If you have ever used your 3D printer to produce busts, full sculptures, model buildings and so forth, you might have wondered how to get even better results than typical PLA can offer. This is where Marble PLA filament comes in, as it has some unique properties that make it perfect for imitating the look of real marble, thus enhancing your designs significantly.
What Is Marble PLA?
As the name suggests, the PLA filament itself is made out of PLA, but where the magic happens is with the addition of fine marble powder, which is essentially crushed real marble stones. This produces a unique look and results in a stone filament.
The Properties of Marble PLA
Marble filament shares a number of aspects with regular PLA, but also has some significant differences. In order to find out whether marble 3D printer filament is for you, please refer to the table below in order to learn more.
| Aspect | Details |
| Tensile Strength | Lower than standard PLA due to additives |
| Flexibility | Brittle, similar to regular PLA |
| Impact Resistance | Reduced due to marble particles, can be fragile |
| Layer Adhesion | Decent, but affected by additives |
| Appearance | Matte, stone-like finish with speckled texture |
| Density | Slightly higher than standard PLA due to marble content |
| Printability | Similar to PLA but may require a larger nozzle (≥0.4mm) |
| Post-Processing | Can be sanded for a smoother finish |
| Solubility | Not soluble in most solvents |
| Chemical Resistance | Limited, vulnerable to strong acids/bases |
| Biodegradability | Less biodegradable than pure PLA due to marble content |
| Heat Resistance | Slightly improved over standard PLA but still deforms at ~60°C |
| Abrasiveness | Can wear down nozzles, recommend hardened steel |
| Odor | Minimal, similar to standard PLA |
| Environmental Impact | Not fully compostable, but more eco-friendly than ABS |
If you want to know more comprehensive PLA properties, please refer to our other blog post: How to choose the best 3d printing PLA filament?
How to Print with Marble PLA?
At Geeetech we love experimenting with different types of filament and optimizing the print settings to achieve the best results. We have used Geeetech Marble filament in order to find the below settings to produce some beautiful prints without compromising on quality, durability or printing time.
| Property | Setting |
| Infill Density | 20% |
| Infill Pattern | Grid |
| Nozzle Temperature | 200°C |
| Head Bed Temperature | 60°C |
| Printing Speed | Depends on the specific printer recommendations |
| Print Cooling | Enabled |
| Fan Speed | 100% |
| Support Setting | Generate supports |
| Support Structure | Tree-like |
| Build Plate Adhesion Type | Brim |
It is important to note, that since Marble PLA filament contains actual marble particles, there can sometimes be issues with clogging during printing. Furthermore, the nozzle itself is also put under more stress due to these particles, which is why we recommend a sturdy metal nozzle that can be cleaned repeatedly, and which will not be damaged as easily.
A few users printing with other brands of marble PLA have also experienced issues with layer adhesion due to clogged nozzle, where the typical suggestion would be to increase the nozzle size to 0.06mm. However, during our tests with Geeetech Marble PLA, we found that our own brand of filament works just fine with a nozzle size of 0.04mm.
What Is Marble PLA Filament Used for?
This unique stone PLA filament is typically used in designs where there is a decorative element involved, since it produces a realistic-looking marble texture and effect. Therefore it is especially useful for statues and busts, where you can recreate famous sculptures and art pieces that have been digitally scanned and made available, to create your own mini museum.
Alternatively, you can use it for architectural models and miniatures that also benefit greatly from the unique texture. As seen in the images below, the details and fidelity that regular PLA offers are still visible with marble filament, allowing for highly detailed prints that work great no matter the size of your print.
We also recommend that you try geological models of terrain and topology, perhaps an aerial shot or height map of your hometown, for a unique and personalized print that can decorate your favorite area of your home.
Conclusion
Marble PLA is a great 3D printer filament that can be used to achieve a realistic-looking print, resembling real stone found in nature. It is relatively easy to use in your existing 3D printer, as long as you follow a few guidelines. If you are planning to print with this filament a lot, you might want to invest in a metal nozzle to keep your printer running without issues. Thanks for reading!
