the same on any FDM printer: on another machine or slicer, the values are similar and everything explained here still applies.
Other materials
PLAPLA SilkPETGPCTGTPUABSASAPC (polycarbonate)Nylon (PA)PP (polypropylene)HIPSSoluble supports (PVA and BVOH)