CPE print settings
Co-Polyester · Intermediate
CPE (Co-Polyester) prints at 240-260°C with the bed at 75-90°C. An enclosure helps but is not essential. Dry the filament before printing.
An engineering co-polyester built for chemical resistance. Tougher and more chemically stable than PETG, with slightly better heat resistance.
Settings at a glance
Ranges are typical manufacturer-published figures for this material class, not measurements we took. Always start with your filament maker’s own numbers where they differ. The price is an indicative street price for a 1 kg spool, not a live quote.
Good for
- Parts exposed to solvents or cleaning agents
- Lab and workshop fixtures
- Functional prototypes
Avoid for
- Cosmetic prints
- Budget projects
The problem people actually hit
CPE is often confused with chlorinated polyethylene, an unrelated industrial rubber. In 3D printing CPE always means co-polyester.
Drying
Hygroscopic. Dry at 65-70C for 4-6 hours.
Buying CPE
CPE is carried by relatively few brands, so sourcing is a real part of the job rather than an afterthought. Reliable options exist from selected manufacturers, but do not expect the choice of colours you get with PETG. Typical street price is $30-60 per 1 kg spool.
Check before you order
- Diameter 1.75mm unless your printer takes 2.85mm. Check before ordering, not after.
- Published diameter tolerance. ±0.02mm is good, ±0.05mm is loose and shows up as inconsistent extrusion.
- Vacuum-sealed with desiccant. Hygroscopic filament that shipped open has already absorbed moisture and will need drying before its first print.
Specialist suppliers
Deep engineering-material catalogue and published spec sheets, including grades general retailers do not stock.
Specialist stockist with strong coverage of nylon and carbon-fibre filled materials.
Named because they stock this class of material and publish specifications. We have no commercial relationship with either, and these are ordinary links.
Not sure this is the right material? Compare all materials.
What you need to print CPE
Gear that CPE genuinely requires, with the specification that decides whether a given unit will actually work.
Filament dryer
Must reach at least 65C
CPE will not print cleanly wet, and many budget dryers stop at 55-60C. Check the maximum temperature before buying, not the marketing copy.
See filament dryer on AmazonHeat-set threaded inserts
Brass, M3 unless your design says otherwise
Printed threads strip. If you are making parts exposed to solvents or cleaning agents out of CPE, melting brass inserts in gives you a metal thread that survives being undone more than once.
See heat-set threaded inserts on AmazonAirtight storage with desiccant
Sealed container plus rechargeable desiccant
Drying a spool once achieves nothing if it sits open afterwards. Storage is what keeps the filament usable between prints.
See airtight storage with desiccant on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links above are affiliate links, and using them costs you nothing extra.
CPE questions
- What temperature do you print CPE at?
- CPE prints at a nozzle temperature of 240-260C with the bed at 75-90C. Start at the lower end of the nozzle range and raise it in 5C steps until layers bond cleanly.
- Does CPE need an enclosure?
- An enclosure is recommended but not essential for CPE. It mainly helps with larger parts and draughty rooms.
- Do you need to dry CPE?
- Hygroscopic. Dry at 65-70C for 4-6 hours.
- What is CPE good for?
- CPE suits parts exposed to solvents or cleaning agents, lab and workshop fixtures, functional prototypes. Avoid it for cosmetic prints, budget projects.
- How much does CPE cost?
- A 1 kg spool of CPE typically sells for $30-60. That is an indicative street price rather than a live figure, so check the retailer for today's cost.
CPE or PETG?
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol) prints at 220-250°C with a 70-85°C bed and needs no enclosure. The usual step up from PLA. Tougher, more heat resistant, still printable without an enclosure. The trade is stringing and fussier bed adhesion.
Read the PETG settings guide →After the print
The workshop steps that matter most for CPE.