Gigabot PLA

General Information:

Gigabot PLA is a standard polylactic acid, whose general properties are described on our website at this link: PLA Information

Properties

Gigabot PLA filament is an easy-to-use filament, great for beginners and experts alike. A biodegradable bioplastic, PLA is derived from corn, a renewable resource. This material is a popular choice for educators and those in the medical field, due to its low toxicity. It demonstrates excellent bed and layer adhesion and a low shrink rate. It is inexpensive and yields parts with superior dimensional accuracy. Gigabot PLA is engineered for high-quality prints, manufactured to exact tolerances for 3D printing filament standards and guaranteed to be free of heavy metals, phthalates, and BPA. 

Applications

• Rigid parts
• Prototyping
• Environmentally friendly parts
• Medical applications
• Educational/classroom applications
• Casting (PLA burns away at high temperatures)
• Dual extrusion prints (PLA adheres exceptionally well to itself) 
• Food industry applications*

Storage

While not particularly prone to absorbing moisture from the air, Gigabot PLA should be kept in a low-humidity location. Ideally, all 3D printing filament should be kept in a sealed container with a fresh desiccant pack, or in a dry box. 

Specifications

• Density: 1.24 g/cc
• Young's Modulus: 2,315 MPa
• UTS: 50 MPa
• Glass transition: 60ºC
• Elongation: 3.31%
• Print temperature: 190-220ºC
• Print bed: no PVA glue stick necessary; PRINTinZ bed surface is ideal 
• Nozzle: any 

Tips and Tricks

• Setting the nozzle to temps higher than 220°C when using PLA or leaving PLA filament in a heated nozzle without printing can cause the material to carbonize. This can create nozzle clogs that are difficult, if not impossible, to remove. When using PLA, ensure that the temperature does not exceed 220°C, and avoid letting the filament sit in an idle heated nozzle for extended periods of time. 
• To reduce stringing or oozing, try dialing in your retraction settings in Simplify3D. Start with your retraction distance, increasing it in 1mm increments until stringing is no longer present. Next, set the retraction speed. If your retraction speed is too low, it can cause oozing. Too high, and the filament can separate within the extruder. Typically, a retraction speed of 1200-6000 mm/min (20-100 mm/s) is ideal. 
• Because the print temperature of PLA is lower than many other filaments, using an enclosure is not necessary and may actually compromise your print quality.  Removing one or more panels from your enclosure will ensure the ambient temperature stays cool enough. 
• Temperature is one of the most important factors to consider when printing with PLA. Ensure that your extruder fans are functioning properly, and add additional fans (GB2) (GB3) if you are experiencing excessive oozing. You can also try reducing the extruder temperature by 5-10 degrees if oozing is present. 
• Because PLA is biodegradable, parts printed with PLA do not fare well outdoors or in high-moisture environments. 

Dual Extrusion

Gigabot PLA is an excellent material for dual extrusion printing, particularly when using it with another PLA filament. Compatible filaments include PVA support materials, and other PLA-based filaments. 

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* consult FDA guidelines before using PLA in food applications