3D Printing with PETG: Tips and Tricks

1. PETG has a higher melting temperature than PLA so we recommend setting your hot end temperature between 235 and 250°C.
2. ALWAYS use a fan with PETG as it tends to cool the filament in the hot end and help with retractions.
3. Keep your retraction speed slow at 40mm/s or less.

What do I need to print PETG?

Hardware Requirements

1. Bed. Temperature: 75-90 °C. Heated Bed Recommended. Enclosure Not Required.
2. Build Surface. Glue Stick. Painter's tape.
3. Extruder. Temperature: 230-250 °C. No special hot-end required.
4. Cooling. Part Cooling Fan Required.

Is it hard to print with PETG?

PETG is also considered one of the easier materials to print with, though less than PLA. A major part of that is that PETG also does not need a closed chamber. However, due to higher temperature requirements, a heated printing bed is required for PETG, limiting perhaps the choice of printers for some users.

Can any 3D printer print PETG?

Thanks to the heatable build platform, you can easily process PETG filament as well as almost all other filaments with a diameter of 1.75 mm with the Ortur Obsidian 3D printer. The maximum printing speed is 150 mm/s.

Can you print PETG with PLA settings?

While PLA benefits from large amounts of cooling, PETG can suffer if it's cooled too quickly. If print layers begin to separate or crack, reduce the fan speed. PETG retains its shape at much higher temperatures than PLA, so overhangs and complex shapes will still come out sharp.

3d Printing PETG For Beginners! Great For Functional Parts

Can you print PETG without heated bed?

PETG doesn't need a heated bed as it's not as susceptible to warping as ABS plastic and other printing materials. You can print PETG plastic without using a heated bed – if you have a high-quality printer, you'll still be able to get great 3D prints.

Can I print PETG on Ender 3?

As a result of the high melting temperature level of PETG, we advise setting your Ender 3's bed temperature between 50 and 60 ° C. The standard Ender 3 develop the surface area, BuildTak, which is the perfect surface area for printing PETG with Ender 3.

Is PETG worth the hassle?

PETG is a little more expensive, however worth it, as it is strong and easy to use. I normally print at 220°C on the nozzle and 80°C for the bed. PETG has more flex to it so when you are printing parts it is less likely to break under pressure like ABS.

Can you print PETG without enclosure?

Overall, PETG is generally very easy to print with, as it requires no enclosure nor heated bed, making it compatible with virtually all FDM printers. It combines ease of printing with great strength and durability, making it a great filament choice for any print.

Can PETG be printed indoors?

PETG is safe to 3D print indoors and it does not produce any harmful fumes. PETG generally gives off no scent and is recyclable but not biodegradable. PETG can emit fine particles to the air due to the printing process and inhalation of particles should be avoided.

What temperature do you print PETG at?

PETG has a higher melting point than PLA and so, it is recommended that the extruder temperature is set somewhere between 210 and 250 degrees Celsius. It is important to ensure that the build plate temperature is set between 80 and 100 degrees Celsius.

Can you print PETG on glass?

Recommended - Straight on glass bed with a thin layer of Magigoo Original or glue stick. [2] - PETG can stick to glass, printing surfaces and sheets very well, sometimes too well.

Can PETG be painted?

Painting with spray paints can give good results and a more uniform look. Like using a paintbrush, this method is best for models printed in PLA, ABS, and PETG.

Does PETG filament get brittle?

PETG becomes brittle due to a number of issues during printing, one is poor bed adhesion, and another is improper printing temperature for the bed and the hotend. Also, when e-step calibrations are not done for your 3D printer or you are experiencing a clogged nozzle, your 3D prints can become brittle.

What do I need to print PETG on an ender 3 Pro?

Ideal Ender 3 settings for printing with PETG

1. Printing Temperature: 220-240°C (top layers look better at 220).
2. Bed Temperature: 85°C for best adhesion.
3. Initial Layer height: 0.2mm for best first layer adhesion.
4. Retraction distance: 6.5mm.
5. Print Speed: 30mm/s – 50mm/s.
6. Fan Speed: 100% for detail, off for strength.

Is PETG as strong as ABS?

For most people, there really isn't a reason to choose ABS over PETG. PETG is stronger, more durable, and it prints better. It's also available in transparent colors. ABS is only necessary if you absolutely need the 100 °C temperature resistance or its ability to be glued and painted.

Can you smooth PETG prints?

PETG can be smoothed with fine sandpaper, epoxy resin and paint. Similar to ABS with acetone, PETG can also be smoothed with dichloromethane. However, dichloromethane is very dangerous and not easy to obtain.

What melts PETG?

Dichloromethane, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), toluene, and cyclohexanone have all been proven to dissolve PETG as well, yet they are all extremely dangerous and should only be used by experts.

How do you seal PETG?

Applying an epoxy resin to your PETG 3D print is the same as PLA or ABS and you can do it by using XTC-3D. It's a self-leveling epoxy resin which means it will flow and cover the part and won't show brush strokes.

Is PETG harder than PLA?

PETG is actually stronger than PLA in terms of tensile strength. PETG is also more durable, impact resistant & flexible than PLA so it's a great option to add to your 3D printing materials. The heat-resistance and UV-resistance of PETG outdoes PLA so it is better for outdoor use in terms of strength.

How toxic are PETG fumes?

PETG does not emit harmful fumes. It is a recyclable thermoplastic that does not emit toxic gases or produce strong smells. This is because it's made from 100% non-toxic materials.

Should you remove filament after printing?

The filament might become a bit brittle but overall it is not very risky to leave it out there. If you feel your filament is getting too brittle or unsuitable for use, you can always seal them up once they cool down in ziplock bags as they are vacuum-sealed.

What is PETG filament best for?

PETG 3D printing filament works well for making industrial parts, outdoor prints, and any other parts that will be under mechanical or impact stress. It's also great for projects that need chemical, UV, or solvent resistance.

What settings should I change for PETG?

PETG usually prints best in the temperature range of 220–260 °C. 3D printer company Prusa suggests a printing temperature of 230 °C for the first layer and a slightly higher temperature of 240 °C for the rest of the build. [3] Filament company MatterHackers recommends 245 °C throughout.