Collection: Carbon Fibre

Carbon fibre filaments are composite materials produced by blending chopped carbon fibre strands into a thermoplastic base. The carbon fibre reinforcement significantly increases the stiffness and dimensional stability of the base polymer, including PLA, PETG, ABS, Nylon (PA6 or PA12), and Polycarbonate, without a proportional increase in weight. The result is a material that behaves more like an engineering composite than a standard plastic.

The most noticeable change in a carbon fibre variant is rigidity. Printed parts flex far less under load compared to the base material, and they maintain their shape more accurately over time, particularly in environments with fluctuating temperatures. Carbon fibre filaments also tend to exhibit reduced warping during printing, since the reinforcement fibres help restrict thermal expansion. The matte black surface finish is characteristic of all carbon fibre variants and is often considered an aesthetic bonus for functional parts.

Because chopped carbon fibre is highly abrasive, a hardened steel nozzle is required. Standard brass nozzles will wear rapidly, sometimes within a single spool, resulting in inconsistent extrusion. Print settings otherwise remain close to those of the base material, making carbon fibre variants accessible to anyone already familiar with that polymer.

Carbon fibre filaments are the right choice when stiffness and dimensional accuracy matter more than impact resistance or flexibility. They excel in structural brackets, jigs and fixtures, tooling, drone frames, lightweight enclosures, and functional mechanical parts where deflection under load would otherwise be a problem.

Carbon fibre variants suit intermediate to advanced users who are already comfortable printing the base material. Since the carbon fibre doesn't substantially change print temperatures or bed adhesion requirements, the learning curve is modest; the main preparation step is upgrading to a hardened steel nozzle before you begin.

Carbon fibre filaments are not ideal when impact toughness is the primary requirement. The chopped fibre increases stiffness but can make the part more brittle than the unfilled base, so applications subject to sharp impact or repeated flex are generally better served by the standard polymer or a rubber-toughened variant. They're also not suitable if colour variety matters; virtually all carbon fibre filaments print in matte black.

The most meaningful comparison is between a carbon fibre variant and its unfilled base material. Carbon fibre variants are consistently stiffer and more dimensionally stable, but the underlying thermal and chemical properties remain largely governed by the base polymer. Choosing the right base material is therefore just as important as choosing the carbon fibre composite.

If stiffness isn't a priority and you want maximum toughness from your chosen base polymer, the standard unfilled variant will typically absorb more impact energy before failing. If you need strength at elevated temperatures beyond what PLA-CF or PETG-CF can offer, PA12-CF or PC-CF are the logical step up.

If carbon fibre composites aren't the right fit for your application, explore our PLA, PETG, ABS, or Nylon filament collections for alternative materials.

The single most important preparation step is installing a hardened steel nozzle before printing any carbon fibre filament. Chopped carbon fibre is highly abrasive and will rapidly erode a standard brass nozzle, causing the orifice to enlarge and extrusion to become unreliable. A 0.4mm hardened steel nozzle is the standard starting point; a 0.6mm nozzle can reduce nozzle wear further and improve layer adhesion on structural parts.

Temperature settings are generally the same as for the unfilled base material. PLA-CF prints around 200–220°C with a 60°C bed; PETG-CF around 230–250°C with a 70–85°C bed; ABS-CF around 240–260°C with a 100–110°C bed; and PA-CF variants typically require 250–280°C with a 70–90°C bed. Follow the base material's enclosure and cooling recommendations.

Common challenges: Carbon fibre filaments can be prone to slight under-extrusion if flow rate isn't adjusted, as the fibre can slightly impede material flow. Increase flow by 2–5% if you observe gaps between lines. Layer adhesion is typically excellent, and warping is generally reduced compared to the unfilled base. Moisture absorption varies by base polymer; PA-CF in particular should be printed dry and stored with desiccant.

Most modern FDM printers can handle carbon fibre filaments once the nozzle has been upgraded. The key requirements are dictated by the base polymer rather than the carbon fibre itself.

• Nozzle: A hardened steel nozzle is mandatory for all carbon fibre variants; this is the one non-negotiable hardware requirement. Wear-resistant nozzles from manufacturers such as E3D, Bondtech, or the OEM hardened options included with Bambu Lab printers are all suitable.
• Enclosed printers: Required for ABS-CF and PA-CF; recommended for PETG-CF; optional for PLA-CF. Printers such as the Bambu Lab P1S, X1C, and Prusa MK4S with enclosure kit are well-suited across the full carbon fibre range.
• Open-frame printers: Suitable for PLA-CF and PETG-CF in most environments. ABS-CF and PA-CF will perform more reliably in an enclosed or temperature-controlled space.
• Direct drive vs Bowden: Both work. Direct drive provides more consistent extrusion with the slightly higher-viscosity carbon fibre materials; Bowden setups work well at higher flow rates with retraction tuned appropriately.
• Heated bed: Required for all carbon fibre variants. Minimum bed temperature requirements match those of the base material.

Printers from Bambu Lab, Prusa, Creality, AnyCubic, and Elegoo can all print carbon fibre filaments when fitted with the appropriate nozzle and configured for the corresponding base material. Check your printer's maximum nozzle temperature against the requirements of the specific carbon fibre variant you intend to use.