Ben Traje
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Learning Notes in 3D Printing PETG

22 Jun 26 (1d ago)

General

  • Bambu has PETG Basic which is now discontinued and introduced PETG HF, and is also recently discontinued in 2026 and planning to introduced another PETG Basic but with different formulation.
  • You might be tempted to buy PETG Basic 1.0 because it is usually sold at a cheap price like 50-60% from PETG HF. Just don't. It causes more problem than its worth.
  • PETG HF is still workable and I suggest stocking up while its available.
  • Also another thing about PETG HF is its inherently matte, so it doesn't have to hideous layer line shines.
  • Remains to be seen how well the PETG Basic 2.0 perform but it will most likely be not matte.
  • Don't guess the temperature for your specific material. Print a temperature tower to determine the optimal drying environment for your specific filament brands.

Why chose the Matte version? Because it is inherently better looking. The only caveat is it is not as strong as the regular version (either in PETG/PLA).

Other alternative PETG Matte version since Bambu Lab PETG HF is being discontinued Though honestly not sure why just not manufacture it side by side.

SUNLU High Speed Matte PETG. In fact, it is an open secret in the 3D printing community that Sunlu manufactures a lot of Bambu Lab's filaments behind the scenes anyway. It is rated for speeds up to 600 mm/s, meaning you don't have to slow your printer down. The matte texture is very similar to the Bambu line, it handles overhangs well, and it is usually significantly cheaper per roll.

eSUN PETG-Matte. Provide a premium, low-reflection matte texture while keeping the high impact strength and weather resistance that PETG is known for. Designed to be beginner-friendly, featuring minimal shrinkage and strong layer adhesion.

Crude Hack in making Regular PETG making a bit Matte

Glossy PETG gets shinier the hotter it prints. If you lower your nozzle temperature by roughly 10–15°C (down to around 225–235°C), slightly increase your print speed, and bump up the part cooling fan, the plastic won't melt as thoroughly. This results in a surprisingly good matte finish, though it can slightly weaken the part's overall strength.

Humidity Gotcha