Strength
What filament is best for drones/RC parts?
By SSS
Published . Updated .
- Nozzle240–250 °C(464–482 °F)
- Bed90–110 °C(194–230 °F)
- Speed—
- Dry—
- Density0.91 g/cm³
Source: Prusament product page · Last checked 19 October 2026
Ranked filaments
| Rank | Filament | Material | Nozzle | Bed | Datasheet | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prusament · PP-GF | PP | 240–250 °C464–482 °F | 90–110 °C194–230 °F | — | |
Product page read 26 October 2026 lists an extruder of 245 ± 10 °C (473 ± 18 °F), a bed of 95 ± 10 °C (203 ± 18 °F), a hardened nozzle, and enclosure not required. Print surface on that page is a PP sheet, or a smooth PEI sheet with PP tape. The page calls the material lightweight and does not state a density. The catalog density cell, from the Open Filament Database, is 0.91 g/cm³ and is a different source. | ||||||
| 2 | Polymaker · LW PolyLite PLA | PLA | 190–210 °C374–410 °F | 25–60 °C77–140 °F | Datasheet | |
PolyLite LW-PLA technical data sheet, checked 21 October 2026, lists a nozzle of 190–210 °C (374–410 °F), a bed of 25–60 °C (77–140 °F), and drying at 55 °C (131 °F) for 6 h. Heat-deflection temperature on that sheet is 54 °C (129 °F) at 0.45 MPa and 50 °C (122 °F) at 1.8 MPa, ISO 75. The sheet describes foaming. It does not mention drones. | ||||||
| 3 | Bambu Lab · TPU 85A | TPU | 200–250 °C392–482 °F | 30–35 °C86–95 °F | Datasheet | |
Technical data sheet, drying checked 18 October 2026, lists a nozzle of 200–250 °C (392–482 °F), a bed of 30–35 °C (86–95 °F), and drying at 70 °C (158 °F) for 8 h. This catalog stores shore 85. The tire comment is about a TPU tread on a hub. It is not a frame test. | ||||||
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There is no best filament in the supplied comments. Prusa's own PP Glass Fiber page names drone parts as one use, next to a hardened nozzle and a PP sheet. A light foaming PLA and a shore-85 TPU are different tools. Foaming PLA, carbon fiber, flexible filament, and strength are the pages this one should not pretend to replace.
What the pages actually publish
Prusament PP Glass Fiber, read 26 October 2026, lists an extruder of 245 ± 10 °C (473 ± 18 °F), a bed of 95 ± 10 °C (203 ± 18 °F), enclosure not required, a hardened nozzle, and a print surface of a PP sheet or smooth PEI with PP tape. The page says lightweight and says hobbyists may find it useful for drone parts. It does not state a density, and it does not call 138 °C (280 °F) a heat-deflection temperature. That 138 °C (280 °F) line is labeled high-temperature resistance, with no load. The catalog's Open Filament Database cell is 240–250 °C (464–482 °F) and 90–110 °C (194–230 °F). Keep them apart.
PolyLite LW-PLA lists 190–210 °C (374–410 °F) and a bed of 25–60 °C (77–140 °F). Heat-deflection is 54 °C (129 °F) at 0.45 MPa and 50 °C (122 °F) at 1.8 MPa. Bambu TPU 85A lists 200–250 °C (392–482 °F), a bed of 30–35 °C (86–95 °F), and shore 85 in this catalog. SUNLU's PP page, read 26 October 2026, lists a density of 0.9 g/cm³ and a PLA comparison of about 1.23 g/cm³. The order is a glass-filled polypropylene the maker mentions for drones, a foaming PLA, and a TPU. It is not a frame ranking.
What the community says
a Reddit thread in r/3Dprinting prefers epoxy and a modeled joint for a PLA hull.
a Reddit thread in r/prusa3d says polypropylene is the lightest plastic by a significant margin.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The drone sentence is quoted from Prusa's own PP Glass Fiber page, next to the temperatures on that page.
- The TPU comment is a joint for a tire, and it stays a joint.
Cons
- Those words are not in the supplied comments.
- A comment says polypropylene is the lightest plastic by a significant margin. The pages above give densities for specific products. They do not prove a margin for every polypropylene.
Printer considerations
- Prusament's page requires a hardened nozzle and either a PP sheet or PP tape on smooth PEI. PolyLite LW-PLA's bed stops at 60 °C (140 °F). Those are different setups.
- The Open Filament Database cell for Prusament PP Glass Fiber is 240–250 °C (464–482 °F) and a bed of 90–110 °C (194–230 °F), imported 13 October 2026. The product page read 26 October 2026 is 245 ± 10 °C (473 ± 18 °F) and 95 ± 10 °C (203 ± 18 °F). Use the page you are holding.
- SUNLU's PP page, read the same day, says the printed plastic is about 0.9 g/cm³ against a PLA density of about 1.23 g/cm³, and calls that up to 27% lighter. That claim is SUNLU's. It is not a drone ranking.
Sources & notes
Published . Updated .
- Prusament PP Glass Fiber product page manufacturer
- Polymaker PolyLite LW-PLA technical data sheet datasheet
- Bambu Lab TPU 85A technical data sheet datasheet
- SUNLU PP product page manufacturer
- a Reddit thread in r/3Dprinting reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/3Dprinting reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/prusa3d reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/3Dprinting reddit
- a Reddit thread in r/BambuLab reddit
Related questions
- What filament should I use for a strong part?Strength
- What is the best flexible filament, and how do I print TPU?Flexible
- What is LW-PLA / foaming filament and how do I print it?Cosplay
- Are carbon fiber filaments worth it, and do I need a hardened nozzle?Carbon fiber
Related data
- Cheapest filament per kg
- Cheapest PLA per kg
- Will my dryer cover this filament?
- Drying dataset
- How long to dry PETG
- PLA drying temperature and time
- TPU drying temperature and time
Questions
Should the frame be LW-PLA because planes are light?
PolyLite LW-PLA lists 190–210 °C (374–410 °F) and a heat-deflection temperature of 54 °C (129 °F) at 0.45 MPa. Foaming PLA is that material. The sheet does not mention drones. Carbon fiber, flexible filament, and strength are the other pages people mix into this question.
Is polypropylene the lightest, as the comment says?
on r/prusa3d says that. SUNLU's page gives its own 0.9 g/cm³ against about 1.23 g/cm³ for PLA. Prusament's page says lightweight and does not give a density. The catalog cell for Prusament PP Glass Fiber is 0.91 g/cm³ from a different source. A single comment is not a density table.