Recommended PLA brands for the Mini  

RE: Recommended PLA brands for the Mini

filamentum are brilliant, one of the very few brands I haven't had to tweak profile on again and again.
I've been trying 20m samples from GlobalFSD to find brands I like, very fast shipping and they seem obsessed with throwing in extra samples with each delivery.

https://globalfsd.com/

RE: Recommended PLA brands for the Mini

I'm in the U.S., so this will perhaps be of limited use. I've run a boatload of brands through my Mini -- Hatchbox, Overture, AmazonBasics, Sunlu, 3D Solutech, Monoprice, TTY3D, and so on. Haven't had an issue with any so I buy mostly based on price. I *love* TTY3D's series of silk colors, they are all gorgeous. I can run almost anything with the Generic PLA or PETG profiles. I do buy Prusament occasionally, for their great PETG orange and, yes, the glitter! - Galaxy Silver and Galaxy Black. 

RE: Recommended PLA brands for the Mini

I can't speak for their PLA, but I have had very good luck with Azurefilm PETG. They are in Slovenia. The Mini is really sensitive to the tolerance of the filament diameter and Azurefilm meets this well. Many other filaments have not extruded well in my Mini. I would expect that Azurefilm has the same tight tolerance on their PLA.

Regards,

Mark

RE: Recommended PLA brands for the Mini

Thanks guys, I’ll check out those providers!

RE: Recommended PLA brands for the Mini

Microcenter filament. And it starts at around 14 dollars

RE: Recommended PLA brands for the Mini

I have had really good results with almost all brands I've tried, except some white PLA+ (I think they called it PLA Pro) from eSun but even that was okay after increasing the temperature.

These have all been great for me on my Mini:

• AmazonBasics
• Eryone
• Geeetch
• Amolen

Most PLAs are really good these days, unless you are buying really cheap. You might notice more differences with PETG.

RE: Recommended PLA brands for the Mini

@robee-shepherd

That’s reassuring 🙂 Some say you need to have really specific filaments, and some say basically anything goes. Good to hear all kinds of experiences.

I did go for a few spools of Prusament and AzureFilm PLA. Let’s see how they compare as they arrive 🙂 

AzureFilm was interesting because there is 300g and 500g spools, so I could order many colors without busting my bank. 

RE: Recommended PLA brands for the Mini

How about glitter filaments?

Anyone tried the glitters from Filament PM or AzureFilm? I tried a sample of Graphite Black from Filament PM (very similar to Prusament's Galaxy Black) and it clogged my hotend on two prints at the first layers. I haven't tinkered much with it yet, but not so good results so far with this brand. 

I was a bit surprised about not being successfull with this glitter from Filament PM because according to some posts they actually manufactured filament for Prusa in the past...So if anyone can share their opinion on this CZ brand, it would be awesome 😉 

RE: Recommended PLA brands for the Mini

I had a lot of problems with Prusament Carmine red, I believed I had ordered a roll ofg PLA, and a roll of Petg... 

the first I looked at was PETG, so I used the other... 

It was a bit crap...    till I realised it was also PETG... 

and didn't like  bonding to my build plate at PLA temperatures!!!

Are you sure your's  is PLA? 

try 10C hotter... 

I don't have a Mini... with the Mk3 I would go 
Move Z axis t 60mm high... then 
Preheat PLA      to heat the bed and the nozzle   and immediately 
Settings>temperature>Nozzle>230C to raise the nozzle temperature to 230C

wait for it to heat
then 
Settings>Move Axis> Extruder
and use the dial to control the extrusion, 

this should cause the filament to extrude in mid air
with no back pressure... 

if this works, try printing  at the higher temperature...

regards Joan

RE: Recommended PLA brands for the Mini

@joantabb

Hmm this is a sample PLA, it came vacuum closed and label does say it is PLA... plus, this a special filament that is only available in PLA I think...

So, you think the temperature might be the issue?

RE: Recommended PLA brands for the Mini

I have yet to find a bad brand of PLA.  

RE: Recommended PLA brands for the Mini

@calex

Next step I would try the higher temperature. 
regards Joan

RE: Recommended PLA brands for the Mini

I like Overture PLA, regular and silk (have a dozen or so rolls I work with).  For some reason when I use non-Prusament filament on my Mini+ I typically have to bump the nozzle temperature 5 to 10 degrees more than the "generic PLA" setting in Slicer.  If I do not, it does not flow properly.  I run Overture PLA at 225C.

BTE, Overture PETG is also very good.  Works with "standard" PETG temps.

RE: Recommended PLA brands for the Mini

Received the delivery from AzureFilm today. Shipping was free after 80€ or something like that, and they sent out the parcel the same day. Awesome 🙂

 I got 7 different colors of PLA in 300g rolls, they seem to print nicely, did not bother to change anything but went on with the prusament profiles.

The spools were a bit messily wound compared to prusament, but no problems othervise. Will sure order again!

RE: Recommended PLA brands for the Mini

Happy printing 🙂 

RE: Recommended PLA brands for the Mini

I really like Overture PLA and PLA Plus.  

RE: Recommended PLA brands for the Mini

@antti

I have two spools of the PETG from them.  

RE: Recommended PLA brands for the Mini

I try to avoid ordering from outside of EU. It’s usually much faster, because the parcels don’t have to go through customs. And there’s of course the import fees and taxes which raise the prices to same level so no reason in that regard either.

RE: Recommended PLA brands for the Mini

@antti

There are so many options in Europe - Extrudr make fantastic filament: https://www.extrudr.com/en/products/catalogue/biofusion-venom-green_3081/