Call

PLA-CF · FDM · SAN DIEGO

PLA-CF 3D Printing — Stiff, Matte, Low-Warp

PLA-CF is carbon-fiber reinforced PLA — far stiffer than plain PLA with a premium matte-black finish, and as easy to print as PLA (no heated chamber). $0.070/cm³ at 2.0× PLA, printed on a hardened-steel nozzle at TAKT 3D San Diego.

Ref. part
$6.57
7.8 cm³ bracket / ea
HDT
55°C
heat deflect
Tensile
45 MPa
strength
Colors
1
in stock

Reference: 7.8 cm³ bracket (50×30×40 mm) at standard quality & infill, priced by the same engine as the quote tool. Material rate $0.070/cm³; quotes include machine time. $20 order minimum.

Quote PLA-CF →See properties table

When to choose PLA-CF

PLA-CF is the right pick when you want a stiff, great-looking part without the cost or print difficulty of PET-CF. Matte display models, camera and lighting rigs, lightweight indoor jigs, drone and RC cosmetic parts, cosplay props, and large flat panels where plain PLA would warp.

When to pick something else

Skip PLA-CF for anything that gets hot (it softens near 55°C, same as PLA), anything that takes impact or must flex (it's brittle), and load-bearing parts at temperature — step up to PET-CF or PA6-CF30. Skip it for glossy or transparent finishes and for food contact.

PLA-CF Properties & Datasheet

Verified against manufacturer datasheets and our own print testing at the San Diego shop.

Tensile strength45 MPaModestly above PLA — stiffness, not tensile, is the gain
Young's modulus~5,500 MPaFar stiffer than plain PLA (~3,000 MPa)
Heat deflection55 °CPLA-level — the carbon fill does NOT raise heat resistance
Surface finishMatte blackCF hides layer lines for a premium look off the printer
WarpVery lowMore dimensionally stable than PLA on large flat parts
Impact resistanceLowStiff but brittle — it snaps rather than bends
Nozzle wearHighCarbon fiber is abrasive — we run hardened-steel nozzles
Layer adhesionGoodStrong Z-bond like PLA; orient load paths in XY

DESIGN TIPS

Designing for PLA-CF

  • 01Play to stiffness, not toughness — PLA-CF resists bending but cracks under sharp impact; add generous fillets at stress risers.
  • 02Walls: 3 perimeters for structural parts; the carbon fill reinforces but can't rescue too-thin walls.
  • 03Orient load paths in the print plane (XY); the Z (layer) direction is still the weak axis.
  • 04Heat-set threaded inserts hold well, and tapped threads are stronger than in plain PLA.
  • 05Great for large flat plates — PLA-CF stays flatter than PLA, but keep the part under ~55°C in service.

CUSTOMER WORK

Real parts we've printed in PLA-CF

Matte camera cage

Stiff PLA-CF rig for a mirrorless camera — matte-black finish straight off the printer, no painting.

Large display plinth

A 280 mm flat base that warped in PLA; PLA-CF held flat across the full span.

RC body panels

Lightweight cosmetic panels with a carbon look at a fraction of real carbon-layup cost.

Considering alternatives?

PET-CFSee specs →

Step up for real heat resistance and toughness — same price, harder to print.

PLASee specs →

The cheaper, more forgiving base when stiffness and the matte finish aren't needed.

PLA-CF FAQ

How much does PLA-CF 3D printing cost?+
As a concrete example, our reference 7.8 cm³ bracket (50×30×40 mm) prints in PLA-CF at $6.57 per part at standard quality and infill — that's the exact number our instant quote engine produces for that geometry. The material rate is $0.070/cm³ (2× PLA); quotes also include machine time, and orders have a $20 minimum. Upload your file for an exact price in seconds.
What is PLA-CF best for?+
PLA-CF is the right pick when you want a stiff, great-looking part without the cost or print difficulty of PET-CF. Matte display models, camera and lighting rigs, lightweight indoor jigs, drone and RC cosmetic parts, cosplay props, and large flat panels where plain PLA would warp.
When should I NOT use PLA-CF?+
Skip PLA-CF for anything that gets hot (it softens near 55°C, same as PLA), anything that takes impact or must flex (it's brittle), and load-bearing parts at temperature — step up to PET-CF or PA6-CF30. Skip it for glossy or transparent finishes and for food contact.
What does TAKT 3D's PLA-CF print setup require?+
Hardened-steel nozzle required — carbon fiber is abrasive and chews through brass. Otherwise a standard PLA setup: no heated chamber and standard temps. We dry every spool the day it runs. All of our PLA-CF jobs use filament dried the same day to avoid moisture-induced defects, and every spool is logged against the part batch for traceability.
How long is PLA-CF 3D printing turnaround?+
Standard turnaround for PLA-CF is 3–5 business days. Expedited (3 days) adds 30%; rush (1–2 days) adds 60%. Most small PLA-CF orders ship within 48 hours from our San Diego shop.
Ready when you are

Ready to print in PLA-CF?

Upload your STL, STEP, OBJ, or 3MF and get an instant price in PLA-CF — no form, no sales call.

Quote PLA-CFSee all materials