PLA
What filament should a keyboard case or keycaps use?
By SSS
Published . Updated .
- Nozzle190–230 °C(374–446 °F)
- Bed25–60 °C(77–140 °F)
- Speed40–60 mm/s
- Dry55 °C · 6 h(131 °F)
- Density1.17 g/cm³
Heat resistance: HDT 60 °C (140 °F) (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa) · Vicat 63 °C (145 °F) (ISO 306) · Tg 61 °C (142 °F) · source →
Heat resistance: HDT 58 °C (136 °F) (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa) · Vicat 63 °C (145 °F) (ISO 306) · Tg 61 °C (142 °F) · source →
Bed, Speed, Drying, Density. Source: Polymaker product page · Last checked 14 October 2026
Ranked filaments
| Rank | Filament | Material | Nozzle | Bed | Datasheet | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Polymaker · Polylite PLA | PLA | 190–230 °C374–446 °F | 25–60 °C77–140 °F | Datasheet | |
Catalog nozzle 190–230 °C (374–446 °F) and bed 25–60 °C (77–140 °F). Heat dataset checked 21 October 2026 lists glass transition 61 °C (142 °F), heat deflection 60 °C (140 °F) at 0.45 MPa and 58 °C (136 °F) at 1.8 MPa, ISO 75. That is the desk-PLA limit on the sheet. Drying is 55 °C (131 °F) for 6 h, checked 18 October 2026. | ||||||
| 2 | Polymaker · Polylite PETG | PETG | 220–250 °C428–482 °F | 70–90 °C158–194 °F | Datasheet | |
Catalog nozzle 220–250 °C (428–482 °F) and bed 70–90 °C (158–194 °F). Heat dataset checked 21 October 2026 lists heat deflection 78 °C (172 °F) at 0.45 MPa and 75 °C (167 °F) at 1.8 MPa, and glass transition 81 °C (178 °F). Higher than the PLA sheet. Still not a car test. | ||||||
| 3 | Polymaker · Polylite ASA | ASA | 230–260 °C446–500 °F | 75–95 °C167–203 °F | Datasheet | |
Catalog nozzle 230–260 °C (446–500 °F) and bed 75–95 °C (167–203 °F). Heat dataset checked 21 October 2026 lists heat deflection 103 °C (217 °F) at 0.45 MPa and 100 °C (212 °F) at 1.8 MPa, and glass transition 98 °C (208 °F). The outdoor and car pages are where this heat rating is used. The sheet does not mention keycaps. | ||||||
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A keyboard that stays on a desk can be PLA. PolyLite PLA lists a glass transition of 61 °C (142 °F), which is the temperature where that PLA softens, and heat deflection of 60 °C (140 °F) under a light load. Keycaps that need a smooth face instead of layer lines are a resin question. A case left in a hot car is the car-interior page, not a desk case.
Case, keycaps, and heat
PolyLite PLA stores a nozzle of 190–230 °C (374–446 °F) and a bed of 25–60 °C (77–140 °F). The heat dataset checked 21 October 2026 lists glass transition at 61 °C (142 °F), and heat deflection at 60 °C (140 °F) under 0.45 MPa and 58 °C (136 °F) under 1.8 MPa, ISO 75. Heat deflection is the temperature where a test bar bends under a stated load. A desk case in this PLA is inside that description only while the plastic stays cooler than those figures. A desk lamp is not given a temperature on the sheet. A dark part under a lamp can run hotter than the air in the room. The sheet is the limit that is published.
PolyLite PETG lists 220–250 °C (428–482 °F), a bed of 70–90 °C (158–194 °F), glass transition 81 °C (178 °F), and heat deflection 78 °C (172 °F) at 0.45 MPa and 75 °C (167 °F) at 1.8 MPa. PolyLite ASA lists 230–260 °C (446–500 °F), a bed of 75–95 °C (167–203 °F), glass transition 98 °C (208 °F), and heat deflection 103 °C (217 °F) at 0.45 MPa and 100 °C (212 °F) at 1.8 MPa. Those higher figures are why someone moves off PLA when the part sees more heat. They are not a keyboard wear test.
A case or a mount that stays in a car is car interiors. Heat resistance compares the materials without repeating that page.
Finish
FDM keycaps show layer lines. If the question is resin versus filament, use resin or FDM. Sanding an FDM case is sanding. A small flexible shell that is not a keyboard is phone cases.
What the community says
A comment in a Reddit thread in r/3Dprinting says PLA keycaps are fine when the keyboard is not left in the sun.
A comment in a Reddit thread in r/3Dprinting says PLA keycaps warp if the keyboard sits in the sun on a hot day, and says resin can avoid the layer lines.
A comment in a Reddit thread in r/ErgoMechKeyboards says PLA cases hold up when they are not left in a hot car in the sun.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The 61 °C (142 °F) glass transition is the PolyLite PLA sheet, so a desk case has a published softening point.
- PETG and ASA stay on the page as higher heat-deflection sheets, not as a ranking of keyboard brands.
Cons
- No sheet here tests keycap wear, shine, or a desk lamp.
- Comments about a hot car are experience reports. The car page is the place that collects that use.
Printer considerations
- A desk lamp can warm a dark case. These sheets do not publish a lamp temperature. If the plastic gets hotter than its heat deflection, the sheet is the limit that is published.
- Layer lines on a keycap are an FDM surface. Resin versus filament is [resin or FDM](/answers/resin_vs_fdm). Sanding a case is [sanding](/answers/sanding).
- A part that lives in a car is [car interiors](/answers/car-interior). Heat in general is [heat resistance](/answers/heat). A small shell that is not a keyboard is [phone cases](/answers/phone_case).
Sources & notes
Published . Updated .
Related questions
- What filament should I use for a car interior?Automotive
- What filament should I use for heat?Heat resistance
- Should I use resin or filament (FDM) for my project?Miniatures
- What filament is easiest to sand, paint, and post-process?Finishing
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
- PETG drying temperature and time
- ASA drying temperature and time
Questions
Are keycaps the same choice as the case?
The case is a shell that sits on a desk or in a bag. Keycaps are small parts whose layer lines show under a finger. Resin or FDM is the process question for a smoother face. Sanding is the FDM finish. The PolyLite PLA sheet still lists glass transition at 61 °C (142 °F) for either part if it is that PLA.
Will a desk lamp or a hot car soften PLA?
The sheets do not measure a lamp or a car. PolyLite PLA softens around its 61 °C (142 °F) glass transition and lists heat deflection at 60 °C (140 °F) under 0.45 MPa. PolyLite PETG lists 81 °C (178 °F) glass transition and heat deflection at 78 °C (172 °F). PolyLite ASA lists 98 °C (208 °F) glass transition and heat deflection at 103 °C (217 °F) under the lighter load. A car part is car interiors. Heat resistance is the wider comparison.