PETG clear
Standard transparent PETG in pellet form. Tougher and more flexible than PLA, with better temperature resistance — but highly hygroscopic and the most demanding standard polymer to dial in on the G1.
Description
Section titled “Description”PETG pellets are produced from PETG resin (a glycol-modified PET). Properties:
- Tougher than PLA, less brittle
- Heat resistant up to ~70–75°C (vs. PLA’s ~55°C)
- Transparent in clear grades (good for light-pipe / decorative parts)
- Hygroscopic — absorbs moisture aggressively from air
Print parameters
Section titled “Print parameters”| Parameter | Starting value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Feeding zone temp | 200–215°C | Lower the top zone if melt creeps up — see below |
| Melting zone temp | 230°C | |
| Nozzle zone temp | 230°C | |
| Bed temp | 70–80°C | Glass bed: 70°C. PEI bed: 60°C may suffice. Higher causes first layers to turn white/opaque on clear PETG. |
| MVS | ~250 mm³/s | Up to ~400–500 mm³/s with SmoothFlow |
| SmoothFlow | Recommended | At 0.05–0.1% |
| Drying | Mandatory: 3–5 h at 65°C | Even from a fresh sealed bag |
Characteristics
Section titled “Characteristics”- Bed adhesion: good with the right bed temp; can stick too well on glass — use a release agent or wait for cool-down
- Moisture sensitivity: HIGH — see PETG foaming and moisture
- Warping: medium — needs a heated bed
- Stringing: more than PLA — tune retraction in Ginger Slicer
- Layer adhesion: excellent when properly dried
Common issues
Section titled “Common issues”- Foaming / bubbles → wet pellets, see PETG foaming and moisture
- Clog at feed throat → top zone too hot, lower to 200–215°C, see Nozzle and barrel clog
- Sticks too hard to glass bed → use a release agent or pop off after cooling
- Stringing between parts → tune retraction length in Ginger Slicer
- Motor skipping at high MVS → add SmoothFlow, see Extruder motor skipping
Storage
Section titled “Storage”- Reseal the bag immediately after use
- Add a desiccant pack inside the bag
- Don’t leave pellets in an open hopper between prints
- Re-dry after any pause longer than 24 h
Suppliers
Section titled “Suppliers”Several suppliers ship PETG pellets. Quality is generally more consistent than rPLA. Common options include clear, color-compounded, glass-fiber-reinforced, and flame-retardant grades. Consult Ginger Additive support for current recommendations.
Variants
Section titled “Variants”- PETG GF — glass fiber reinforced, stiffer, requires hardened nozzle
- PETG flame-retardant V0 — fire-resistant, more moisture-sensitive than standard PETG
- PETG colored — pre-compounded color, no Liquid Masterbatch needed
See dedicated notes for each variant.