PLA virgin

Virgin PLA in pellet form — the entry-level material for the G1. Easy to print, low warping, good first-layer adhesion. The starting point for most users new to pellet printing.

Description

Virgin PLA pellets are produced directly from the polymer manufacturing process (not recycled). They have:

• Consistent particle size and shape
• Predictable melt behavior
• Low moisture content out of the bag
• Good color and transparency (when uncolored)

Print parameters

Parameter	Starting value	Notes
Feeding zone temp	185–190°C	Start at 190°C, reduce to 185°C if overheating signs appear
Melting zone temp	185–190°C
Nozzle zone temp	185–190°C
Bed temp	40–50°C	See note below — tall parts deform at 50°C+
MVS	~250 mm³/s	Up to ~300 mm³/s with SmoothFlow
SmoothFlow	Optional	Add at 0.05% if pushing high MVS
Drying	Not strictly required	2–3 h at 60–65°C if pellets are old or stored open

Note

Bed temperature for tall parts: Keep the bed at 40°C when printing tall objects with many layers. At 50°C, the lower layers of a PLA part remain soft as the print height increases, causing the base to deform under the weight. The 50–60°C range is only suitable for single-layer prints or parts with a wide stable base.

Note

Reducing temperatures: For the 1.8 mm nozzle, some PLA grades print well at 170/180/180°C (Feeding/Melting/Nozzle). This reduces surface stripes caused by overheating and prevents the last layers from deforming. If you see horizontal surface stripes or top-layer lift, lower all temperatures by 5–10°C rather than changing other settings first.

Nozzle-specific settings

1 mm nozzle — lower Feeding Zone temperature

For the 1 mm nozzle, use a lower Feeding Zone temperature: 160–170°C. At standard temperatures (185°C+) the material melts too early in the feeding zone, causing melt creep and feed stall. This is a confirmed pattern for PLA on the 1 mm nozzle, reported across multiple customer setups.

Parameter	1 mm nozzle	Standard nozzles
Feeding zone temp	160–170°C	185–190°C
Melting zone temp	185–190°C	185–190°C
Nozzle zone temp	185–190°C	185–190°C

Characteristics

• Bed adhesion: very good on glass with light spray, excellent on PEI
• Moisture sensitivity: low (compared to PETG / PCTG)
• Warping: low, even on large parts
• Brittleness: medium — PLA parts are stiff but can be brittle when thin

When to use it

• First test prints when commissioning a new machine
• Visual / decorative parts where mechanical loads are low
• Models that need fine detail (PLA holds geometry better than PETG at small scale)
• When troubleshooting other issues — PLA’s predictability isolates the variable

When NOT to use it

• High-temperature applications (PLA softens above ~55°C)
• Outdoor parts (UV degrades it)
• Functional / load-bearing parts that flex (use PETG or PCTG)

Suppliers

Several suppliers ship PLA pellets in industrial quantities. Consult Ginger Additive support for current recommendations and tested grades. Common options include compounded grades and natural / pre-colored variants.

Common issues

• First layer too transparent / glassy on transparent PLA + heated bed → lower bed to 50–60°C; the slow cooling causes crystallization (white tint). See Z offset and first layer.
• Brown / degraded extrusion after long temperature soak → temperature too high, or pellets sat too long in heated barrel; lower temp and purge.
• Rare motor skipping → almost always MVS too high; lower MVS or add SmoothFlow.
• First layers curve inward → insufficient cooling on the first few layers. Ensure the fan is running from layer 1 at 20–40%.
• Last layers bow up / not flat → previous layer still too hot when next is deposited. Increase fan speed for the last portion of the print (up to 75%) or reduce temperature by 5°C. See Layer shift and quality issues.
• Horizontal surface stripes → PLA overheated. Lower all zone temperatures to 185°C and check material supplier specs.

Carbon fiber variant — outdoor use

PLA + Carbon Fiber: PLA filled with carbon fiber (e.g. PolyMaker PolyLite CF, similar grades) prints well on the G1 and achieves heat deflection temperatures of 65–70°C — significantly higher than standard PLA (~55°C). This makes it a viable option for outdoor-use parts that would deform in standard PLA. At least one customer has used PLA CF for outdoor installation work with no issues.

Note: carbon fiber fill increases abrasiveness — the G1’s hardened steel nozzle handles it without issues. Use a 3 mm nozzle for best results (smaller nozzles clog more easily with CF grades).

Related notes

• rPLA recycled — the recycled counterpart
• SmoothFlow
• Multi-Heating Zones
• Max Volumetric Speed
• Rotation Volume calibration
• Z offset and first layer