# Is PETG-CF / PLA-CF better than plain PETG/PLA?

These ranked rows list 190–250 °C (374–482 °F).

These threads do not show a strength test of PETG-CF or PLA-CF against plain PETG or PLA. They show a spool that may contain no fiber, wet or clogged CF, and PLA-CF stuck in an AMS. Bambu's PLA-CF page says a stainless nozzle is not recommended and that the AMS series is compatible.

Use PLA-CF or PETG-CF when you want the fiber row and you already have a nozzle the store page accepts. The threads here do not prove it is stronger than plain PLA or PETG. [Carbon fiber](/answers/cf), [AMS](/answers/ams), [drying](/answers/drying), [PETG](/answers/petg_print), and [PLA](/answers/pla_print) are the guides.

## The rows

[Bambu PLA-CF](/brand/bambu-lab/pla-cf) lists 190–230 °C (374–446 °F) and a bed of 50–70 °C (122–158 °F), with a hardened nozzle recorded. The [US store page](https://us.store.bambulab.com/products/pla-cf) says a 0.2 mm nozzle is not compatible, a stainless nozzle is not recommended, the AMS series is compatible, and the diameter is 1.75 mm ± 0.03 mm. It also says to dry the filament before use. The page does not print the 190–230 °C (374–446 °F) nozzle. That range is the catalog row. [Bambu PETG-CF](/brand/bambu-lab/petg-cf) lists 220–250 °C (428–482 °F) and 70–90 °C (158–194 °F), hardened nozzle recorded, drying hours blank. [PolyLite PLA-CF](/brand/polymaker/polylite-pla-cf) lists 190–230 °C (374–446 °F) and 50–70 °C (122–158 °F) and links a data sheet. [ELEGOO PLA](/brand/elegoo/pla) is the plain comparison at 190–230 °C (374–446 °F) and 35–65 °C (95–149 °F). [PLA](/material/pla) and [PETG](/material/petg) hold both the plain and the CF rows.

## What failed

[r/3Dprinting 1wvf0h4](https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/1wvf0h4/) is Flashforge PETG-CF that looked, under a microscope, like metallic flecks rather than fibers. The score-91 comment says microfragments can still be fiber. The score-74 comment says it looks like sparkly PETG. The score-65 comment says the wrong PETG arrived. A score-3 comment says fiber stiffens the same plastic and makes a sharp load more likely to snap. Another score-3 comment says strength tests usually favor the unfilled filament. Those two comments are the strength talk in this set.

[r/FixMyPrint 1gnujeo](https://www.reddit.com/r/FixMyPrint/comments/1gnujeo/) is PETG-CF that crackles on an A1 with AMS. The score-24 comment says moisture, and that some PETG takes almost two days to dry. The score-6 comment says sizzle, bubbles, and steam are wet filament. The score-10 comment says keep abrasive CF out of the AMS. The [A1](/printer/bambu-lab-a1) page is the printer. Two days is the comment. The PETG-CF row does not list drying hours.

[r/BambuLab 1c2ps4w](https://www.reddit.com/r/BambuLab/comments/1c2ps4w/) asks if two PLA-CF parts differ because one is wet. The score-11 comment says a clog. The score-6 comment says a partial clog, from a recent PETG-CF print. A score-3 comment says PLA-CF sits wetter than other PLA and clogs if it cools in the nozzle overnight.

[r/BambuLab 14t1d0o](https://www.reddit.com/r/BambuLab/comments/14t1d0o/) is Bambu PLA-CF stuck in a second AMS. The score-4 comment says the AMS did not pull the filament back from the toolhead. A score-3 comment says Bambu calls this filament AMS compatible and tells the poster to inspect the PTFE path.

[r/functionalprint 13fi255](https://www.reddit.com/r/functionalprint/comments/13fi255/) says PETG-CF printed a filter housing nicely. The score-6 comment is about refreshing carbon pellets, which is the filter media, not the filament. The [P1S](/printer/bambu-lab-p1s) records stainless steel. The [X1 Carbon](/printer/bambu-lab-x1-carbon) records a hardened nozzle. The thread does not name which printer made the housing.

Updated 2026-10-18. Sources accessed 2026-10-18. Use case: Carbon fiber.

## Ranked filaments

| Rank | Filament | Nozzle | Bed | Price per kg |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Bambu Lab PLA-CF | 190–230 °C (374–446 °F) | 50–70 °C (122–158 °F) | — |
| 2 | Bambu Lab PETG-CF | 220–250 °C (428–482 °F) | 70–90 °C (158–194 °F) | — |
| 3 | Polymaker Polylite PLA CF | 190–230 °C (374–446 °F) | 50–70 °C (122–158 °F) | — |
| 4 | ELEGOO PLA | 190–230 °C (374–446 °F) | 35–65 °C (95–149 °F) | — |

## What the community says

r/3Dprinting 1wvf0h4 suspects a Flashforge PETG-CF spool has no carbon fiber. The score-91 comment says the flecks could still be fiber. The score-65 comment says the wrong PETG was sent. A score-3 comment says carbon fiber stiffens the plastic and makes it easier to snap, and another score-3 comment says strength tests often favor the unfilled filament. r/FixMyPrint 1gnujeo is noisy PETG-CF. Comments say moisture, and one says keep it out of the AMS because it is abrasive. r/BambuLab 1c2ps4w is two PLA-CF prints. Comments say a clog or wet filament. r/BambuLab 14t1d0o is PLA-CF stuck in an AMS. r/functionalprint 13fi255 likes how PETG-CF printed a filter box.

## Sources

- [Bambu Lab PLA-CF, US store](https://us.store.bambulab.com/products/pla-cf) (manufacturer)
- [Polymaker PolyLite PLA-CF technical data sheet](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0548/7299/7945/files/PolyLite_PLA-CF_TDS_EN_V5.4.pdf) (datasheet)
- [Open Filament Database, Bambu Lab PLA-CF](https://api.openfilamentdatabase.org/api/v1/brands/bambu_lab/materials/PLA/filaments/pla_cf/index.json) (other)
- [Open Filament Database, Bambu Lab PETG-CF](https://api.openfilamentdatabase.org/api/v1/brands/bambu_lab/materials/PETG/filaments/petg_cf/index.json) (other)
- [ELEGOO PLA 1.75 mm](https://us.elegoo.com/products/pla-filament-1-75mm-colored-1kg) (manufacturer)
- [Community source, r/3Dprinting 1wvf0h4](https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/1wvf0h4/) (reddit)
- [Community source, r/functionalprint 13fi255](https://www.reddit.com/r/functionalprint/comments/13fi255/) (reddit)
- [Community source, r/FixMyPrint 1gnujeo](https://www.reddit.com/r/FixMyPrint/comments/1gnujeo/) (reddit)
- [Community source, r/BambuLab 14t1d0o](https://www.reddit.com/r/BambuLab/comments/14t1d0o/) (reddit)
- [Community source, r/BambuLab 1c2ps4w](https://www.reddit.com/r/BambuLab/comments/1c2ps4w/) (reddit)

HTML: https://filamentfacts.com/answers/cf_petg