PLA filament for 3D printing: everything you need to know

What PLA is, in simple terms

PLA (polylactide) is a plastic made from corn starch. It sounds odd, but it’s the most popular material in the world of 3D printing. And for good reason: it prints easily, looks good, barely smells while printing and is moderately priced.

If you’re ordering 3D printing for the first time and don’t know which material to choose, in 70% of cases the answer is PLA. With us, prices start from 5 UAH/g, which makes it the most affordable option.

Printing characteristics

PLA prints at a nozzle temperature of 190–220°C. The bed is heated to 50–60°C, although it can be printed without heating. It’s one of the easiest materials for a printer.

Layers go down evenly and detail is high. If you need a figurine with small features or a model with thin walls, PLA gives the cleanest result. Shrinkage is minimal, and the part comes out exactly to the file’s dimensions.

What PLA is ideal for

Decor and figurines. Statuettes, vases, stands, lithophanes. Recently we printed a chess set for a client — 32 pieces, each weighing 8–15 g. PLA captured the details perfectly: the horses’ faces, the points of the crown. The total weight was 340 g, and the whole set cost 1,700 UAH.

Electronics enclosures. If an enclosure sits on a desk or shelf, PLA lasts for years. I’ve printed enclosures for Arduino projects, Raspberry Pi and home-made weather stations.

Prototypes. Before making the final part in a more expensive material, it makes sense to print a prototype in PLA. Check the dimensions, see how it fits. A PLA prototype is cheaper than a PETG one.

Organisers and household items. Pen pots, cable holders, drawer sorters. These things carry no load, and PLA works flawlessly for them.

What PLA isn’t suitable for

Heat. PLA starts to soften at 55–60°C. Leave a part on a car dashboard in summer and it will deform. It happened once: a client ordered a PLA phone holder for the car. A week later he wrote that the holder had “melted”. We reprinted it in PETG, which holds up to 80°C.

Outdoors. Long exposure to the sun breaks PLA down. PETG is better for outdoor parts.

Mechanical loads. PLA is rigid but brittle. It can crack under a sharp impact. PETG is the one for those jobs. There’s a comparison on the PLA vs PETG vs TPU page.

Which colours are available

PLA has the widest palette of any material. White, black and grey are the basics. Plus red, blue, green, yellow, orange, pink and purple. And also clear, matte, glitter, “wood-effect” and “marble-effect”.

I always have 12–15 colours. See the current palette on the materials page.

PLA and PETG: a quick comparison

• Price: PLA from 5 UAH/g, PETG from 6 UAH/g
• Heat resistance: PLA up to 55°C, PETG up to 80°C
• Impact strength: PETG is much better
• Detail: PLA gives a cleaner result
• Surface: PLA is smoother and easier to sand

A simple rule: a part indoors with no impacts — PLA. Outdoors, in a car or under load — PETG.

Is PLA eco-friendly?

PLA is considered biodegradable, but there’s a catch. It breaks down only in industrial composters at 60°C. Under normal conditions it will lie around for decades. More on this in the article on how eco-friendly PLA is, and about plastic recycling and filament made from recycled bottles in the article 3D printing and the environment.

Examples of real orders

A logo for a reception desk. 30×15 cm, white PLA, 120 g. Cost: 600 UAH. The client then painted it in the corporate colour.

A set of caps for aquarium tubes. 12 pieces at 3 g each. 36 g in total, costing 180 UAH. The client had looked for them in every shop and couldn’t find them — a non-standard size.

An enclosure for a home-made remote control. Two halves, 45 g together, 225 UAH. It fitted the board perfectly first time.

Want to order PLA printing?

Send the model through the form on the website or message me. I’ll work out the cost for free. If PLA isn’t right, I’ll say so honestly and suggest another material.

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