fab PLA After Glow

1. Extruder Temperature
We recommend an extruder temperature of 200°C for PLA.

2. Bed Temperature
While PLA/PLA+ can be printed on an unheated bed, for best results we recommend and a bed temp of between 50°C - 60°C. If poor adhesion is an issue, print the first two layers ONLY with the bed at 65°C (and 60°C for every subsequent layer).

3. Fan Control & Minimum Layer Time
PLA prints best when rapidly cooled with the aid of your extruder's fan. This will ensure a clean, crisp layers with neat details. For the best surface resolution possible, set the extruder fan speed to 100%.

4. Retraction
We recommend starting with a retraction speed of between 30-80mm/s and a retraction distance of Between 2-5 mm for a Bowden setup or 1-2mm for a direct drive printer.

5. Build Plate Adhesion
While PLA is less prone to warping compared to other materials, even PLA can use a little extra help sticking to the bed sometimes.

6. Print Slower
With proper fan cooling, PLA can achieve blistering print speeds. We've found that printing at 50mm/s or slower yields great results.

7. Glow-in-the-dark filaments should print similarly to their base materials.

8. While printing, be aware that the glow-in-the-dark additives are highly abrasive. This means that they will damage the brass nozzles that usually come stock on 3D printers. Make sure you’re printing with a hardened steel or ruby nozzle (or the like), just as you would with other fiber-filled materials.

9. In addition, note that the final glow of your prints will depend on infill density and light exposure. A higher-density infill will yield a brighter glow, as will exposure to UV light. Think ahead about how you plan on using the material and how you’ll be “charging” it.