PLA 3D printing: the everyday plastic
Sharp detail, the widest colour range and the lowest price. PLA is the right choice for most things that live indoors, out of the heat.
In a nutshell
- Cost
- $ out of $$$$
- Heat
- Softens from about 55 to 60 °C
- Feel
- Rigid and a little brittle. Snaps rather than bends.
- Outdoors
- No. It sags in a hot car and goes chalky in full sun.
What it's for
Good for
- Models, figurines, cosplay and props
- Desk and home organisers, phone stands, boxes
- Gifts, keepsakes, trophies and display pieces
- Fit and form prototypes
- Anything you plan to sand and paint (Matte and standard)
Not the right pick for
- Anything left in a car, on a dashboard or in full sun
- Parts near heat: lamps, engines, kettles, dishwashers
- Clips and hinges that flex every day
- Outdoor fittings
The options
PLA
The standard. Slight sheen, prints the cleanest, best detail. Our cheapest material.
PLA Matte
A soft, flat finish that hides layer lines. Best for display pieces and anything you'll photograph. Takes paint well.
PLA Silk
Glossy and shiny with a metallic look in some colours. Vases, trophies and decorative parts. Not for sanding or painting.
Colours
All our filament comes from Siddament, an Australian supplier. If a PLA colour is in stock there, we can print with it. Pick a basic colour in the quote tool or choose Other Siddament colour and paste the product code.
Colours from Siddament
PLA questions
Is PLA strong?
For its weight, yes. A PLA part with a couple of millimetres of wall is stiff and takes a fair load. What it doesn't like is repeated bending, sharp knocks and heat. For those, look at PETG or ASA.
Is PLA food safe?
We don't print food-safe parts. The layer lines in any FDM part can hold bacteria, and our printers aren't set up for food contact.
Can I paint PLA?
Yes. Standard and Matte PLA sand and paint well. Prime first. Silk PLA doesn't take paint well because of its finish.
How does PLA handle water?
Fine. It doesn't absorb much and won't swell. It's heat it can't take, so a cold-water part is fine and a hot-water part isn't.
Will it last outdoors?
Not in the Australian sun. It goes chalky and brittle and will deform on a hot day. Use ASA outdoors.
Price your part in PLA
Upload the file, pick the material and colour, and the price is there in seconds.