Printing and drying guide
Typical values. Refer to the actual TDS. Also check the product label. To be corrected by GREENPOLYMER.
Basic, Matte, Silk, Wood and so on
- Nozzle temperature
- 190–230 °C200–230 °C220–260 °C230–270 °C250–300 °C250–300 °CA hardened steel or similar wear-resistant nozzle is required.260–290 °CA hardened steel or similar wear-resistant nozzle is required.210–250 °C190–220 °C
- Fan
- 100 %100 %30–60 %0–30 %0–20 %0–30 %0–30 %50–100 %50–100 %
- Enclosed chamber
- Not neededNot neededNot neededRecommendedRecommendedRecommendedRecommendedNot neededNot needed
- Bed temperature
- 45–65 °C50–65 °C70–85 °C90–110 °C100–120 °C70–100 °C70–100 °C25–70 °C45–60 °C
- Build plate advice
- Smooth or textured PEI platePEITextured PEI; on smooth plates, glue is recommended to stop parts sticking too firmlyPEI or gluePEI with gluePEI with gluePEI with gluePEI; use glue if needed for easier part removalSame as the main material
Drying conditions
- Temperature
- 50–55 °C50–55 °C60–65 °CABS 70–80 °CASA 80 °CPC / flame-retardant PC 80 °CPC/ABS 80 °C80 °C80–100 °C50–60 °C55–60 °C
- Time
- 4–8 h4–8 h6–8 hABS 4–6 hASA 6–8 hPC / flame-retardant PC 8 hPC/ABS 6–8 h8–12 h8–12 h6–8 h8 h
- Requirement
- Dry when dampDry when dampRecommendedABS RecommendedASA RecommendedPC / flame-retardant PC RequiredPC/ABS RecommendedRequiredRequiredRequiredRequired
Recommended print settings
By material
- Do not dry above the material's softening temperature. Above 60 °C, PLA may stick together on the spool.
- Plastic spools have limited heat resistance. Before drying at high temperature, make sure the spool can withstand it, or move the filament onto a heat-resistant spool.
- Drying on a heated bed or in an oven gives large temperature swings. A dedicated filament dryer is recommended.
For the settings of each model, see the product groups and the comparison table.
All parameters
Recommended print settings
| Material | Nozzle temperature | Bed temperature | Fan | Enclosed chamber | Build plate advice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA (Basic, Matte, Silk, Wood and so on) | 190–230 °C | 45–65 °C | 100 % | Not needed | Smooth or textured PEI plate |
| PLA High Speed | 200–230 °C | 50–65 °C | 100 % | Not needed | PEI |
| PETG | 220–260 °C | 70–85 °C | 30–60 % | Not needed | Textured PEI; on smooth plates, glue is recommended to stop parts sticking too firmly |
| ABS / ASA | 230–270 °C | 90–110 °C | 0–30 % | Recommended | PEI or glue |
| PC / PC/ABS | 250–300 °C | 100–120 °C | 0–20 % | Recommended | PEI with glue |
| PA6 / PA12 and fiber-reinforced grades | 250–300 °C | 70–100 °C | 0–30 % | Recommended | PEI with glue |
| PET-CF | 260–290 °C | 70–100 °C | 0–30 % | Recommended | PEI with glue |
| TPU | 210–250 °C | 25–70 °C | 50–100 % | Not needed | PEI; use glue if needed for easier part removal |
| PVA / BVOH | 190–220 °C | 45–60 °C | 50–100 % | Not needed | Same as the main material |
Drying conditions
| Material | Temperature | Time | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA types | 50–55 °C | 4–8 h | Dry when damp |
| PETG | 60–65 °C | 6–8 h | Recommended |
| ABS | 70–80 °C | 4–6 h | Recommended |
| ASA | 80 °C | 6–8 h | Recommended |
| PC / flame-retardant PC | 80 °C | 8 h | Required |
| PC/ABS | 80 °C | 6–8 h | Recommended |
| PA6 / PA12 and fiber-reinforced grades | 80 °C | 8–12 h | Required |
| PET-CF | 80–100 °C | 8–12 h | Required |
| TPU | 50–60 °C | 6–8 h | Required |
| PVA / BVOH | 55–60 °C | 8 h | Required |
Checks before printing
Confirm that the model and diameter match the printer (1.75 mm or 2.85 mm).
Check the recommended temperature on the spool label. Start printing at the middle of the recommended range.
Check whether the material needs a hardened steel nozzle. Materials with carbon fiber, glass fiber or glow particles wear brass nozzles.
Check whether the material must be dried. PA, PC, PET-CF, TPU, PVA and BVOH must be dried before printing.
For a new material or a new printer, print a temperature tower and a retraction test first.
Speed and temperature
The faster the print, the more heat is needed for melting. For high-speed printing, the nozzle temperature usually needs to be 10–20 °C higher. The table below is a reference for PLA:
Print speed → PLA nozzle temperature reference
- 50–150 mm/s
- 190–210 °C
- 150–300 mm/s
- 210–230 °C
- Above 300 mm/s
- 220–240 °CPLA High Speed recommended
Drying
Why dry
Most filaments absorb moisture from the air. Damp filament causes stringing, bubbles, popping sounds, rough surfaces and lower strength when printing. Nylon, PC, TPU and water-soluble supports absorb moisture fastest.
Storage
- GREENPOLYMER filament ships vacuum-packed with desiccant. Keep unopened packs in a cool, dry place.
- When an opened spool is not in use, put it back in a sealed bag or box with desiccant.
- For nylon, PC, TPU and water-soluble supports, feed directly from a dry box while printing.
- Replace or regenerate desiccant once it changes color.
Fiber-reinforced materials
- A hardened steel or similar wear-resistant nozzle is required. A worn brass nozzle lowers extrusion and worsens dimensions.
- A nozzle diameter of 0.4 mm or larger is recommended; 0.6 mm clogs less.
- Keep retraction distance short.
- The strength of fiber-reinforced parts is directional. Keep the load direction parallel to the print layers where possible.
Post-processing
- PLA and PETG prints can be sanded and painted. Sanding brings out the wood grain of wood PLA.
- PA, PC and PET-CF prints can be annealed to improve heat resistance and dimensional stability. Annealing temperature and time follow the TDS; annealing causes slight shrinkage.
- Nylon prints absorb moisture over time and become tougher. When stable dimensions are needed, condition them before measuring.
- Dissolve water-soluble supports by soaking in room-temperature or warm water; changing the water speeds up dissolving.
Selection and services
Contact us
Tell us about the part, material requirements, equipment and expected volume. We will recommend suitable grades and the validation data you need.