RepRapper Technologies Silk PLA • Glossy Shiny Finish

Want PLA prints that look shiny straight off the bed? RepRapper Silk PLA is a specialty PLA with a silk-like, metal-ish sheen. It is made for decorative parts, props, and models where the finish matters as much as the shape.

It still prints like PLA for most FDM machines: low warp, low odor, and easy bed stick. Silk PLA is a bit softer than standard PLA, so dial retraction carefully and add walls/infill if parts need more strength.

Why makers pick it

• Glossy silk / pearlescent look without painting
• NatureWorks Ingeo PLA raw material (brand claim)
• 1.75 mm ±0.03 mm, 1 kg spool, tangle-focused winding (brand claim)
• Works on most FDM printers

Good for

• Decorative models and display pieces
• Cosplay props and shiny accents
• Vases, figurines, and curved surfaces that show the shine

What’s in each spool

• 1.75 mm RepRapper Silk PLA
• 1 kg net
• Colours: Silk White, Silk Orange, Silk Purple, Silk Blue, Silk Green, Silk Yellow, Silk Red

Recommended settings (official Silk PLA tips)

• Nozzle: 180–205°C (lower ~180–185°C for surface/shine; higher ~195–205°C for bonding and speed)
• Bed: about 40°C (tips). Brand marketing also says many PLA jobs work without a heated bed
• First layer: about 20 mm/s if sticking is hard
• Retraction starting points: direct ~1.5 mm at 30 mm/s; Bowden ~4 mm at 30 mm/s (then test)
• If wet: dry about 4–6 hours at 40–45°C; store sealed with desiccant

Silk PLA can grind in the extruder on heavy-retraction jobs. Ease tension, soften retraction, and prefer one object at a time. For brittle show pieces, try 4 walls and at least 15% infill. Small details can snap more easily than with standard PLA.

What this is not

• Not rainbow / gradient Silk (that is a different RepRapper SKU)
• Not the strongest engineering PLA. Pick standard or tough PLA when strength comes first