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Today I’m going to introduce you to PLA+ from Sunlu 3D, a Chinese manufacturer, sold on Amazon. Their range is very complete, both in terms of colours and materials (PLA+, ABS+, PETG+, TPU, Wood, Carbon fibre), with over 30 references available.
You may wonder why this “+”? And what is the difference between PLA and PLA+, is it more complicated to print? PLA+ is as easy to print as PLA, but you will need to use a higher extrusion temperature, the minimum recommended for Sunlu filament being 205°, compared to 190° in general for classic PLA filament. There is no difference in the temperature of the platen, and you can also print it without a heating platen. Sunlu PLA+ is also stronger than PLA. There is no need to use an enclosure or reduce ventilation, in the end it prints exactly like PLA, with a little more heat.
How much does this filament cost? Generally sold at around 20€ per kilo on Amazon for 1.75mm filament, but it is regularly found on Amazon flash sales at around 16€. In any case, the price is more interesting than Ice Filament for example (sold in 750g spools).
I have been using this Sunlu filament for several months now, which has become my favourite filament that I use the most, whatever the printing surface used (Ultrabase, Polypopylene, Ziflex, PEI, buildtak…) I have always had a very good grip and rare warping.
I usually print at 215°C and 60° for the plate, but you will notice on these temperature turns, that the result remains clean on the temperature range between 190-230°C.
Here is a first print result, with PLA+ White (ivory), it is one of my favourite colours, with a slightly satin effect, similar to the samples that Creality provides with its printers. The result is really clean and smooth, printed with a layer height of 0.15mm on the Artillery 3D X1 printer and polypropylene plate.
A second print result, this time on the Ender3 Pro, with a Ziflex tray, PLA+ Yellow colour, some people print this articulated octopus with a skirt, but here I didn’t need one, I got a very good grip. Printed with a layer height of 0.15mm at 215°C.
Same result with the original magnetic plate on the Ender3 pro
Another print, this time on the FYSETC Prusa MK3 printer (a copy of the original Prusa), with PEI surface. PLA+ Silver colour, in 0.15mm at 215°, this silver colour is really beautiful, no problem to stick on the PEI (without glue).
The same file, but this time with PLA+ Black on the Creality Ender 5, still in 0.15mm at 215°C, the result is also very good.
Having (almost) all the colours of the Sunlu PLA+ range, here is an overview, the deadpool busts were printed on the Clone Mk3 FYSETC, with a layer height of 0.20mm, and the articulated octopuses on the Ender3 Pro.
I was also able to test their transparent PLA, which gives a really nice effect, printed with a layer height of 0.15mm on the Artillery 3D X1.
Finally, a much longer print this time, in 0.15mm for about 500g of filament with the PLA+ White Ivory, to test the reliability of this filament for long prints (knots, nozzle clogging…). I did not encounter any problem for this print which lasted 39 hours, printed on the new Sovol 3D SV01 (printer in beta test).
I still have a reel of Sunlu Wood and a Carbon fiber under the elbow to try, that will be the subject of a future article!
Overall I am very satisfied with this brand, I was able to print all the colours using the same print settings. I’ve had to empty about 10 reels so far and I’ve never had a knot problem.
Speaking of knots, Sunlu was able to share with me an ongoing evolution of their product, they have recently changed their coil winding process, with a perfect “tangle free” winding. Here are some preview photos 🙂
