Which plastic to load, what temperatures to start from, and how to fix the prints that go wrong. Written for hobbyists and small print shops selling on Etsy.
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Temperatures are typical starting ranges. Always check the label on your spool, since brands tune their blends differently.
| Material | Nozzle °C | Bed °C | Enclosure | Difficulty | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | 190–220 | 50–60 | No | Decor, prototypes, gifts, most Etsy items | |
| PETG | 220–250 | 70–85 | No | Functional parts, planters, outdoor-lite use | |
| TPU | 210–235 | 40–60 | No | Phone cases, gaskets, bumpers, flexible parts | |
| ABS | 230–260 | 95–110 | Yes | Heat-resistant parts, automotive interiors | |
| ASA | 235–260 | 90–110 | Yes | Outdoor parts that need UV resistance | |
| Nylon / PA | 250–280 | 70–100 | Recommended | Gears, hinges, high-wear mechanical parts |
Matte finishes hide layer lines, which makes photos look better in shop listings. PLA prints on almost any machine without tuning.
Hooks, clips and brackets that take load or sit in a warm car hold up far better in PETG than in PLA.
PETG, TPU and nylon absorb moisture from the air. Store spools sealed with desiccant, and dry them if prints start popping or stringing.
A small set of core colors bought in multi-spool packs lowers cost per gram, which matters once you price items for resale.
Clean the plate with isopropyl alcohol, re-level or re-run auto bed leveling, and lower the first-layer Z offset slightly. Slow the first layer down.
Dry the filament first. Then drop nozzle temperature by 5 °C at a time and increase retraction distance in small steps.
Use a brim, raise bed temperature, and block drafts. For ABS and ASA, an enclosure is the real fix.
Usually under-extrusion or wet filament. Check flow rate, raise temperature slightly, and add walls before adding infill.
Moisture again. Dry the spool at the manufacturer's recommended temperature for several hours.
Polymaker makes PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, nylon and specialty blends in dozens of colors. Their Panchroma line covers the matte and sparkle finishes that photograph well for listings.
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A new post every day on materials, settings, and fixes for real print problems.
Popping, stringing and brittle PLA usually mean moisture. Here is how to spot it, dry it, and keep it from coming back.