Carbon Fiber PLA

FAQ:

What is it made out of?

How much stronger is it?

Printer Settings

Carbon fiber and your printer nozzle

Carbon Fiber Reinforced PLA (shop here)

Our most popular exotic material, prints made with our Carbon Fiber PLA are demonstrably more rigid, providing excellent structural strength and layer adhesion with very low warpage. It has a beautiful matte black finish with a slight sheen due to the embedded carbon.

What is it made out of?

Protopasta Carbon Fiber PLA is made from NatureWorks 4043D PLA Resin compounded with 15% (by weight) chopped Carbon Fibers. It is more brittle than standard PLA in its filament form, so handle it carefully to prevent breakage.
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How much stronger is it?

The short answer is that this filament isn't "stronger," rather, it is more rigid. Increased rigidity from the carbon fiber means increased structural support but decreased flexibility, making our Carbon Fiber PLA an ideal material for frames, supports, shells, propellers, tools... really anything not expected (or desired) to bend. It is particularly loved by drone builders and and RC hobbyists.
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Print Settings

Because of the chopped carbon, Protopasta Carbon Fiber PLA may have trouble getting through smaller nozzles. We have had good success using a .5mm nozzle and direct-drive spring loaded pinch-roll style extrusion head.

Generally, our customers find it prints just like standard PLA on their machines (at around 195-210° F), though others find success running it a bit hotter (around 220° F). Experiment with your printer and see what works best for you.
Density:
1.3 g/cm3 (1300 kg/m3)

Parameters:
Bed Temp (if available, is not required): 50° C
Hot End Temp: 195 – 220° C

 

Carbon fiber and your printer nozzle

The carbon fibers in our filament are processed for an optimum size: short enough to print in PLA without clogging nozzles, but long enough to provide the added rigidity carbon fiber is famous for. At this length, the chopped carbon fiber makes this filament more abrasive than standard PLA. Prolonged use may result in more wear on your 3D printer, particularly lower-end nozzles.
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