PLA

PLA, or polylactic acid, is the standard starting filament for FDM printing because it prints at a relatively low temperature, usually somewhere around 190 to 220 degrees Celsius, and barely warps as it cools. It is made from renewable materials like corn starch, which also makes it a bit more brittle and less heat resistant than plastics like PETG or ABS.

For beginners, PLA is forgiving. It sticks well to a plain glass bed, a PEI sheet or even painter's tape, does not usually need a heated enclosure, and rarely produces the curling corners that plague other materials. It is a good choice for decorative prints, prototypes, and parts that will not sit in a hot car or near direct sunlight for long periods.

The main limits are heat resistance and long-term outdoor durability, since PLA can soften in warm environments and become brittle after months of UV exposure. A common mistake is leaving PLA prints on a dashboard or in direct sun expecting them to hold their shape. For anything that needs to survive heat or repeated stress, PETG or a tougher engineering filament is a better fit.