PETG is short for polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified. This may mean something to you if you’re into chemistry, but for the rest of us, it’s simply the most-used type of plastic on the planet (in the form of PET).
You can find it in plastic bottles, food containers, packaging, toys, kitchen utensils, and more common plastic products. In addition, this recyclable plastic can be injection molded, blow-molded, thermoformed, bent, cut, and in recent years, 3D printed.
We won’t go into the details of PETG filament chemistry in this article but will instead concentrate on 3D printing with it as a filament. There are plenty of great filament options out there, but finding the right settings for a perfect print may take some tweaking.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know to have the best possible PETG prints. From your printer settings to slicing tips, we’ve got you covered.
Warning: Experimentation Advised
PETG is a very useful material with good mechanical and visual properties. Before we dive into printing tips, here are a few of the material’s characteristics:
- Glass transition temperature: ~80 °C
- Density: 1.27 g/cm3 (which is higher than PLA and ABS)
- Resistant against most chemicals (such as acids, alkalis, and solvents)
Despite being a pretty popular material, it can be hard to print, especially if you’re a beginner. You can find a lot of advice on the internet about different settings that contradict each other. The truth is, settings for one printer don’t necessarily carry over to others. Very often, you’ll have to adjust some printing parameters after changing the spool of PETG you’re using.
With PETG, one thing is certain: You’ll have to experiment to find the best settings for your printer. This article should give you a good starting point.
Setting Up the Bed
Let’s start from the bottom: Make sure your bed is leveled and clean.
If you’ve printed with PLA or ABS before, you’ll know that the gap between the nozzle and the bed has to be tight. Conversely, PETG needs a decent gap. If you normally use a piece of paper for adjusting the gap between the bed and nozzle for PLA, use three sheets of paper for PETG.
While you can print PETG without a heated bed, we recommend one. Most manufacturers suggest temperatures between 50 and 80 °C. Start with 70 °C and gradually increase it if you notice any bed adhesion problems.
You’ll probably want to use an adhesive on your bed – a glue stick or blue tape, for example – especially if you’re printing on a glass bed. For easiest print removal, let the print cool before removing it.
Fan Speed & Cooling
PETG will print quite nicely without fans. Unlike other materials that require fans during printing, PETG can actually do better without them. If you notice cracks and delamination in your prints, turn off the fans because printing without them increases layer adhesion.
That said, models with short layer times may benefit from some cooling. Try setting the fan between 20% and 50% to help the layers cool. Fans can also be useful if you want more details in your print or if you’re printing bridges.
Supports
Since PETG boasts good layer adhesion, it can be challenging to remove supports. If you’re lucky enough to have a dual extruder 3D printer, your best option is to use soluble filaments, such as PVA or HIPS.
But if you have a single extruder printer, not all is lost. Leave a gap between the support and your part with the Z distance setting. A 0.1-mm gap is a good place to start, and it usually offers good results. As with all other parameters, you should play around with values to find the best fit.
Mastering PETG is indeed a journey of experimentation, but it's one well worth undertaking. While the path to perfect PETG prints is paved with methodical tweaking of bed setup, fan speeds, and support strategies, the rewards are significant: durable, chemically resistant parts with a great finish. Consider the advice in this guide your foundational toolkit. Don't be discouraged by initial challenges; embrace the iterative process of adjusting, testing, and learning. With patience and the willingness to fine-tune these settings for your specific printer and filament spool, you'll soon unlock the full potential of this versatile material and add a powerful option to your 3D printing repertoire.
