CF Filaments

Advanced

Carbon Fiber Composite

Carbon fiber composite filaments (CF-PLA, CF-PETG, CF-Nylon) add chopped carbon fiber to a base material, dramatically increasing stiffness and strength while reducing weight. The trade-off: they are abrasive and will destroy brass nozzles quickly. A hardened steel nozzle is mandatory.

⚠ IMPORTANT: Dry Your Filament Before Every Print

All filaments — including CF Filaments — absorb moisture from the air. Printing with wet filament causes stringing, bubbling, weak layer adhesion, and poor surface finish. This is the single most overlooked cause of bad prints.

Always dry your filament per the manufacturer's recommendations printed on the spool label before printing, especially if the spool has been open for more than a few days or stored in a humid environment. Read our complete filament drying guide →

About the Temperatures & Speeds Listed Below

The print temperatures and speeds shown on this page are general industry ranges — not a one-size-fits-all prescription. Every printer brand and model has different capabilities. A Bambu Lab X1C can print PLA at 500 mm/s; an Ender 3 with a Bowden extruder performs best at 40–80 mm/s.

Always follow your specific printer manufacturer's recommended settings and the temperature range printed on your filament spool label. Start at the lower end of the range and dial in from there.

Material Properties

Strength10/10

Flexibility1/10

Heat Resistance8/10

Printability5/10

Best For

Lightweight structural parts
Drone frames
RC components
Professional prototypes
Jigs & fixtures

Avoid For

Brass nozzles (use hardened steel)
Flexible applications
Beginners

Pro Tips

01Mandatory: use a hardened steel or ruby nozzle
02Larger nozzle diameter (0.4–0.6mm) reduces clogging
03Dry before printing — moisture causes poor surface finish
04Reduce print speed for best surface quality

Dialed-In Print Profiles

These profiles are starting points based on community-tested settings for each printer. Your results may vary depending on your specific filament brand, ambient temperature, and printer condition. Always run a test print and adjust as needed. Speeds shown reflect what these printers are capable of — entry-level machines should use the lower end of any range.

Bambu Lab X1 Carbon

Nozzle

260°C

Bed

65°C

Speed

150mm/s

1st Layer

30mm/s

Retract

0.5mm

Fan

70%

⚠ Hardened steel nozzle required. Dry filament 8hrs at 65°C.

Print Speed by Printer Tier

Print speeds vary dramatically by printer. The speeds listed in product specs (like "500 mm/s") are maximum capabilities — not recommended everyday speeds. Use this table as a general guide and always follow your printer manufacturer's recommended settings.

High-End (Bambu X1C, P2S, H2D)

Print Speed: 150–300 mm/s

High-acceleration direct-drive systems. Follow manufacturer slicer presets.

Mid-Range (Bambu A1/A1 Mini, Prusa MK4, Creality K1)

Print Speed: 60–150 mm/s

Good performance at moderate speeds. Follow slicer presets for best results.

Entry-Level (Ender 3 series, Bowden extruders)

Print Speed: 30–60 mm/s

Start slow and tune up. Follow your printer manufacturer's recommended settings.

Quick Specs

Print Temp240–280°C

Bed Temp50–80°C

Cost / kg$50–$120

EnclosureNot Required

DryingRequired

DifficultyAdvanced

Drying Note: Even filaments marked "Not Required" benefit from drying if the spool has been open or stored in a humid area. When in doubt, dry it.

Buy CF Filaments Filament

Recommended brands: Hatchbox, eSUN, Polymaker, Bambu

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Printers With Dialed-In Profiles

X1 CarbonBambu Lab

Other Filaments