Your Guide to SLS: Advantages, Materials, and Best Practices
Selective Laser Sintering for complex, functional prototypes and end-use parts. Advantages, materials, design guidelines, and faster production.
Read the ArticlePLA-CF 3D Printing Material
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) · Composites
Carbon-fiber PLA with higher stiffness, low warping, and a refined matte finish.
What Is PLA-CF?
PLA-CF blends chopped carbon fiber into PLA for noticeably higher stiffness and dimensional stability than standard PLA, plus a refined matte-black aesthetic. It suits functional prototypes and display parts where rigidity and looks matter, but heat resistance stays modest.
Carbon-Fiber Reinforced PLA, printed with Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM). Every order is reviewed by our engineering team - no minimum order quantity.
When to choose PLA-CF
Choose PLA-CF when you need significantly more stiffness than standard PLA but do not need heat or impact resistance. It is the right material for drone frames, RC chassis plates, camera mounts, and fixtures where rigidity and low weight matter - delivering roughly 35% higher flexural modulus than PLA with the same easy printability.
If your part also needs heat resistance, PLA-CF will not help - its HDT is the same as plain PLA at 55 °C. Move to ABS-GF for combined stiffness and heat tolerance, or to SLS PA12-GF for the best stiffness-and-heat combination in powder-bed nylon. If your part needs to survive drops or cyclic stress, PLA-CF is the wrong pick: it is brittle. ABS or PA12 are tougher choices.
PLA-CF also delivers a refined matte-black aesthetic that many customers prefer for visible components and display models. If appearance drives the choice and you do not need the stiffness, standard PLA in black is cheaper.
Material Properties
Representative values - process- and orientation-dependent. Full technical datasheet available on request.
Process
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
Tensile strength
38 ± 4 MPa
Elongation at break
3–5%
Flexural strength
89 ± 4 MPa
Flexural modulus
≈ 3,700 MPa
Heat deflection (HDT)
55 °C @ 0.45 MPa
Density
1.22 g/cm³
Max build size
Up to 914 × 914 × 914 mm
Min wall thickness
1.2 mm
Resolution / layer
100–300 µm
Relative cost
$$ (1 = lowest, 4 = highest)
Design Guidelines
Plan features to print reliably and assemble cleanly in PLA-CF. Need DFM help?
Min wall
1.2 mm - fiber fill needs more than plain PLA
Min hole Ø
1.5 mm - ream critical bores
Clearance
0.4–0.6 mm - fit & moving parts
Max size
Up to 914 × 914 × 914 mm - 36 in per side
Dimensional tolerances
Dimensional tolerance is ±0.3 mm or ±0.3%, consistent with standard PLA. The carbon fiber improves dimensional stability during cooling, so large flat surfaces hold flatness slightly better than unfilled PLA. Post-machining is possible but produces abrasive dust; we can ream bores for interference fits.
Printing notes
PLA-CF prints at 210–230 °C nozzle / 45–60 °C bed. A hardened-steel nozzle is required - the chopped carbon fiber is highly abrasive and will bore out a brass nozzle within a single spool. No enclosure is needed; warping is minimal like standard PLA. The fiber fill makes the material stiffer but also more brittle, so aggressive support removal can snap thin features - we use careful breakaway techniques. Drying at 45 °C for 4+ hours before printing reduces stringing from moisture absorption.
How PLA-CF Compares
PLA-CF alongside related materials.
| PLA-CF | PLA | ABS | PA12 (SLS) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 38 ± 4 MPa | 30 ± 5 MPa | 33 ± 3 MPa | 48 MPa |
| Heat deflection (HDT) | 55 °C @ 0.45 MPa | 58 °C @ 0.45 MPa | 87 °C @ 0.45 MPa | 154 °C @ 0.45 MPa |
| Flexural modulus | ≈ 3,700 MPa | ≈ 2,750 MPa | ≈ 2,200 MPa | 1,730 MPa |
| Elongation | 3–5% | 8–10% | 10–15% | 15–20% |
| Density | 1.22 g/cm³ | 1.20 g/cm³ | 1.05 g/cm³ | 1.01 g/cm³ |
| Relative cost | $$ | $ | $$ | $$$ |
When to Use PLA-CF
Where PLA-CF fits, where it doesn't, and what to use instead.
Stiff functional prototypes
Flex modulus of 3,700 MPa - 35% stiffer than plain PLA - lets prototype brackets and housings mimic the rigidity of glass-filled production plastics.
EngineeringDrone and RC airframes
High stiffness-to-weight ratio at 1.22 g/cm³ density keeps airframes light while resisting propeller vibration and aero loads.
RoboticsCamera and sensor mounts
Low warping and high rigidity hold optical alignment tolerances that plain PLA or ABS would creep out of under sustained static load.
EngineeringDisplay and presentation models
Distinctive matte-black carbon-fiber texture eliminates the need for painting or post-processing on visible components.
Art And DesignRigidity-critical jigs and fixtures
Outperforms PLA and ABS in deflection resistance for CMM fixture plates and assembly jigs where sub-millimeter positioning matters.
EngineeringStrengths
Keep in mind
- Brittle at 3–5% elongation - will snap under impact loads that ABS (10–15% elongation) would survive; not for drop-prone parts
- HDT of 55 °C matches plain PLA - no heat advantage; use ABS-GF (99 °C) or PA12-GF (175 °C) for thermal environments
- Carbon fiber abrades brass nozzles and bearing surfaces - avoid using PLA-CF for sliding-contact or friction-fit applications
Finishes & Colors
Finishing options and in-stock colors for PLA-CF.
Standard
Matte carbon finish; minimal post needed.
Best for: Display & functional parts
In-Stock Colors
Carbon Black
Dark Gray
Custom colors and dyeing available on request. Contact us for options.
PLA-CF FAQ
It is stiffer and more dimensionally stable, but not tougher - it remains brittle. Choose it for rigidity and aesthetics, not impact resistance.
No. Heat performance is similar to PLA (softens around 55 °C). For heat use ABS, ASA, PC-FR, or a nylon.
PLA-CF is stiffer (3,700 MPa flex modulus vs 2,860 MPa) and prints without warping, but has very low heat tolerance (55 °C HDT). ABS-GF offers better heat resistance (99 °C HDT) and moderate stiffness. Choose PLA-CF for room-temperature rigidity; ABS-GF when heat is a factor.
Yes. The chopped carbon fiber is abrasive and requires a hardened-steel nozzle. We use hardened nozzles on all carbon- and glass-filled materials. Brass nozzles wear out within one spool.
PLA-CF is widely used for drone and RC frames because of its high stiffness-to-weight ratio. However, it is brittle on crash impact. For crash-prone applications, consider PA12 (SLS) for better toughness, or use PLA-CF for the frame and TPU bumpers for impact zones.
PLA-CF produces a distinctive matte-black finish with a subtle fiber texture. Layer lines are less visible than standard PLA, giving parts a professional look straight off the printer. No painting or post-processing is typically needed for visual parts.
At $$ cost tier, PLA-CF is moderately priced. It works well for short-run stiff parts (10–50 units) where the matte-black aesthetic adds value. For higher volumes of stiff parts, SLS PA12-GF offers better per-part economics and isotropic strength.
Like standard PLA, PLA-CF degrades under UV and can soften in direct sunlight. For outdoor stiff parts, use ASA (UV-stable) or SLS PA12-GF (stiff, weather-resistant powder-bed nylon).
Technical Documents
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