Materials › LW-PLA (lightweight / foaming PLA)
LW-PLA (lightweight / foaming PLA) – Properties, Temperatures & Tips
All key properties, print settings, pros and cons and matching filaments at a glance.
Properties & print settings
- Nozzle (°C)
- 210–250
- Bed (°C)
- 25–60
- Heat resistance HDT (°C)
- approx. 54
- Tensile strength (MPa)
- approx. 24
- Density (g/cm³)
- approx. 0.9 (foamed)
- Drying
- 55 °C, 6–8 h
- Difficulty
- medium
No enclosure needed
What is LW-PLA (lightweight / foaming PLA) used for?
Model aircraft, light housings and decor
+ Pros
Foams during printing – much lighter parts
– Cons
Temperature and flow need calibration for target weight, rougher surface
Printing tips at a glance
- Nozzle temperature: 210–250 °C – start in the middle of the range on a new spool and fine-tune with a temperature tower.
- Bed temperature: 25–60 °C.
- An enclosure is not needed, but avoid drafts.
- Drying: 55 °C, 6–8 h. Wet filament shows up as crackling, stringing and rough surfaces.
Compare similar materials
| Material | Difficulty | Nozzle (°C) | Bed (°C) | Heat resistance HDT (°C) | Tensile strength (MPa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LW-PLA (lightweight / foaming PLA) | 3/5 | 210–250 | 25–60 | approx. 54 | approx. 24 |
| PLA | 1/5 | 190–230 | 25–65 | 55–60 | 40–52 |
| Wood filament (wood PLA) | 2/5 | 190–210 (PolyWood); wood-powder filaments often up to 220 | 25–60 | approx. 54–56 | approx. 23 (PolyWood) |
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Frequently asked questions
What nozzle temperature does LW-PLA (lightweight / foaming PLA) need?
Guideline for LW-PLA (lightweight / foaming PLA): 210–250 °C nozzle and 25–60 °C bed temperature. The exact values are printed on the manufacturer's spool.
How heat resistant is LW-PLA (lightweight / foaming PLA)?
Heat deflection temperature (HDT) is around approx. 54 °C. Above that, loaded parts start to deform.
Does LW-PLA (lightweight / foaming PLA) need to be dried?
Recommended: 55 °C, 6–8 h.
Do I need an enclosure for LW-PLA (lightweight / foaming PLA)?
An enclosure is not needed, but avoid drafts.
Values are guidelines from manufacturer datasheets (Polymaker, Bambu Lab, Prusa). They may differ by manufacturer, colour and print settings.