PLA Metal print settings
Metal-Filled PLA · Intermediate
PLA Metal (Metal-Filled PLA) prints at 190-225°C with the bed at 50-60°C. No enclosure needed. Drying is rarely necessary.
PLA loaded with metal powder. Heavier in the hand, polishable to a real metallic finish, and abrasive enough to need a hardened nozzle.
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
- Replica props
- Medals and coins
- Prints that should feel heavy
Avoid for
- Brass nozzles
- Structural parts - the metal filler makes it more brittle
The problem people actually hit
People expect metal strength. The filler adds weight and finish, and reduces strength compared with plain PLA.
Drying
Mildly hygroscopic. Dry at 45C for 4-6 hours.
Buying PLA Metal
PLA Metal is easy enough to find, though from fewer brands than PLA or PETG. Stick to sellers who publish a diameter tolerance. Typical street price is $30-50 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 PLA Metal
Gear that PLA Metal 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
PLA Metal 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.
PLA Metal questions
- What temperature do you print PLA Metal at?
- PLA Metal prints at a nozzle temperature of 190-225C 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 PLA Metal need an enclosure?
- No. PLA Metal prints fine on an open-frame printer at normal room temperature.
- Do you need to dry PLA Metal?
- Mildly hygroscopic. Dry at 45C for 4-6 hours.
- What is PLA Metal good for?
- PLA Metal suits replica props, medals and coins, prints that should feel heavy. Avoid it for brass nozzles, structural parts - the metal filler makes it more brittle.
- How much does PLA Metal cost?
- A 1 kg spool of PLA Metal typically sells for $30-50. That is an indicative street price rather than a live figure, so check the retailer for today's cost.
PLA Metal or PLA?
PLA (Polylactic Acid) prints at 180-220°C with a 50-60°C bed and needs no enclosure. The default beginner filament. Prints cool, sticks well, warps very little, and needs no enclosure. It gives up heat resistance in exchange for all of that.
Read the PLA settings guide →After the print
The workshop steps that matter most for PLA Metal.