RepRapper Tech Silk PLA • Glossy Shiny Finish

Want PLA prints that look shiny straight off the bed? RepRapper Tech Silk PLA is a specialty PLA with a silk-like, metal-ish sheen. It is made for decorative parts, props, and models where the finish matters as much as the shape. It still prints like PLA for most FDM machines: low warp, low odor, and easy bed stick.

What's Included

• 1.75 mm RepRapper Tech Silk PLA
• 1 kg net
• Colours: Silk White, Silk Orange, Silk Purple, Silk Blue, Silk Green, Silk Yellow, Silk Red
• Diameter held to ±0.03 mm
• Tangle-focused, layer-by-layer wind

Print Settings

• Nozzle: 180–205°C (lower about 180–185°C for surface/shine; higher about 195–205°C for bonding and speed)
• Bed: about 40°C (many PLA jobs also work without a heated bed)
• First layer: about 20 mm/s if sticking is hard
• Retraction starting points: direct about 1.5 mm at 30 mm/s; Bowden about 4 mm at 30 mm/s (then test)
• If wet: dry about 4–6 hours at 40–45°C; store sealed with desiccant

Silk PLA can grind in the extruder on heavy-retraction jobs. Ease tension, soften retraction, and prefer one object at a time. For brittle show pieces, try 4 walls and at least 15% infill.

Material

RepRapper uses virgin NatureWorks Ingeo PLA pellets for this line. Silk PLA is a bit softer than standard PLA, so dial retraction carefully and add walls/infill if parts need more strength.

Finish & Look

Glossy silk / pearlescent look without painting. Curved surfaces and larger faces show the shine best. Small details can snap more easily than with standard PLA.

Good To Know

• Not rainbow / gradient Silk (that is a different RepRapper SKU)
• Not the strongest engineering PLA. Pick standard or tough PLA when strength comes first

Good For

• Decorative models and display pieces
• Cosplay props and shiny accents
• Vases, figurines, and curved surfaces that show the shine