Magnetic PLA print settings
Iron-Filled Magnetic PLA · Intermediate
Magnetic PLA (Iron-Filled Magnetic PLA) prints at 195-225°C with the bed at 50-60°C. No enclosure needed. Drying is rarely necessary.
PLA packed with iron powder. Parts are noticeably heavy, can be rusted deliberately for an aged finish, and are attracted to magnets, which is not the same as being magnetic.
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
- Props that should feel solid
- Parts intended to be rusted for finish
- Fridge-magnet-backed pieces
- Display models
Avoid for
- Brass nozzles
- Structural parts
- Anything that must not corrode
- Fine detail
The problem people actually hit
It is ferromagnetic, not magnetised: a printed part sticks to a magnet but will not hold anything up by itself. It also genuinely rusts, which is the point for some projects and a defect for others, so seal it if you do not want that.
Drying
Mildly hygroscopic. Dry at 45C for 4-6 hours.
Buying Magnetic PLA
Magnetic PLA is stocked unevenly by general retailers. A specialist supplier is usually the better source, both for availability and because they publish the spec sheet. Typical street price is $35-60 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.
- Fit a hardened nozzle first. This material is abrasive and will widen a brass nozzle within a print or two.
Not sure this is the right material? Compare all materials.
What you need to print Magnetic PLA
Gear that Magnetic PLA genuinely requires, with the specification that decides whether a given unit will actually work.
Hardened steel nozzle
Hardened steel or ruby, matching your hot end
Magnetic PLA is abrasive and will widen a brass nozzle within a print or two. Fit the hardened nozzle before the first print - the symptom, worsening underextrusion, looks like a dozen other faults.
Creality · Hardened steel nozzles, MK8Hardened steel for abrasive filament. MK8 is a thread pattern, not a universal fitAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links above are affiliate links, and using them costs you nothing extra.
Magnetic PLA questions
- What temperature do you print Magnetic PLA at?
- Magnetic PLA prints at a nozzle temperature of 195-225C with the bed at 50-60C. Start at the lower end of the nozzle range and raise it in 5C steps until layers bond cleanly.
- Does Magnetic PLA need an enclosure?
- No. Magnetic PLA prints fine on an open-frame printer at normal room temperature.
- Do you need to dry Magnetic PLA?
- Mildly hygroscopic. Dry at 45C for 4-6 hours.
- What is Magnetic PLA good for?
- Magnetic PLA suits props that should feel solid, parts intended to be rusted for finish, fridge-magnet-backed pieces, display models. Avoid it for brass nozzles, structural parts, anything that must not corrode, fine detail.
- How much does Magnetic PLA cost?
- A 1 kg spool of Magnetic PLA typically sells for $35-60. That is an indicative street price rather than a live figure, so check the retailer for today's cost.
Magnetic PLA or PLA Metal?
PLA Metal (Metal-Filled PLA) prints at 190-225°C with a 50-60°C bed and needs no enclosure. PLA loaded with metal powder. Heavier in the hand, polishable to a real metallic finish, and abrasive enough to need a hardened nozzle.
Read the PLA Metal settings guide →After the print
The workshop steps that matter most for Magnetic PLA.