How to print with PLA Filament?

PLA is the most widely used FDM filament in the world — and for good reason. It is the easiest material to print, the most forgiving of beginner mistakes, and available in the widest range of colours and specialist variants. Eolas Prints manufactures all PLA filaments in-house in Cantabria, Spain, to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards.

Why Print with PLA?

• Easiest FDM filament to print — minimal warping, low shrinkage, wide temperature range
• Food contact safe, toy safe, and skin contact safe
• Derived from renewable resources (corn starch / sugarcane)
• Available in 1.75mm and 2.85mm, 20+ colours
• Multiple specialist variants for different applications
• No enclosure required on most printers

Recommended Print Settings

Nozzle temperature	195–220°C
Bed temperature	25–60°C (or cold bed on PEI/BuildTak)
Print speed	40–100 mm/s (standard PLA)
Cooling fan	100% after first layer
Enclosure	Not required
Density	1.24 g/cm³
Diameter tolerance	±0.05 mm

For High Speed PLA, print speed can be increased to 150–300 mm/s with appropriate slicer calibration. See the High Speed PLA section below.

Bed Adhesion

PLA adheres well to most surfaces. PEI sheets provide excellent adhesion when the bed is warm (40–60°C) and release cleanly when cool. Glass with a thin hairspray or glue stick coating also works reliably. BuildTak and comparable surfaces grip PLA firmly at all temperatures. Many printers with PEI can print PLA on a completely cold bed — especially useful for very small parts that might shift from a bed heater cycling on and off.

Common Issues and Fixes

Stringing

Reduce print temperature by 5°C increments and increase retraction distance. Run a retraction calibration test for your specific printer. PLA that has absorbed moisture will string excessively regardless of retraction — if you have tried multiple settings without improvement, dry the filament first.

Poor Bed Adhesion

Clean the bed with isopropyl alcohol (IPA), increase bed temperature to 55–60°C, reduce first layer speed to 20–25 mm/s, and check Z-offset. Ensure the first layer is being slightly squished onto the bed rather than sitting on top of it.

Brittle Prints

Increase print temperature (try 5°C higher), reduce print speed, and check for moisture damage. PLA absorbs humidity over time — store in sealed containers with desiccant and dry at 45–50°C for 4–6 hours if the filament has been open for weeks in a humid environment.

Warping on Large Parts

Use a brim (3–5mm), increase bed temperature to 60°C, and shield from drafts. PLA warps much less than ABS but large flat parts can still lift at corners, especially in cold rooms.

Storage and Moisture

PLA is less moisture-sensitive than PETG or TPU but will degrade with extended humidity exposure — prints become brittle, strings increase, and surface quality deteriorates. Store spools in sealed containers or resealable bags with silica gel desiccant. If PLA has been stored open for more than a few weeks in a humid climate, dry at 45–50°C for 4–6 hours before printing.

Post-Processing PLA

• Sanding: Works well from 200 grit upward. Wet sanding gives smoother results.
• Painting: Accepts acrylic paints well with a plastic primer. Standard spray paints also adhere reliably.
• Gluing: Cyanoacrylate (super glue) or two-part epoxy for structural bonds.
• Annealing: PLA Ingeo 850 and 870 variants can be annealed at 120°C to raise heat deflection temperature to 85°C and increase impact resistance. See the Ingeo PLA guide for full annealing instructions.

High Speed PLA: Printing at 150–300 mm/s

High Speed PLA is a specialist formulation engineered for rapid printing without compromising quality. It delivers nearly double the strength of standard PLA with ABS-level impact resistance — and is designed to run at 150–300 mm/s on printers capable of those speeds (Bambu Lab, Prusa Core One, and similar CoreXY machines).

Nozzle temperature	200–240°C
Bed temperature	35–60°C
Print speed	150–300 mm/s
Cooling fan	100% — maximum cooling is critical at high speeds

At 300 mm/s, run a volumetric flow calibration in your slicer (OrcaSlicer or Bambu Studio both have this built in) to find your specific printer's extrusion limit before pushing to maximum speed.

Eolas Prints PLA Range

• PLA 1.75mm — standard, 20+ colours, food safe. For all standard FDM printers.
• PLA 2.85mm — for Ultimaker, LulzBot, and 2.85mm machines. Same quality, same colour range.
• High Speed PLA — up to 300 mm/s. ABS-level impact resistance. Ideal for Bambu Lab and CoreXY printers.
• PLA Matte — smooth matte finish that minimises visible layer lines. Professional appearance without post-processing.
• PLA Silk — high-gloss metallic finish in gold, silver, bronze, and copper. Ideal for decorative and display prints.
• PLA Neon — intense fluorescent colours (green, yellow, orange, pink). High visibility and eye-catching results.
• PLA Antibacterial — ISO 22196:2011 certified. Over 99.9% bacterial reduction vs standard PLA. Ideal for healthcare, education, and food-adjacent applications.
• PLA Ingeo 850 — NatureWorks Ingeo resin. Anneals to 85°C HDT. High impact resistance. Food safe.
• PLA Ingeo 870 — NatureWorks Ingeo 870 resin. Higher impact resistance than 850. Anneals to 85°C+.
• PLA Transition — gradient colour effect, made sustainably from manufacturing offcuts. Unique appearance, zero waste.