Overview
PLA is the material I use most often for everyday prints. It is easy to work with, prints at moderate temperatures, gives clean results, and rarely causes problems. It suits functional parts, decorative pieces, gifts, and general-purpose home items. These notes are based on long-term use with the Bambu Lab A1.
When I use PLA
- General household items.
- Practical organisers, clips, brackets, and small tools.
- Gifts and models where clean detail is important.
- Prototypes and draft parts before making stronger versions.
PLA works reliably on the A1 with very little tuning and is the safest default choice for most prints.
Recommended settings
| Nozzle temperature | 205 to 215°C |
| Bed temperature | 55 to 60°C |
| Layer height | 0.16 to 0.24 mm |
| Cooling | Fan 100 percent |
| Infill | 15 to 25 percent |
| Speed | Standard A1 PLA profile |
| Walls | 2 or 3 |
PLA performs well even at high speeds on the A1. Cooling is the biggest factor for surface quality.
Tips for best results
- Use a clean textured plate for consistent adhesion.
- Avoid excessive bed temperature which can soften the first layer.
- Enable ironing for flat visible surfaces.
- Use supports sparingly to avoid scarring.
Limitations
- Softens at relatively low temperatures.
- Less impact resistant than PETG.
- Not suitable for long-term outdoor use.
