PLA vs PETG vs ABS: Choosing the Right Filament
The three workhorse filaments, when to use each, and the settings that make them behave.
PLA is where everyone starts — it prints cool (190–220°C), sticks to almost anything, and gives crisp detail. It’s brittle and warps in a hot car, so skip it for anything structural or outdoor.
PETG is the middle child: nearly as easy as PLA, but tougher, more heat-resistant (up to ~80°C) and food-safe-ish with caveats. Print it 230–250°C with the part cooling fan at 30–50%.
ABS needs an enclosure and a bed at 100–110°C. It shrinks when it cools, so parts curl off the plate without draft protection — but it’s tough, cheap, and acetone-smoothable.
Quick decision: display models → PLA. Functional brackets & outdoor → PETG (or ASA). Tough housings you can machine → ABS/ASA in an enclosed printer.