Filament PETG

The material for functional parts

PETG is typically the second 3D printing filament users adopt, after a PLA part has deformed under heat or failed under load. Among functional 3D printer filaments, it is the common step up from PLA. It retains much of PLA's ease of printing while withstanding heat, sunlight and impact that PLA cannot. For parts intended for use rather than display, it is the standard choice.

Temperature, and the setting that matters most

Print at 230–255 °C with a 50–70 °C bed. Begin at 240 °C and adjust as needed.

The most common source of print quality issues with PETG is not temperature but retraction. PETG tends to ooze more than PLA, so reduce retraction and travel speed before adjusting the hotend. Printing slightly slower than PLA improves layer bonding.

Applications

Enclosures, brackets, mounts, outdoor fixtures and replacement parts. PETG holds its shape well beyond PLA's limit and flexes before it fractures, so a part under load deforms rather than failing without warning.

Drying PETG

PETG absorbs moisture more readily than PLA. Stringing, surface haze or rough finish indicate a wet spool; dry at 60–65 °C for 4 to 6 hours. This is a routine correction, and a spool stored open for several weeks often prints as new afterwards.

Colours and spools

Black, White, Gray, Silver, Natural, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green and Blue. Spools of 300 g / 100 m, 900 g / 300 m and 1.2 kg / 400 m, all 1.75 mm on Ø200 mm cardboard.

For higher stiffness and reduced stringing, see PETG CF10, which prints on the same profile.