How to get the best printing experience with 3D-Fuel Pro PCTG

Pro PCTG brings with it many improvements over Pro PETG such as increased impact toughness, improved chemical resistance, and lower sensitivity to moisture.

But there are some slight differences in how it prints compared to PETG, so let's talk about how to get the best performance possible for printing and in your printed parts.

Start with a PETG Profile And Adjust Temps

The best place to start with Pro PCTG is with your printer's PETG profile. Just increase the hotend temp to 260-270C and set your bed temp to 75-80C.

All Metal Hotend Required

While some low-end PETGs can print at 220C, Pro PCTG prints best at 260-270C which requires an all-metal hotend. Hotends that have a PTFE liner will not be able to print the temperatures required for Pro PCTG without causing the PTFE liner to soften and jam your hotend.

PEI + Glue or The Bambu Engineering Plate Is The Ideal Print Surface

Whether you're using smooth or textured, we have found that a PEI build surface + a PVA glue layer at 75-80C is a great print surface for a strong first layer and the glue makes for easy post-print part removal. If you don't use glue as the interface layer, your printed part could damage the PEI surface due to sticking TOO well.

If you have a Bambu Lab 3D printer, we have found that the Engineering Plate that has been cleaned with isopropyl alcohol is the best solution.

Hotter = Glossier

This might go without saying, but similar to PLA, the hotter you go, the glossier your print surface should be. This interplays with your print speed. If you're looking to print a transparent vase, slower speeds and hotter temps will give you the best clarity. Not to mention FANTASTIC layer-to-layer adhesion.

You can print fast with Pro PCTG, but will likely benefit from some hotter temps and experimentation on what works best on your specific 3D printer model.

No Chamber Required, But It Can Help

While an enclosure is not required to print Pro PCTG, it can help with large parts that take up most of your print bed. If you're printing large parts without a chamber, it can be helpful to avoid sharp, square corners on your print. But, like most things in 3D printing, your environment will make a big difference. Cool, drafty rooms can interfere with your prints much more than warm, stable rooms.

Printing Matte? Hardened Nozzle Required

Matte Black Pro PCTG is one of our most popular colors, and for good reason: it does an excellent job of hiding layer lines. Like most materials with a mattifying agent, it is more abrasive. You'll need to print with a hardened nozzle (brass will wear out too quickly) to maintain your nozzle diameter and ideal print quality.

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