How To Have Smooth 3D Prints with PLA? Get The Best Prints!

3D printers always go through this big battle. You see, the Fused Deposition Model or FDM is one of the most popular 3D printing technologies, but most people avoid it because it has many visible layer lines that can ultimately ruin the whole print.

Moreover, with PLA or Polylactic Acid as the material of choice, most people can produce awesome results, but due to the limitations of the FDM technique, the results can still sometimes change the appearance of the print like you didn’t intend it to be.

Compared to ABS, PLA is a material that is a little difficult to set up and cannot be smooth with acetone. Today, we are talking about different ways to smooth PLA 3D prints, from some of the easiest techniques to others that will interest 3D print hobbyists. 

Smoothing the 3D Prints – A Quick Guide

PLA filament is awesome for producing exceptional detail along with the results with an ultra-fine shinner. A company like Chitu Systems provides one of the best PLA 3D printing filaments that have a dimensional accuracy of 1.75mm.

These filaments can change color with different lights and angles, allowing you to make an output that might not be possible with other 3D printing material. For FDM parts, they have a difficult time getting smoothness like PLA parts. 

However, there are many post-processing techniques that can be used to give your FDM prints a smooth and rounded shape without making them look odd or low quality. Here are some of the best techniques you can use to achieve it. 

Sanding the PLA 3D Prints

One of the best methods for smoothing PLA 3D prints is a process called Sanding. As simple as this might seem, it is one of the best ways you can smooth out your results, allowing you to nearly refine any print you want. 

In a world of many dangerous refining methods, this one not only works the best but has no health risk because you’re not getting exposed to any horrific material that might pose a threat to your health. 

But spoiler alert, this method would take a lot of time, depending upon the print you. Pick a large sanding block with 200 or 400-grit sandpaper. After you move it in a circular manner over your 3D print, you can remove any ugly details!

Here, precision is paramount, and sandpaper depends on how precise you want your final print to be. You can choose between different grit sizes, like 200 to 3000, only if you know what you’re doing.

After the sanding process, you can follow some of these things for post-processing to ensure you’re getting the most precise PLA 3D prints:

• Applying polish to the 3D print
• Using primer to reduce the layer lines
• Using a heat gun to remove the layer lines further

The Filament Quality Matters The Most! 

When it comes to PLA 3D prints, the filament quality matters the most. Firstly, you need to ensure that your PLA filament is dry. That’s because a wet filament will cause the results to deteriorate from what you originally planned.

Warping issues are most common when using a wet PLA filament. Secondly, the quality of your PLA filament matters the most in 3D printing. There are cheaper alternatives out there, but they are of such low quality that they end up ruining the results.

That’s why you need a brand like Chitu Systems with their Conjure Magic PLA Filament that is easy to use, has exceptional details, and produces ultra-fine shimmer, which could be ideal for your next 3D print! 

Chitu Systems is known for its consistency and their PLA 3D printer filament doesn’t produce rough surface, making it ideal for 3D printing in general.  

Printing the Right Way

Now that you understand how much filament quality matters, you also need to know the right printer settings to have smooth 3D prints with PLA. For that, here are some of the best settings that you should look out for:

• • Best PLA Bed Temperature: For PLA printing, the best bed temperature is around 50 °C while the PLA print temperature should be somewhere in the vicinity of 210 °C. To assist you with that, you can use a 3D printing enclosure with exhaust fans to maintain temperature for optimal print quality.
  • Doing Cooling The Right Way: While it’s true that cooling helps with warming if you cool your 3D print excessively, it will give you rougher surfaces. So, always maintain the temperature according to our recommended range for optimal PLA 3D prints. 

• Clean The Nozzle Regularly: Even though it is an obvious tip, you should always ensure that your nozzle is cleaned to eliminate any clogging issues. If the nozzle is clogged or has something inside, your 3D prints will suffer. To clean the nozzle, you can use a filament cleaning technique, or if you want an easy solution, just get a needle and make sure to remove any accumulated residue from the previous print. 

Final Verdict

3D printing with PLA is one of the best ways to get the best quality materials, but it comes at its own cost. Moreover, a poor PLA filament will only hurt the quality of your 3D print, and that’s why you need better filaments like the ones Chitu System offers. 

With the Conjure Magic PLA 3D Printer Filament, you get fast printing speed along with some of the best 3d printing results you will ever get.