PLA-CF (Carbon Fiber PLA)

Intermediate

Polylactic Acid with Chopped Carbon Fiber

PLA reinforced with 10-20% chopped carbon fiber. Dramatically increased stiffness and dimensional stability with a premium matte black finish. Requires hardened nozzle.

⚠ IMPORTANT: Dry Your Filament Before Every Print

All filaments — including PLA-CF (Carbon Fiber PLA) — 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

Strength7/10

Flexibility2/10

Heat Resistance4/10

Printability7/10

PLA-CF (Carbon Fiber PLA) is part of the PLA family. See the complete PLA guide →

Best For

Structural prototypes
drone frames
RC car parts
camera mounts
stiff functional parts

Avoid For

Applications outside its rated specs

Pro Tips

01Hardened steel nozzle is mandatory — brass nozzles will be destroyed
02Use 0.6mm nozzle; thoroughly dry filament before printing
03Design parts with rounded corners; increase wall count; avoid thin unsupported features

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 Temp210–240°C

Bed Temp45–65°C

Cost / kg$30–$45

EnclosureNot Required

DryingRequired

DifficultyIntermediate

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 PLA-CF (Carbon Fiber PLA) Filament

Recommended brands: Hatchbox, eSUN, Polymaker, Bambu

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