PLA Print Settings Reference
Complete reference guide for PLA print settings. Use these as starting points and adjust based on your specific printer, filament brand, and part requirements.
Temperature Settings
| Setting | Range | Standard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nozzle Temperature | 190-220°C | 205°C | Start at 205°C, adjust for stringing or adhesion |
| First Layer Nozzle | 200-220°C | 210°C | +5°C from printing temperature for better adhesion |
| Bed Temperature | 50-70°C | 60°C | Higher for better adhesion, lower to save energy |
| First Layer Bed | 60-70°C | 65°C | Slightly higher than printing temperature |
Speed Settings
| Setting | Range | Standard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Print Speed | 40-80 mm/s | 60 mm/s | Good balance of speed and quality |
| First Layer Speed | 15-30 mm/s | 20 mm/s | Slow for optimal adhesion |
| Outer Wall Speed | 30-50 mm/s | 40 mm/s | Slower for better surface quality |
| Inner Wall Speed | 60-100 mm/s | 80 mm/s | Can be faster, not visible |
| Infill Speed | 60-100 mm/s | 80 mm/s | Fast to save time |
| Travel Speed | 100-200 mm/s | 150 mm/s | As fast as your printer allows |
Retraction Settings
Direct Drive
| Retraction Distance | 0.5-1.0 mm |
| Retraction Speed | 30-45 mm/s |
| Z-Hop Height | 0.2-0.4 mm |
Bowden
| Retraction Distance | 4-6 mm |
| Retraction Speed | 40-60 mm/s |
| Z-Hop Height | 0.2-0.4 mm |
Cooling Settings
| Setting | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Part Cooling Fan | 100% | Full cooling for PLA produces best results |
| First Layer Fan | 0% | No cooling on first layer for adhesion |
| Enable Above Layer | Layer 2 | Start cooling from second layer |
| Minimum Speed | 10 seconds/layer | Increases fan for small layers |
Layer and Quality Settings
| Setting | Range | Standard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layer Height | 0.12-0.28 mm | 0.20 mm | 0.12mm = high quality, 0.28mm = fast |
| Initial Layer Height | 0.20-0.30 mm | 0.25 mm | Thicker first layer helps adhesion |
| Line Width | 0.4-0.5 mm | 0.4 mm | Match to nozzle diameter |
| Wall Count | 2-4 | 3 | More walls = stronger parts |
| Top Layers | 4-6 | 5 | Solid top surface |
| Bottom Layers | 3-5 | 4 | Solid bottom surface |
| Infill Density | 10-20% | 15% | Higher for strength, lower to save material |
Common Adjustments
If You Have Stringing
- Reduce temperature by 5°C increments
- Increase retraction distance by 0.5mm
- Enable Z-hop (0.2-0.4mm)
- Dry the filament thoroughly
If You Have Poor Bed Adhesion
- Increase bed temperature to 65-70°C
- Increase first layer nozzle temp to 210-215°C
- Slow down first layer to 15-20 mm/s
- Clean bed surface thoroughly
- Apply glue stick or hairspray
If You Have Poor Surface Quality
- Reduce outer wall speed to 30-40 mm/s
- Ensure 100% part cooling
- Check belt tension
- Dry the filament
If You Have Under-Extrusion
- Increase temperature by 5°C
- Check for nozzle clogs
- Calibrate e-steps
- Check filament diameter
Brand-Specific Notes
Different PLA brands may require slight adjustments. Always check the manufacturer's recommendations printed on the spool.
- Budget PLA: May need slightly higher temperatures (210-215°C)
- Premium PLA: Often prints well at lower temperatures (195-205°C)
- Silk PLA: Typically requires higher temperatures (215-225°C) and slower speeds
- Matte PLA: Standard settings usually work well
- PLA+: Usually requires 5-10°C higher than standard PLA
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Start with 205°C nozzle and 60°C bed. Adjust nozzle temperature up if you see under-extrusion or down if you see stringing. Check your filament spool for manufacturer recommendations.
For direct drive: 0.8mm at 35mm/s. For bowden: 5mm at 45mm/s. These are starting points; adjust based on stringing results.
Standard speed is 60mm/s. You can print infill and inner walls up to 100mm/s. Keep outer walls at 40-50mm/s for quality. Modern printers with input shaping can go faster.