PETG Filament for 3D Printing: Properties & Settings Guide

In 3D printing, choosing the right printing material is crucial. PETG is a common 3D printing filament material that is ideal for 3D printing enthusiasts and professionals due to its superior strength, ease of use, and suitability for a wide range of applications. This article will explore the characteristics of PETG 3D printing consumables, how it compares to other materials, and what to watch out for during the printing process.

Source: https://airwolf3d.com/product/petg-filament/

Composition of PETG filament

The base component of PETG is PET (polyethylene terephthalate), a high-performance polymer commonly used to make plastic bottles and food containers. PET's characteristics include high heat resistance and chemical stability, but it is hard and brittle, making it less suitable for 3D printing. Adding ethylene glycol to PET improves the toughness of the material, making it more flexible and suitable for printing applications. Therefore, PETG has both the stability of PET and the flexibility of the modified material, making it perform better during the printing process and have stronger interlayer adhesion.

Main characteristics of PETG filament

High strength and toughness

PETG has better strength and impact resistance than PLA, can withstand mechanical stress, and is more suitable for manufacturing functional parts and mechanical parts that require a certain degree of durability.

Chemical resistance

PETG has good resistance to a variety of chemicals such as acids, alkalis, oils and fats, making it excellent in industrial and chemical environments and can work in complex environments for a long time.

High transparency

PETG materials can maintain good transparency and gloss when printing, and are suitable for making models that require transparent effects, such as lampshades and display pieces.

Low warping

PETG has low shrinkage and good interlayer adhesion, which is suitable for open printers, does not require additional closed cavity support, and can also perform stably in large-scale printing.

UV resistance

PETG's UV resistance makes it particularly suitable for outdoor use. It can withstand long-term sunlight exposure and is suitable for making outdoor parts or logos.

Food safety

Some PETG materials are food-grade certified and can be used to make food containers and kitchen supplies. However, it is necessary to check whether the specific brand meets food contact safety standards.

Material property comparison

Printing settings for PETG

Printing temperature

PETG usually requires a nozzle temperature of 220°C to 250°C. It is recommended to start debugging from around 235°C to obtain suitable adhesion and surface quality.

Print platform temperature

It is recommended to set the platform temperature to 70°C to 85°C. Using a glass platform or PEI film can help increase adhesion and avoid model warping.

Print speed

PETG is suitable for medium and low speed printing. It is recommended to keep it at 30-50 mm/s to reduce drawing and obtain a smoother surface effect.

Retraction setting

PETG material is more prone to drawing, so the retraction setting is particularly critical. It is recommended to retract the distance to 1-2 mm and the retraction speed to 20-30 mm/s to ensure that the material does not accumulate in the nozzle.

Cooling fan setting

When printing PETG, you can choose to turn off the cooling fan to improve interlayer adhesion; but when printing small details or bridge parts, you can set a low speed fan of 20-30% to help solidification.

Source:https://www.instructables.com/Adding-Cooling-Fan-to-Your-3D-Printer/

First layer setting

It is recommended that the first layer height be slightly higher than the normal layer height, maintaining about 0.2 mm, to enhance the adhesion effect, and the first layer speed is 20-30 mm/s to ensure that the material is evenly spread.

For more detailed information about 3D printing materials, visit the JLC3DP materials page and explore the options that best suit your projects.