3RDAX™ PLA-CF Carbon Fiber 1.75mm

3RDAX™ PLA-CF Carbon Fiber 3D Printer Filament

ABOUT THIS FILAMENT
PLA-CF takes standard PLA and reinforces it with Carbon Fiber to improve stiffness, reduce flex, and produce a cleaner matte surface finish. It keeps much of the easy printing behaviour PLA is known for, while pushing it further toward applications where rigidity, dimensional stability, and appearance matter more.

It is still not an engineering plastic in the same category as ABS, ASA, nylon, or polycarbonate, but it fills a useful gap between standard PLA and more demanding reinforced materials. It offers a noticeable improvement in stiffness and surface finish without adding the printing complexity that often comes with higher performance materials.

The added Carbon Fiber also helps reduce visible layer lines and gives prints a more refined technical appearance straight off the printer.

WHERE IT WORKS BEST
PLA-CF works best for parts where rigidity and appearance matter more than flexibility. It is well suited to workshop organisers, brackets, mounts, housings, jigs, fixtures, display parts, and prototypes where a stiffer material is preferred over standard PLA.

It is often a good middle ground when standard PLA feels too flexible but moving into ABS, ASA, nylon, or polycarbonate would add unnecessary complexity.

For many users, PLA-CF offers enough added stiffness and dimensional stability to cover a wide range of functional parts without needing a full engineering grade material.

WHERE IT COMES FROM
PLA-CF starts with standard PLA, which is made from plant based starches such as corn, sugarcane, or cassava. Those starches are processed into polylactic acid, then reinforced with chopped Carbon Fiber to improve stiffness and printing behaviour.

The Carbon Fiber does not make it stronger in every way. Its main benefit is increased rigidity, reduced flex, improved dimensional stability, and better surface finish. In some cases, carbon filled materials can actually become more brittle than their base material depending on part design and load direction.

That is why material choice still matters. PLA-CF should be thought of as reinforced PLA, not as a replacement for higher performance engineering plastics.

PRINTING WITH IT
PLA-CF prints similarly to standard PLA, making it one of the easier reinforced materials to work with. It generally does not require an enclosure and runs well on most standard FDM printers with suitable temperature capability.

The main difference is abrasion. Carbon Fiber is highly abrasive, so a hardened nozzle is essential for printing it. Brass nozzles are not recommended, as wear will happen quickly and will affect print quality and dimensional accuracy.

PLA-CF often benefits from slightly slower print speeds than standard PLA to maintain good layer bonding and surface finish. Cooling is still useful, though it may need adjusting depending on the part and print setup.

MATERIAL COMPATIBILITY
PLA-CF behaves much like standard PLA in multi material use. It bonds well to itself and can be used with PVA where soluble supports are needed.

Like regular PLA, it does not bond strongly to PETG, which can sometimes be useful in multi material printing where PETG is used as a support interface to help supports release more cleanly.

Because of the Carbon Fiber content, support tuning may need slight adjustment compared to standard PLA, particularly on finer interfaces.

BASE, CARBON OR GLASS?
Standard PLA remains the easier and more forgiving option. It is less abrasive, easier on hardware, and well suited for general everyday printing.

PLA-CF increases stiffness, improves dimensional stability, and gives a cleaner matte finish. It is the better choice when rigidity and surface finish matter more than flexibility.

A Glass Fiber PLA option is not currently available. For now, the choice is simple: standard PLA for general use, or PLA-CF when stiffness and cleaner aesthetics are the priority.

TECHNICAL DATA

Material Type: PLA-CF (Carbon Fiber)
Diameter: 1.75 mm ± 0.03 mm
Net Weight: 1 kg
Composition: Polylactic Acid, Carbon Fiber
Density: x g/cm³
Approx. Length per kg: x m
Vicat Softening Temperature: Not tested
Heat Deflection Temperature: x °C
Tensile Strength (Yield): x MPa
Elongation at Break: x %
Flexural Strength: x MPa
Flexural Modulus: x MPa
Izod Impact Strength: x J/m
Certifications: CE and RoHS compliant

Want to know what these specs actually mean? Download the Technical Data Sheet.

PRINT SETTINGS
Nozzle Temperature: 190 to 230 °C
Bed Temperature: 50 to 65 °C
Enclosure: Not required
Nozzle Type: Hardened Steel required
Cooling: Part cooling recommended
Drying: Usually not required, but recommended if moisture symptoms appear
Build Surface: PEI, glass, textured plate, or suitable print surface
Bed Adhesive: Optional