PLA Profile

[Umpa]

I use a Wanhao D4 and when I select the PLA profile the extruder temp comes in at 230. I usually print at 195 with PLA and I am wondering why S3D uses 230 as a default.

[JoeJ]

Many of the makerbot-style machines use 230C for PLA as well. For example, that was always the stock settings for my Replicators along with several other clones that used the same hot end and similar filament.

If you use different filament and want a different temp, just edit it to your liking.

[Umpa]

Yes I know that Makerware does this too, so I guess its a game of follow my leader ? The general consensus is that this is too hot, and 190 - 200 is the norm so I was wondering why S3D had chosen not to do this.

[SockMonkey]

I think this has a lot to do with the hot end assembly. If the heater block is closer to the nozzle, i.e. less time in the hot end before it comes out the nozzle, you wuold want to print it a bit cooler so that when it leaves the nozzle and gets laid down it's at a lower temperature and has an easier time cooling down. But if the heater block is higher up on the hot end assembly, you'll want to run it a bit hotter so that the plastic is still hot and malleable as it's traveling down the hot end.

You could run a test print of a large rectangular prism, and every 10mm increase/decrease the temperature by a certain amount and at the end of the print see which section looks the best and just use that as your sweet spot temp for printing PLA

[Umpa]

I think there is a misunderstanding on what I am getting at, I don't have a problem - so no need to do a test, what I am saying is that take all the Reap1 clones for example, they will all print PLA at 190, so why not as a standard have it set to that when the profile is selected as standard, then if its not hot enough you can then adjust to meet your plastic requirements.

I can't think of a valid reason to have the PLA default at 230.

[JoeJ]

MakerBot software and all makerbot printers use 230C as the default temperature for PLA. As many machine are simply clones for the makerbot printers, most of these clones also use 230C as a recommendation for PLA temperatures. So that is the reason why some makerbot-clone printers recommend 230C for PLA.

If you want a different temp for your bot and filament, just change it. But there's plenty of good reason why this is a default value since there is so much precedence on it.

[Umpa]

Follow my leader then - no real reason than legacy.