Published on : 28 September 20223 min reading time
PLA is a type of biobased material that is fairly recent and is used extensively in industry, especially in 3D printing. In fact, it is the most common type of 3D printer filament and is very popular with beginners. Available in different styles and shades, PLA filament is ideal for a variety of applications in addition to being aesthetic and easy to use. If you’re new to the world of 3D printing, a quick guide to PLA will help you learn everything you need to know.
What is PLA filament?
Polylactic Acid or PLA is a thermoplastic polymer obtained from renewable resources such as sugar cane or corn starch. In 3D printing, it is generally the raw material used to manufacture 3D parts. As one of the most popular materials, it is often used to build a solid object model, a prototype, or other components. The properties of PLA filament that are of great interest to those who use a 3D PLA printer are its bioactive and biodegradable properties. It is a material that decomposes naturally after three to six months, which makes it much more environmentally friendly. In addition, the 3D printer wire comes in a variety of blends and colors, and materials that are PLA based are easy to find on the market.
The advantages of PLA in 3D printing for beginners
First of all, PLA filament is highly regarded for being exceptionally easy to print. Generally speaking, it flows out of a 3D printer’s nozzle without problems such as clogging or warping. The printing temperature with standard PLA is much lower compared to other materials. This is what makes this 3D printer filament very practical in its application. In addition, the quality of all surface details offered by this type of filament is particularly high. It is capable of eliminating pitfalls like burrs or stiffness. In addition, PLA filament is a material that does not have a foul smell when extruded. In addition, it is an easily pigmented material that comes in a variety of mixtures and colors.
For what purposes is PLA used?
Most PLA filaments are perfect for rapid prototyping and visual printing, especially when the parts to be printed are not going to be under much stress. So, PLA is ideal if you want to print objects that are not dependent on degradability, mechanical properties, or durability. Secondly, PLA filament should not be used for items that will be folded later, such as a phone case or a tool handle. This type of filament is not completely heat resistant, so a filament with more suitable mechanical properties should be used instead. Apart from that, PLA is almost perfect for any other kind of use. The most popular ones are, for example, figurines, visual models, characters, or containers.