Materials › PLA-CF (carbon fibre PLA)
PLA-CF (carbon fibre PLA) – Properties, Temperatures & Tips
All key properties, print settings, pros and cons and matching filaments at a glance.
Properties & print settings
- Nozzle (°C)
- 210–240
- Bed (°C)
- 45–65
- Heat resistance HDT (°C)
- 54–55
- Tensile strength (MPa)
- approx. 31 (Polymaker); flexural strength 89 (Bambu)
- Density (g/cm³)
- approx. 1.29
- Drying
- 55 °C, 8 h
- Difficulty
- easy
No enclosure needed Hardened nozzle required
What is PLA-CF (carbon fibre PLA) used for?
Stiff light parts, drone/RC parts, matte technical look
+ Pros
Very stiff, matte surface, little warping, dimensionally accurate
– Cons
Hardened nozzle required (abrasive), brittle, weaker layer adhesion, heat resistance only like PLA
Printing tips at a glance
- Nozzle temperature: 210–240 °C – start in the middle of the range on a new spool and fine-tune with a temperature tower.
- Bed temperature: 45–65 °C.
- An enclosure is not needed, but avoid drafts.
- Because of the abrasive filler a hardened nozzle (e.g. hardened steel) is a must – brass wears out quickly.
- Drying: 55 °C, 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA-CF (carbon fibre PLA) | 2/5 | 210–240 | 45–65 | 54–55 | approx. 31 (Polymaker); flexural strength 89 (Bambu) |
| PLA | 1/5 | 190–230 | 25–65 | 55–60 | 40–52 |
| PETG-CF (carbon fibre PETG) | 2/5 | 240–270 | 60–80 | 69–74 | approx. 60 (Polymaker); flexural strength 70 (Bambu) |
| PA-CF (carbon fibre nylon: PA6-CF, PAHT-CF, PA11-CF) | 4/5 | 260–300 | 100–120 | approx. 175–215 (Polymaker, annealed); 184–194 (Bambu) | approx. 92–109 (Polymaker); flexural strength 125–151 (Bambu) |
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Frequently asked questions
What nozzle temperature does PLA-CF (carbon fibre PLA) need?
Guideline for PLA-CF (carbon fibre PLA): 210–240 °C nozzle and 45–65 °C bed temperature. The exact values are printed on the manufacturer's spool.
How heat resistant is PLA-CF (carbon fibre PLA)?
Heat deflection temperature (HDT) is around 54–55 °C. Above that, loaded parts start to deform.
Does PLA-CF (carbon fibre PLA) need to be dried?
Recommended: 55 °C, 8 h.
Do I need an enclosure for PLA-CF (carbon fibre PLA)?
An enclosure is not needed, but avoid drafts. Because of the abrasive filler a hardened nozzle (e.g. hardened steel) is a must – brass wears out quickly.
Values are guidelines from manufacturer datasheets (Polymaker, Bambu Lab, Prusa). They may differ by manufacturer, colour and print settings.