Composite · Carbon-fiber PLA
IntermediatePLA Carbon Fiber
Carbon Fiber PLA · PLA Carbon
Carbon-fiber-reinforced PLA — stiffer and more dimensionally stable than PLA, with a premium matte-black finish. Needs a hardened nozzle.
Print temperatures
Nozzle 210–230 °C Bed 50–60 °C
Chopped-CF PLA is stiffer and more dimensionally stable than plain PLA, with a premium matte-black look — but short fibers mainly raise stiffness, not ultimate strength the way continuous fiber would.
The fibers are highly abrasive, so a hardened nozzle is required, and the material is more brittle than plain PLA.
Strengths & trade-offs
- Higher stiffness and rigidity than PLA
- Excellent dimensional stability (low warp)
- Attractive matte-black finish
- Lightweight
- Hides layer lines
- Abrasive — hardened nozzle mandatory
- More brittle than PLA
- Still low heat resistance (~60 °C)
- Clog-prone (use ≥0.4–0.6 mm nozzle)
- Fibers don't boost ultimate strength much
Best for
Lightweight rigid bracketsDrone / RC framesJigs and fixturesStiff matte display parts
Did you know
- Chopped-fiber CF adds stiffness, not much strength — short fibers can't carry load like aerospace CF.
- As little as ~250 g of CF filament can ruin a brass nozzle — hence the hardened-nozzle rule.
