Basics Series PLA - Wood Fill

PLA (polylactic acid) is our most user-friendly 3D printing material. It prints at relatively low temperatures, has excellent dimensional stability, and works reliably on almost any open-material 3D printer.

At Matter3D, we treat PLA as more than just a “beginner” plastic. Our PLA family is built for consistency, strength, and real-world usability, with multiple formulations tuned for different applications—from cost-effective essentials up to tougher, higher-heat performance grades and composite-filled options.

All Matter3D PLA is compounded and extruded in Victoria, British Columbia using premium North American resin. Every batch is dried, filtered, and laser-monitored during extrusion to deliver smooth, predictable printing for hobbyists, print farms, and engineering teams.

Typical Applications for Matter3D PLA

• Prototyping and concept models
• Functional brackets, mounts, and fixtures within PLA’s temperature limits
• Education and classroom projects
• Cosplay, props, and artistic pieces
• Consumer products and enclosures with low heat exposure
• High-volume production runs for print farms (especially with Basics and Performance PLA)
  

For applications that require higher impact resistance, higher heat deflection, or improved stiffness, our Performance PLA and carbon-fiber–reinforced formulations offer upgraded mechanical performance while retaining PLA’s printability.

Quality & Manufacturing – Matter3D PLA

All Matter3D PLA filaments are compounded and extruded in Victoria, British Columbia. We start with high-quality North American base resins, dry them to controlled moisture levels, and filter the melt before extrusion. Diameter is continuously monitored with laser measurement, and each production run is sampled and test-printed before it leaves our facility.

Filament is wound onto recyclable cardboard spools, vacuum-sealed with desiccant, and boxed for protection in transit. Colours are photographed under neutral, 5000–5500 K lighting, but final appearance may vary slightly depending on your monitor, printer settings, and layer height.

Our goal is simple: provide consistent, trustworthy PLA that behaves the same from spool to spool so you can focus on printing, not fighting your material.

PLA Family – Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will Matter3D PLA work with my printer?

Yes. Our PLA is designed for most open-material FFF/FDM 3D printers using 1.75 mm filament, including Bambu Lab, Prusa, Creality, Elegoo, Anycubic, and many others. Check your printer’s specifications to confirm PLA compatibility (almost all machines support it).

Q: What print settings should I start with?

For most PLA prints, a nozzle temperature around 205–215 °C, a bed temperature around 50–60 °C, and 60–100% part cooling is a good starting point. Each variant (Essentials, Basics, Performance, CF, etc.) has recommended settings listed on its product page. Fine-tune in ±5 °C steps and adjust speed based on your printer’s capabilities.

Q: Do I need to dry PLA before printing?

PLA is less moisture-sensitive than nylons or TPUs, but it still benefits from being dry. If you hear popping from the nozzle or see rough, inconsistent surfaces, dry the spool at 40–50 °C for several hours and store it with desiccant.

Q: Is Matter3D PLA food-safe?

We do not certify our materials as food-safe. Even if the base resin has certain regulatory clearances, 3D-printed parts are porous and difficult to clean, and printers often use brass nozzles that may contain lead. We recommend treating all printed parts as non-food-contact unless you have a validated process and equipment.

Q: Do you offer bulk or farm pricing on PLA?

Yes. We work closely with print farms, schools, and industrial users. If you’re consuming large volumes of PLA, contact us and we can help with volume pricing and logistics.

Q: Can you produce custom PLA colours or formulations?

Yes. Because we compound and extrude in-house in Victoria, BC, we can develop custom colours, composites, and performance PLA grades for reasonable minimum order quantities. Reach out with your requirements and we’ll see what’s possible.