Tier List

Metal-Filled PLA

Metal PLA • Polylactic Acid + Metal Powder/Shavings

F

Copper, steel, iron, bronze infused PLA. Satisfyingly hefty but significantly weaker than vanilla PLA. Extremely brittle on and off the spool. Crazy expensive with fewer prints per gram due to high density. Paint does it better.

compositeHardened NozzleBased on PLA
Print Settings
Print Temp200-230°C
Bed Temp50-60°C
Enclosure:Optional
Material Properties
Strength35
Flexibility10
Heat Resistance30
Resistance Ratings
UV Resistance
Medium
Chemical Resistance
Low
Humidity Sensitivity
Medium
Usability
Ease of Printing
(2/5)
Price Tier
$$$(Expensive)
Requires hardened nozzle
Pros
  • Real metal properties (patina, magnetic, polishable)
  • Satisfying weight
Cons
  • Much weaker than regular PLA
  • Extremely brittle
  • Very expensive
  • Fewer prints per gram
  • Paint/inserts/electroplating do it better
Use Cases
Decorative items where paint won't work

Also known as: copper pla, bronze pla, iron pla, steel pla

Data sourced from Zack Freedman / Voidstar Lab