PolyTerra PLA+

Polymaker’s PLA+ filament is a sustainable 3D printing filament from the PolyTerra series. It is characterized by increased strength (by 29 %) and toughness compared to the PolyTerra PLA filament, as well as 27 % more adhesion between layers.

Image 1: A comparison of mechanical properties among the Polymaker filaments. Source: Polymaker.

PLA is the plastic most used in 3D printing. It is a biosourced material obtained from plants such as corn, beet, sugarcane, and many more. The sugar produced by those plants via photosynthesis is converted into lactic acid - PLA’s building block. This means that PLA is compostable and biodegradable (in appropriate conditions), which makes it a sustainable and eco-friendly 3D printing material. The PolyTerra PLA+ degrades around 93.6% after 45 days (compared to the 79.9 % of Polylite PLA). When correctly composted, the PolyTerra filaments break down into carbon dioxide, water, biomass and mineral salts of any other elements present.

Image 2: A truck model 3D printed with the PolyTerra PLA+ filament. Source: Polymaker.

The material fully degrades with no toxic residues and the compost supports plant growth. To further reduce the carbon footprint of their materials, Polymaker uses recycled cardboard for their spools and opts for a plastic-free packaging. Furthermore, a tree is planted for each spool of PolyTerra filament purchased.

Image 3: An SSD case 3D printed with the PolyTerra PLA+ filament. Source: Polymaker.

Thanks to its PLA content, PolyTerra PLA+ can be printed just like normal PLA, with no heated bed and almost no warping. PolyTerra PLA+ is compatible with almost any FDM 3D printer with an open material system, for example printers by Artillery, Flashforge, Raise3D, Anycubic, Snapmaker or Creality. PolyTerra PLA+ allows the 3D printing of parts with overhangs and bridges with a quality far superior to other PLAs, also offering a slightly silky surface finish and almost imperceptible layer lines even with large layer heights. Another attractive feature of the PolyTerra PLA+ filament is that, similarly to other materials from the PolyTerra family, it can be easily post-processed. Supports can be removed without the use of tools and the printed parts can be sanded and painted.

The PolyTerra PLA+ filament has a wide range of potential applications thanks to its excellent mechanical properties. The sustainability, many available color options and ease of printing and post-processing make this material attractive and easy to work with on pretty much any FDM 3D printer. The PolyTerra PLA+ is an accessible option for the 3D printing of non-functional parts that will guarantee excellent surface finish and durability.

Polymaker spool adapter

In the download section you will find the STL and STEP files to 3D print your own Polymaker spool adapter. This durable spool adapter helps reduce friction by creating a structured running surface, and also avoids the dust build-up associated with similar adapter solutions. The spool adapter was created with the Polymaker cardboard spools in mind to compensate for any spool deformation that could influence spool stability.

Video 1: The Polymaker spool adapter. Source: Polymaker.

This Polymaker spool adapter is compatible with all multi-material stations, such as Bambu Lab's AMS or Ultimaker's Material Station. Printing the adapter requires about 40 minutes and 30 g of filament. Recommended materials are PLA, PolyLite PETG, PolyLite ASA or PolyMax PLA for durability and longevity. To extend the life of the spool adapter, Polymaker suggests first removing the locating pin before removing the edge clips to reduce stress on the adapter when changing spools.