Product Questions

1) Surface Quality at high speed:

When printing at high speed, the nozzle will actually experience a wide variety of speed going from 0mm/s to the max speed set on the slicer. The higher the max speed, the wider the range of different speeds. The issue is with the printing temperature being the same, the extrusion temperature will vary dramatically leaving difference surface finishes on the print (from glossy to matte because of a phenomenon called: Shark Skin), High Speed filament reduces these differences by displaying similar surface finish in a wide range of flow rates.
Additionally, high speed filament will extrude much more consistently within the speed range providing a smooth surface whereas regular filament will display holes, artifacts and layers with different thicknesses.

2) Mechanical Properties at high speed: 

High Speed filament will display far greater overall mechanical properties when printed at higher speed than regular filament because of the more consistent extrusion and the optimized cooling/melting rate of the polymer.

3) Higher Throughput:

Thanks to 1) and 2), you are able to output the same quality part at a much higher pace from your 3D printer. This advantage is ideal for businesses using 3D printing to produce their products.

A material is considered "High Speed" if it fulfills the following 3 criteria at a set printing temperature:

1) Flowability: It can extrude consistently at 24mm3/s on popular extrusion system. (equivalent to 300mm/s at 0.2mm layer height with a 0.4mm nozzle)

2) Formability: At 24mm3/s, it maintains similar surface quality, overhang and bridging as printed at lower speed.

3) Functionality: At 24mm3/s, it maintains at least 80% of its overall mechanical properties when printing at lower speed. (mainly: layer adhesion, tensile strength and impact strength)

PolySonic™ PLA at 230˚C
1) Maximum flow*: 30mm3/s** (tested on a customized extrusion platform equipped with an E3D volcano hotend, 0.4mm nozzle with Hemera XS extruder)

2) Confirmed similar quality Polymaker Scientist when printed at 4mm3/s and 24mm3/s

3) Layer Adhesion at 4mm3/s-24mm3/s: 37.3-32.3 MPa (Maintain 87%)
Tensile Strength at 4mm3/s-24mm3/s: 46.0-43.9 (Maintain 95%)
Impact strength at 4mm3/s-24mm3/s: 6.1-5 kJ/m2 (Maintain 82%)

* Maximum Flow: Flow at which the measured flow is decreasing below 95% of the requested flow.
**
For 0.2mm layer height with 0.4mm nozzle: 29mm3/s -> 363mm/s
For 0.1mm layer height with 0.4mm nozzle: 29mm3/s -> 725mm/s

Here is the accuracy of this filament:
97% is within +/- 0.02
99% is within +/- 0.03
99.9% is within +/- 0.04

1) Surface Quality at high speed:

When printing at high speed, the nozzle will actually experience a wide variety of speed going from 0mm/s to the max speed set on the slicer. The higher the max speed, the wider the range of different speeds. The issue is with the printing temperature being the same, the extrusion temperature will vary dramatically leaving difference surface finishes on the print (from glossy to matte because of a phenomenon called: Shark Skin), High Speed filament reduces these differences by displaying similar surface finish in a wide range of flow rates.
Additionally, high speed filament will extrude much more consistently within the speed range providing a smooth surface whereas regular filament will display holes, artifacts and layers with different thicknesses.

2) Mechanical Properties at high speed: 

High Speed filament will display far greater overall mechanical properties when printed at higher speed than regular filament because of the more consistent extrusion and the optimized cooling/melting rate of the polymer.

3) Higher Throughput:

Thanks to 1) and 2), you are able to output the same quality part at a much higher pace from your 3D printer. This advantage is ideal for businesses using 3D printing to produce their products.

A material is considered "High Speed" if it fulfills the following 3 criteria at a set printing temperature:

1) Flowability: It can extrude consistently at 24mm3/s on popular extrusion system. (equivalent to 300mm/s at 0.2mm layer height with a 0.4mm nozzle)

2) Formability: At 24mm3/s, it maintains similar surface quality, overhang and bridging as printed at lower speed.

3) Functionality: At 24mm3/s, it maintains at least 80% of its overall mechanical properties when printing at lower speed. (mainly: layer adhesion, tensile strength and impact strength)

PolySonic™ PLA at 230˚C
1) Maximum flow*: 30mm3/s** (tested on a customized extrusion platform equipped with an E3D volcano hotend, 0.4mm nozzle with Hemera XS extruder)

2) Confirmed similar quality Polymaker Scientist when printed at 4mm3/s and 24mm3/s

3) Layer Adhesion at 4mm3/s-24mm3/s: 37.3-32.3 MPa (Maintain 87%)
Tensile Strength at 4mm3/s-24mm3/s: 46.0-43.9 (Maintain 95%)
Impact strength at 4mm3/s-24mm3/s: 6.1-5 kJ/m2 (Maintain 82%)

* Maximum Flow: Flow at which the measured flow is decreasing below 95% of the requested flow.
**
For 0.2mm layer height with 0.4mm nozzle: 29mm3/s -> 363mm/s
For 0.1mm layer height with 0.4mm nozzle: 29mm3/s -> 725mm/s

Here is the accuracy of this filament:
97% is within +/- 0.02
99% is within +/- 0.03
99.9% is within +/- 0.04

Here is the accuracy of this filament:
97% is within +/- 0.02
99% is within +/- 0.03
99.9% is within +/- 0.04

PolyTerra™ PLA and PolyTerra™ PLA+ are based on the same eco-friendly formula however PLA+ was optimized for better layer adhesion and overall strength.

No, PolyTerra™ PLA+ has a more satin finish.

It would not degrade when throwing it on the side of the road. PolyTerra™ PLA requires specific conditions to degrade which can be achieved in industrial composting facilities.
We developed a formula which can degrade faster than regular PLA while maintaining excellent printability which allows a step forward towards improving the end of life of our PLA in our industry.

PolyTerra PLA™  and  PolyTerra™ PLA+ are based on the same eco-friendly formula however PLA+ was optimized for better layer adhesion and overall strength.

No, PolyTerra™ PLA+ has a more satin finish.

Post-industrial recycled PLA refers to a type of recycled polylactic acid (PLA) that comes from industrial waste generated during the manufacturing process of PLA-based products. Instead of using new raw materials, post-industrial recycled PLA is produced by collecting and reprocessing excess PLA materials, trimmings, or defective PLA products that would otherwise be discarded as waste.

The recycling process involves sorting, cleaning, and processing the collected PLA waste to remove any impurities and then transforming it into new PLA pellets or filaments that can be used to produce new PLA-based products. By using post-industrial recycled PLA, companies can reduce their environmental impact by minimizing waste and the consumption of new resources. This contributes to a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach to manufacturing and product development.

PolyLite™ PLA is based on a high molecular weight PLA from Natureworks, which makes it one of the most rigid PLA material on the market.
You can check the Young's modulus and bending strength data of PolyLite™ PLA in its TDS, which represent its rigidity, and compare it with other materials of our portfolio.

Polymaker Jam-Free Technology increases the heat resistance of the filament itself (not the printed part) to 140°C.
This prevent any jamming issue due to the hot end heat creep issue.
Heat creep is the process of heat spreading irregularly throughout your hot end, softening the filament before entering the melting chamber and jamming the filament by making it expand in the cold end..
The increase of the filament heat resistance from 60°C to 140°C ensures a Jam-Free experience.
(Note the printed part will have the same heat resistance as regular PLA: ~60°C)

Yes! PLA undergoes a two-step degradation process during composting. The first step is disintegration, where moisture and heat in the compost pile break down the polymer chains, resulting in smaller polymers and lactic acid. The second step is biodegradation, where microorganisms in compost and soil consume the smaller polymer fragments and lactic acid as nutrients. This process is temperature and humidity dependent and ultimately leads to the production of carbon dioxide, water, and humus, which is a valuable soil nutrient.

PolyLite™ PLA is based on a high molecular weight PLA from Natureworks, which makes it one of the most rigid PLA material on the market.
You can check the Young's modulus and bending strength data of PolyLite™ PLA in its TDS, which represent its rigidity, and compare it with other materials of our portfolio.

No, the PolyLite PLA Pro Metallic series does not contain actual metal particles in the material.

PolyLite™ PLA is a very rigid material with very low impact resistance.
PolyMax™ PLA is an extremely ductile material with high impact resistance and durability.
PolyLite™ PLA Pro is the best of both worlds combining excellent rigidity and high impact strength.

PolyLite™ PLA is a very rigid material with very low impact resistance.
PolyMax™ PLA is an extremely ductile material with high impact resistance and durability.
PolyLite™ PLA Pro is the best of both worlds combining excellent rigidity and high impact strength.

No, the PolyLite™ PLA Pro Metallic series does not contain actual metal particles in the material.

Polymaker Jam-Free Technology increases the heat resistance of the filament itself (not the printed part) to 140°C.
This prevent any jamming issue due to the hot end heat creep issue.
Heat creep is the process of heat spreading irregularly throughout your hot end, softening the filament before entering the melting chamber and jamming the filament by making it expand in the cold end..
The increase of the filament heat resistance from 60°C to 140°C ensures a Jam-Free experience.
(Note the printed part will have the same heat resistance as regular PLA: ~60°C)

Your printer will need to be equipped with a hardened nozzle in order to print PolyLite™ PLA-CF.

PolyLite™ PLA-CF contains 8% carbon fiber by weight.

PolyLite™ LW-PLA is not an active foaming filament, which means it will not foam when extruded from the nozzle depending on the temperature. PolyLite™ LW-PLA is already pre-foamed.

Active foaming:
You need to heavily modify your printing settings depending on the temperature and setup to compensate the foaming expansion of the material when printing.
You need to print at very high temperature to achieve light weight results (~250_), these high temperatures will create a lot of defects on the print such as stringing and blobs.
At very high temperature, active foaming can achieve lighter print than passive foaming however the print may suffer of serious stringing defects.

Passive foaming:
You do not need to change any settings from your regular PLA settings (slight increase retraction) as PolyLite™ LW-PLA will offer light weight results even when printing at very low temperature (~190_C).
The lower the temperature the higher quality the print.

Yes, PolyLite™ LW-PLA is designed for ease of print and strong rigidity. For more information check out the review below about PolyLite™ LW-PLA for RC Plane application.

During our market research we found 4 needs for cosplay applications:
(sorted by priority)

• Sand-ability
• Durability
• Paint-ability
• Heat resistance

Although PolyLite™ CosPLA solves the 3 most important needs, it keeps the same temperature resistance as regular PLA (~60˚C).
We have different formula which do increase the heat resistance but significantly compromise on the ease of printing. (which is often the case for 3D printing material: ease of printing and heat resistance are the 2 main properties which we all want in the same material but is the most challenging to develop).
As a result, as we already formulated a very high quality ABS with great printability and dimensional stability, we would like to suggest our PolyLite™ ABS for cosplay application requiring high heat resistance. (it also displays durability and sand-ability).
As an alternative we can also recommend PolyLite™ ASA which displays the same feature as PolyLite™ ABS with an additional resistance to weather.

Yes if you are looking for nice surface finish.
No if you are looking for strong and durable parts.
20% ON if you want the best of both worlds.

Composition: PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol) is a thermoplastic polyester, while PLA (Polylactic Acid) is a biodegradable thermoplastic derived from renewable resources like cornstarch or sugarcane.

Printing Temperature: PETG generally requires a higher printing temperature than PLA. The recommended printing temperature for PETG is around 220-250°„C, while PLA is typically printed at temperatures around 190-220°„C.

Strength and Durability: PETG has higher impact resistance and flexibility compared to PLA. It is less brittle and more resistant to deformation under stress. PLA, on the other hand, is relatively rigid and can be more brittle.

Heat Resistance: PETG has better heat resistance compared to PLA. It has a higher glass transition temperature, which means it can withstand higher temperatures before deforming. PLA has a lower heat resistance and can start to soften and deform at lower temperatures.

Printability: PLA is generally easier to print with and has less tendency for warping or curling during the printing process. PETG can be more prone to issues like stringing and requires proper bed adhesion and temperature control.

Applications: PLA is commonly used for printing prototypes, hobbyist projects, and decorative items. PETG is preferred for functional parts, mechanical components, and objects that require higher durability, impact resistance, and heat resistance.

Depending on the size of the models you are trying to print, PolyLite™ ABS can required enclosed 3D printer, or even actively heated chamber.

In general a non-enclosed 3D printer with 90_C bed temperature and 260_C printing temperature can handle models smaller than fist size. For bigger prints you will required an enclosed 3D printer (~40-50_C), for models bigger than ~15-20cm in any direction, it will require an actively heated chamber (~70_C+).

Using proper bed adhesion can also help printing larger parts without deformation/warping issue.
We can recommend Magigoo or BuildTak as adhesive and bed surface options.

Yes, PolyLite™ ABS can be smoothed with acetone.
WARNING: Acetone is a dangerous chemical, please handle it with the necessary safety precautions.
We recommend PolySmooth™ as a safer alternative to create smooth surface models.

PolyLite™ ABS is a very good heat-resistant product, The heat deflection temperature under 0.45MPa is around 100°Ê.

ASA is almost exactly the same as ABS with 1 major difference
The major difference is ASA is extremely good at weather resistance. (Resistance to UV light and environmental stress cracking)

Yes and no, the rule of thumb is the bigger your print (more than the size of your fist) the more the enclosure will be required for dimensional stability

Yes and no, the rule of thumb is the bigger your print (more than the size of your fist) the more the enclosure will be required for dimensional stability.

The short answer is yes, PolyLite™ PC will absorb moisture slightly faster than regular PLA. We recommend using a dry box to achieve high quality and strong prints.

PolyMax™ PLA features our nano-reinforcement technology which significantly increases its ductility. Ductility is the ability of a material to exhibit plastic deformation before fracture.
In simple words, PolyMax™ PLA will always bend instead of breaking. The opposite of ductile materials can be seen as brittle materials.

Materials products typically have no expiration date and can be used indefinitely. We generally guarantee that our materials will have no issues within a two-year period, and even materials that exceed two years can usually be used without any problems. However, if you have concerns, we can also provide testing for the various performance aspects of the materials.

Our PolyMax™ PETG is a modified PETG with enhanced fracture toughness which makes it more ductile and impact resistance.

Therefore, PolyMax™ PETG provides the best of both PETG and PCTG with high strength and rigidity as well as enhanced ductility and impact resistance.

If you are looking to produce the strongest part (high layer adhesion), we recommend to switch off your part cooling fan.
If you are looking for a high quality surface finish, we recommend to switch on your part cooling fan.

Usually the best of both worlds is to leave the part cooling fan at 20%.

https://marketplace.ultimaker.com/app/cura/materials/Nicolas_Tokotuu/Polymaker_PolyMax_PETG_2022

PETG-ESD combines the properties of PETG with the ability to control electrostatic discharge, making it a suitable material for applications requiring ESD protection, such as electronic component packaging, fixtures, jigs, or assembly tools used in ESD-sensitive environments.

To ensure the ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) property of printed parts when using PolyMax™ PETG-ESD, it is recommended to print at a minimum temperature of 250°Ê, moreover, because of the added carbon nanotubes, please use a hardened steel nozzle.

In our experience we had excellent experience with Magigoo PC. This special glue allows great adhesion when the build plate is hot and easy release when the build plate cools down.

Annealing is the process of heating up the printed parts at a certain temperature for a certain period of time. You can anneal PolyMax™ PC at 90_ for 2h.

The purpose of annealing PolyMax™ PC is to release the internal stress which accumulates during the printing process. This internal stress can creates micro cracks over time and weaken the part.

(NOTE: In the case of semi-crystalline polymers such as Nylon, annealing purpose is mainly to crystalize the material for better mechanical and thermal properties)

Yes, PolyMax™ PC is a toughness enhanced PC product, the charpy impact strength is 22KJ/_.

Yes, PolyMax™ PC-FR has been tested by SGS-CSTC Standards Technical Services Co., Ldt.

Test Method:
IEC 60695-11-10:2013/Cor.1:2014 Method B

Result:
Classification: V-0

the FR additive will make the material less ductile which means a higher tensile strength and Young's modulus (more rigid). However the PC will maintain its great impact and high heat resistance.

Generally, when printing with TPU materials, if support structures are needed, we recommend using specialized support materials such as PolyDissolve™ S1. However, considering the single extruder devices that users may have, we suggest customers adjust the orientation of the model to minimize the use of support structures, or place support structures in inconspicuous areas that won't affect the appearance.

We highly recommend to use a direct drive printer to print PolyFlex™ TPU90. A direct drive printer is a printer with the extruder mounted on top of the hot end.

PolyFlex™ TPU90 is easier to print than similar flexible material thank to its high melt index.

95 refers to the shore hardness of the material: 95 Shore A.
In 3D printing the shore hardness is only an indication on how flexible the printed part will be. However it is important to also take in consideration the infill percentage, number of walls, top/bottom layers and the layer height.

We highly recommend using a direct drive printer to print PolyFlex™ TPU95. A direct drive printer is a printer with an extruder mounted on top of the hot end.

After a couple of formula iteration, we developed a PolyLite™ CosPLA which was able to outperform the durability of regular PLA while being much easier to sand and paint. However we found a way to improve the sand-ability even more and another way to almost double the toughness of the material. Unfortunately we could not implement both technology at the same time, therefore we decided to go ahead and release two version:
Version A with the first technology improvement to enhance the sand-ability even more.
Version B with the second technology improvement to enhance the durability even more.

It is important to note that BOTH displays better durability and sand-ability than regular PLA while being easier to paint.

The shrinkage rate depends on the print model size and infill setting.

PolyMide™ CoPA displays outstanding mechanical and thermal properties when fully crystallized. The printed part will not reach full crystallization after the printing process, an additional step is required: Annealing.
You can anneal PolyMide™ CoPA by placing your part in the oven at 80_C for 6h.

No, all our Nylon features our Warp-Free Technology which means it does not require a heated bed or heated chamber of more than 50_C.
PolyMide™ CoPA can be printed on a 30-40_C bed without enclosure.

PolyMide™ PA612-CF exhibits enhanced rigidity and strength in wet conditions compared toPolyMide PA6-CF, owing to its longer chemical chain. While both materials do absorb moisture, PA612-CF demonstrates minimal reduction in mechanical properties, resulting in superior overall performance in wet environments when compared to PA6-CF.

Yes, we have ensured the dimensional stability of the cardboard by subjecting it to a temperature of 100℃ in the oven. This meticulous drying process guarantees that the cardboard remains free from warping and distortion.

PolyMide™ PA612-CF exhibits enhanced rigidity and strength in wet conditions compared to PolyMide™ PA6-CF, owing to its longer chemical chain. While both materials do absorb moisture, PA612-CF demonstrates minimal reduction in mechanical properties, resulting in superior overall performance in wet environments when compared to PA6-CF.

Yes, we have ensured the dimensional stability of the cardboard by subjecting it to a temperature of 100°Ê in the oven. This meticulous drying process guarantees that the cardboard remains free from warping and distortion.

It contains 20 wt% carbon fibers.

Our revolutionary Warp-Free technology has been developed to overcome the barriers of printing difficulties and enhance dimensional stability for Nylon based products. With this innovative solution, our nylon products can be printed at lower bed temperatures without experiencing warpage issues. To maintain the integrity of the Warp-Free technology and prevent warpage, it is advised not to exceed a temperature of 50°Ê when using PolyMide™ PA6-CF. Higher temperatures can invalidate the Warp-Free technology and accelerate the crystallization speed of polyamide polymers, resulting in potential warping issues. In comparison to competitive products, our filaments exhibit superior dimensional stability, providing an exceptional printing experience.

PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF can be printed on an indirect drive printer however we highly recommend to use a direct drive printer to print PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF at its high speed settings. A direct drive printer is a printer with the extruder mounted on top of the hot end.

PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF is a high flow TPU, which means with the right setup (direct drive printer), it can be printed at 100mm/s+.

PolyMide™ PA12-CF > PolyMide™ PA612-CF > PolyMide™ PA6-CF

PolyDissolve™ S1 can support PLA, PVB, TPU and Nylon based materials from our portfolio.

It can take 6-12hours to fully dissolve depending on your setup.
You can speed up the process:
- By increasing the water temperature
- By changing the water regularly
- By adding a pump to make the water flowing

No, although PolySmooth™ prints with similar settings as PLA, PolySmooth™ is PVB based.
PVB is more hygroscopic than PLA so it requires a dry box however it can be post processed very easily with IPA for smoother surface finish.

For optimal storage, it is recommended to place the PolySmooth™ filament in a sealed, dry environment such as an aluminum bag or a PolyBox™.

PolyWood™ is a wood mimic filament without actual wood powder, which removes all risks of nozzle clogs. PolyWood™ is made entirely with PLA using a special foaming technology. It exhibits similar density and appearance as wood.

PolyWood™ is a wood mimic filament without actual wood powder, which removes all risks of nozzle clogs. PolyWood™ is made entirely with PLA using a special foaming technology. It exhibits similar density and appearance as wood.

PolyCast™ features two unique technologies:

Layer-Free: PolyCast™ can be easily smoothed with IPA for a smoother surface finish which is reflected on the casted model.

Ash-Free: PolyCast™ burns out very cleanly with minimum ash residues.

It is recommended to burn out the printing part at 1000~1200 oC for 1~2 hours. the final ash content is tightly related to the printing part°Øs topological structure as well as the burning condition: please ensure there is enough air blowing when burning out the part, please also ensure the print part°Øs structure is not extremely complicated (for extreme complicated structure, two-times burning may be necessary).

PolySupport™ is a breakaway support, so it requires mechanical removal.

We have designed PolySupport™ specifically for PLA. However, we had positive customer feedback on using PolySupport™ with PolySmooth™, PolyCast™.

No, PolySupport™ is a breakaway support: it requires mechanical removal.

We have designed PolySupport™ for PA12 specifically for long chain nylon product, such as PolyMide™ PA12-CF and PolyMide™ PA612-CF. Moreover, It also shows good compatibility with PET material.

Polymaker™ PC-ABS is a very excellent heat-resistant product, the Vicat temperature is about 140℃, the heat deflection temperature is under 0.45MPa around 110℃

Polymaker Jam-Free™ Technology increases the heat resistance of the filament itself (not the printed part) to 140˚C.
This prevent any jamming issue due to the hot end heat creep issue.
Heat creep is the process of heat spreading irregularly throughout your hot end, softening the filament before entering the melting chamber and jamming the filament by making it expand in the cold end..
The increase of the filament heat resistance from 60˚C to 140˚C ensures a Jam-Free experience.
(Note the printed part will have the same heat resistance as regular PLA: ~60˚C)