High-speed PLA filament with lightning-fast extrusion rate, cutting-edge precision, and exceptional layer adhesion developed for high-speed capable printers.

• High quality Polymaker High Speed PLA (PLA-HS).
• Developed for consistent extrusion at high flow rates such as 24mm³/s at 230˚C.
• Better preservation of mechanical properties at high speed compared to regular PLA.
• Strong colour and consistent surface finish at high speeds.
• Rapid melting and fast cooling to switch from fluid to solid with minimal shrinkage.
• Consistent colour and tolerance (1.75mm diameter +/- 0.03mm)

Accelerate your workflow without compromise with High Speed PLA

With the steady development of high speed capable 3D printers, how quickly the filament can melt becomes a bottleneck for high flow extrusion. PolySonic™ PLA is a revolutionary high-speed 3D printing filament and game-changer for rapid additive manufacturing. With its lightning-fast extrusion rate, cutting-edge precision, and exceptional layer adhesion you can ramp up the speed of your 3D printer and witness new levels of productivity. Accelerate your workflow without compromising on strength or quality.

^[1] Volumetric flow rate of 24mm³/s is equivalent to 300mm/s at 0.2mm layer height with a 0.4mm nozzle.
^[2] Maximum flow rate can depend on the extrusion temperature. Polymakers maximum flow rate for PolySonic™ PLA at 230˚C is 29mm³/s. Measurement of maximum flow is when extrusion decreases below 95% of the requested flow. Tested at 230˚C on a customised extrusion platform equipped with an E3D volcano hotend, 0.4mm nozzle with Hemera XS extruder. For a 0.4mm nozzle and 0.2mm layer height, 29mm³/s would be achieved with a 363mm/s printing speed. For a 0.4mm nozzle and 0.1mm layer height, 29mm³/s would be achieved with a 725mm/s printing speed.
^[3] To achieve quality results, high-speed printing relies on both material and the 3D printer. Beyond material choice, quality and accuracy of a high speed print is also reliant on a high speed printer with well-tuned input shaping and pressure / linear advance.

Printing Settings

The above are printing recommendations based on 0.4 mm nozzle. Please note ideal printing conditions may vary depending on your 3D printer setup. For high speed 3D printers, make sure to increase your extrusion temperature in order to use higher printing speeds.

For other tips printing PolySonic™ PLA contact us!

Specification

Compatibility

PolySonic™ PLA has been engineered for popular high-speed 3D printers and is capable of both high and classic 3D printing speeds.. High rigidity materials like PolySonic™ PLA work best in set ups where the filament guide system is smooth and as no harsh bends.

Please note that Polymakers Jam-Free™ technology is not implemented into PolySonic™ PLA. Jam-Free™ is a technology by Polymaker to improve compatibility with all metal hot end designs that suffer from heat creep. In this case, the exclusion of Jam-Free™ helps to ensure maximum melt-performance of the material. Many new high-speed printers have greatly improved hot-end designs so the risk of purchasing a high-speed machine that suffers from heat creep is much lower these days. If you own a regular printer that suffers from heat creep and has difficulty printing other brands of PLA due to jamming, we recommend using a different Polymaker PLA such as PolyLite™ PLA on that machine. This material is best suited for high-speed capable printers that don't suffer from heat creep.

Of course with thousands of unique 3d printer models on the market, we can't guarantee each filament type will work with every 3D printer. Slicer experience and setting adjustment is always required to get the most out of a material. Before jumping into an ambitious project we always recommend printing some known calibration tests to build or make adjustments to the filament profile.

Technical Data

All testing specimens were printed under the following conditions: build plate temperature = 45˚C, infil = 100%, cooling fan = ON
All specimens were conditioned at room temperature for 24h prior to testing.

THERMAL PROPERTIES

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

^[1] Based on 0.4 mm nozzle and 0.2mm layer thickness. Classic printing speed = 46.7mm/s, printing temperature = 210 °C
^[2] Based on 0.4 mm nozzle and 0.2mm layer thickness. High printing speed = 300mm/s, printing temperature = 230 °C

We have full MDS and technical data sheets for PolySonic™ PLA and all other Polymaker products. Contact us to enquire!

The typical values presented in Polymakers data sheet are intended for reference and comparison purposes only. Due to the nature of 3D printing they should not be used for design specifications or quality control purposes.

STORAGE & DRYING

All plastics are hygroscopic meaning they absorb moisture from the air which can affect printing quality and strength of printed parts. How quickly this absorption occurs depends on the material and your environment. Polymakers PolySonic™ PLA filaments are dried and packaged in a vacuum sealed bag with desiccant to ensure the best printing quality. When not in use PolySonic™ PLA should be stored away from sunlight and sealed in the packaged resealable bag.

Although filaments can be dried, drying will speed up the aging process of the plastic making it more brittle over time. Preventing the filament from absorbing moisture in the first place is the best solution to keep your filament working to its maximum potential. For long term storage we highly recommend storing in a sealed container with dry desiccant that reduces the relative humidity to 10-20% RH.

In-house we manage our filaments with Polymakers PolyDryer™ which keep offers best-in-class sealing to protect filaments from absorbing moisture 

If you hear popping sounds and notice that the surface quality of your print is uneven or the colour is not consistent, this is a likely indicator that the filament has absorbed too much moisture. Spools of PolySonic™ PLA can be dried with Polymaker PolyDryer™ using power level 1. Alternatively if you have a convection oven that is accurate at low temperatures, users can dry filament in a preheated convection oven at 55˚C for up to 6 hours. Results may vary depending on the accuracy of your oven so please be conservative. For more information about filament drying please read our user guide.

FAQ

Q: What makes PolySonic™ PLA a high speed filament?
A: There are three crucial aspects which define PolySonic™ PLA as a high speed filament. Firstly it exhibits a higher extrusion window compared to regular PLA, producing a 30% increase in flow rate at the same printing temperatures when compared to regular PLA filaments. The second aspect is forming, PolySonic™ PLA can transition from fluid to solid quickly with near-zero shrinkage. This produces crisp corners, fine details and steep overhangs while still extruding at high flow rates. The last aspect is the mechanical properties, many regular PLA's will show a significant drop in mechanical properties when printed at high speed. PolySonic™ PLA shows only a 6% drop in mechanical properties when printing at high speed compared to the classic test specimen. In contrast, PolyLite™ PLA (regular PLA) witnesses a 24% drop when the speed is increased. This final factor allows PolySonic™ to print both fast and functional which has been the previous limitation to high-speed 3D printing.

Q: Does PolySonic™ PLA feature Polymakers Jam-free technology?
A: No. To maximize the high flow performance, PolySonic™ PLA does not feature the Jam-Free™ technology implemented in PolyLite™ PLA and other Polymaker PLA filaments. Jam-Free™ technology is not as necessary for the printers it was designed for, many modern high-speed 3D printers have greatly improved hot-end designs with more efficient temperature control at the cold end of the extruder. As a result the risk of heat creep is much lower on modern-day high speed 3D printers.

Q: Should I rewind this filament if I want to use it with a different spool?
A: We strongly advise against tampering with the product by rewinding. See our article for full details about the risks. All Polymaker filaments are wound with tension but without strain. Rewinding completely rearranges the curvature of the winding and this strain over time can cause most plastics to catastrophically break. If for some reason your printer is locked into fitting less than standard sized spools, there may be safe printable adaptors or external mounting solutions available.

Don't know where to start? Or which filament will suit your application? We have a broad range of support options including telephone support. Contact us today!