{
  "opening": "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. A keyboard that stays on a desk can be PLA. 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.",
  "question": "What filament should a keyboard case or keycaps use?",
  "slug": "keyboard",
  "useCase": "pla",
  "useCaseLabel": "PLA",
  "updated": "2026-10-28",
  "shortAnswer": "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.",
  "recommendedMaterials": [
    "pla",
    "petg",
    "asa"
  ],
  "printerConsiderations": [
    "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 These sheets do not publish a lamp temperature.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)."
  ],
  "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."
  ],
  "community": "A comment says PLA keycaps are fine when the keyboard is not left in the sun. Another says PLA keycaps warp if the keyboard sits in the sun on a hot day, and mentions resin for the layer lines. A third says a PLA case is fine on a desk and names a hot car as the case to avoid.",
  "related": [
    "car-interior",
    "resin_vs_fdm",
    "sanding",
    "heat"
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "What filament should a keyboard case or keycaps use?",
      "a": "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. A keyboard that stays on a desk can be PLA. 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."
    },
    {
      "q": "Are keycaps the same choice as the case?",
      "a": "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](/answers/resin_vs_fdm) is the process question for a smoother face. [Sanding](/answers/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."
    },
    {
      "q": "Will a desk lamp or a hot car soften PLA?",
      "a": "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](/answers/car-interior). [Heat resistance](/answers/heat) is the wider comparison."
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "PolyLite PLA technical data sheet V5.4",
      "url": "https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0548/7299/7945/files/PolyLite_PLA_TDS_EN_V5.4.pdf",
      "kind": "datasheet"
    },
    {
      "title": "PolyLite PETG technical data sheet V5.4",
      "url": "https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0548/7299/7945/files/PolyLite_PETG_TDS_EN_V5.4.pdf",
      "kind": "datasheet"
    },
    {
      "title": "PolyLite ASA technical data sheet V5.4",
      "url": "https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0548/7299/7945/files/PolyLite_ASA_TDS_EN_V5.4.pdf",
      "kind": "datasheet"
    },
    {
      "title": "Community source, r/3Dprinting 1lleymu",
      "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/1lleymu/",
      "kind": "reddit"
    },
    {
      "title": "Community source, r/ErgoMechKeyboards 1whrz2n",
      "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/1whrz2n/",
      "kind": "reddit"
    }
  ],
  "recommendations": [
    {
      "rank": 1,
      "note": "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.",
      "brand": "Polymaker",
      "product": "Polylite PLA",
      "material": "PLA",
      "url": "/brand/polymaker/polylite-pla",
      "nozzle": "190–230 °C (374–446 °F)",
      "bed": "25–60 °C (77–140 °F)",
      "pricePerKg": null,
      "datasheetUrl": "https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0548/7299/7945/files/PolyLite_PLA_TDS_EN_V5.4.pdf",
      "affiliateUrl": null
    },
    {
      "rank": 2,
      "note": "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.",
      "brand": "Polymaker",
      "product": "Polylite PETG",
      "material": "PETG",
      "url": "/brand/polymaker/polylite-petg",
      "nozzle": "220–250 °C (428–482 °F)",
      "bed": "70–90 °C (158–194 °F)",
      "pricePerKg": null,
      "datasheetUrl": "https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0548/7299/7945/files/PolyLite_PETG_TDS_EN_V5.4.pdf",
      "affiliateUrl": null
    },
    {
      "rank": 3,
      "note": "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.",
      "brand": "Polymaker",
      "product": "Polylite ASA",
      "material": "ASA",
      "url": "/brand/polymaker/polylite-asa",
      "nozzle": "230–260 °C (446–500 °F)",
      "bed": "75–95 °C (167–203 °F)",
      "pricePerKg": null,
      "datasheetUrl": "https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0548/7299/7945/files/PolyLite_ASA_TDS_EN_V5.4.pdf",
      "affiliateUrl": null
    }
  ]
}