Shipping Estimate
USA
- USA
- CAN
- USA
- CAN
Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 9 - Jul 14
Promo Codes Available:
For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15
Description
Pro PCTG, Matte Black, 1.75mm3D Fuel Pro PCTG is like PETG but better in many ways. It is tougher (up to 30x tougher than PETG), more chemically resistant, and has even greater clarity than PETG. Pro PCTG is an easy to use material with a lower moisture absorption rate than PETG and doesn't require an enclosure use it just like PETG. The broad color selection and ease of printing make it an ideal choice for printing in a multi color 3D printing system like the Bambu Lab AMS.
3D-Fuel Pro PCTG is like PETG but better in many ways. It is tougher (up to 30x tougher than PETG), more chemically resistant, and has even greater clarity than PETG. Pro PCTG is an easy-to-use material with a lower moisture absorption rate than PETG and doesn't require an enclosure - use it just like PETG.
The broad color selection and ease of printing make it an ideal choice for printing in a multi-color 3D printing system like the Bambu Lab AMS.
Print Profiles
Print profiles for Pro PCTG on the Bambu Lab printers are available here.
Bambu AMS Compatibility
Since October 2023, the 3D-Fuel Standard PLA+ has been manufactured using an AMS-compliant spool (more info on our spool sizes and weights). Since it takes time for some colors to move through our warehouse inventory, you may receive an older spool type. This is still compatible with the AMS, but you must leave the lid open a few mm.
Pro PCTG is 20-50% More Impact Resistant Than PETG
Key Reasons for Better Impact Toughness:
-
Molecular Structure:
- PCTG contains cyclohexane dimethanol (CHDM), which gives it increased flexibility and toughness compared to PETG’s ethylene glycol structure.
-
Flexibility vs. Brittleness:
- PCTG is more ductile, allowing it to absorb and dissipate energy during impact without cracking or shattering.
-
Layer Adhesion:
- PCTG has better inter-layer bonding when 3D printed, reducing weak points in the structure where impact forces might cause failure.
Real-World Implications:
-
Drop Resistance:
- PCTG parts are less likely to crack, chip, or break when dropped, making it ideal for high-impact applications like enclosures or wearable devices.
-
Repeated Stress:
- PCTG can endure repeated bending or sudden forces better than PETG, making it more suitable for hinges, clips, and flexible parts.
-
Durability in Extreme Conditions:
- PCTG resists embrittlement under low temperatures, maintaining its toughness in environments where PETG may fail.
Example Use Cases Benefiting from PCTG's Toughness:
- Protective housings for electronics or tools.
- Drone parts and propeller guards.
- Flexible clips, snap-fits, and living hinges.
- Impact-resistant containers or enclosures.
Chemical Resistance
| Chemical Type | Examples | PCTG Advantage | PETG Limitation | Comparison (CRR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohols | Isopropyl alcohol (IPA), ethanol, methanol | Resists prolonged exposure without degrading or cracking. | Degrades or stress cracks with high alcohol concentrations over time. | 1.8 |
| Hydrocarbons | Hexane, heptane, gasoline, mineral spirits | Better resistance to hydrocarbon-based solvents. | Softens or weakens when exposed to hydrocarbons. | 2.0 |
| Acids | Acetic acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid | Maintains structural integrity in mild to moderately concentrated acids. | Degrades faster in acidic environments at higher concentrations. | 1.4 |
| Bases (Alkalis) | Sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide | Better resistance to strong alkalis. | May crack or degrade when exposed to strong bases. | 1.33 |
| Cleaning Agents | Bleach (sodium hypochlorite), industrial degreasers, detergent solutions | Withstands harsh cleaning agents without discoloration or damage. | Discolors, cracks, or loses properties with harsh cleaning agents over time. | 1.5 |
| Oils and Lubricants | Engine oils, hydraulic fluids, cutting oils | Resists degradation from prolonged exposure to oils. | Absorbs oils over time, potentially leading to swelling or weakening. | 1.6 |
| Ketones | Acetone, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) | Performs slightly better in low-concentration ketones. | Softens or dissolves more readily in ketone-rich environments. | 1.2 |
Pro PCTG Has Lower Moisture Absorption Than PETG
-
PETG:
- Hygroscopic: PETG absorbs moisture from the air, but at a relatively low rate compared to more hygroscopic materials like nylon or TPU.
- Moisture Absorption Rate: Approximately 0.2–0.3% by weight after prolonged exposure to humid environments.
-
Effects of Moisture:
- During printing, moisture in PETG can lead to stringing, bubbling, and surface defects due to water vaporizing in the hotend.
- Mechanical properties (like impact strength) can slightly degrade over time with prolonged exposure to high humidity.
-
PCTG:
- Slightly Lower Moisture Absorption: PCTG absorbs less moisture than PETG, typically around 0.1–0.2% by weight.
- Improved Resistance: Due to its cyclohexane dimethanol (CHDM) component, PCTG’s molecular structure makes it less hygroscopic and more resistant to moisture-induced degradation.
-
Effects of Moisture:
- PCTG generally performs better than PETG in humid conditions, retaining clarity, toughness, and dimensional stability for longer periods.
Why the Difference?
-
Molecular Structure:
- PETG’s glycol modification increases flexibility but leaves the material slightly more hygroscopic.
- PCTG’s modified structure with CHDM reduces the polar sites available for moisture interaction, resulting in less absorption.
Practical Implications:
-
3D Printing:
- PETG: Requires drying more frequently, especially if exposed to humid environments, as even slight moisture absorption can lead to print defects (bubbling, stringing, poor adhesion).
- PCTG: Requires less frequent drying, making it easier to handle in environments with higher humidity. It is also more forgiving if printed without drying.
-
Storage:
- Both materials benefit from being stored in airtight containers with desiccant.
- PCTG will be less prone to degradation if exposed to moisture for extended periods compared to PETG.
-
Long-Term Use in Humid Environments:
- PCTG is more stable and less likely to lose mechanical properties over time in high-humidity settings.
Drying
For both materials, drying before printing and proper storage is recommended for optimal performance, but PCTG is less maintenance-intensive in this regard.
When you need to dry Pro PCTG, use a temperature of 60-70C for 4-8 hours.
Available In 25 Colors
| Color Name | Display | Hex Code | Closest Pantone® |
| Natural | Clear | Clear | |
| Brightest White | #EBECEA | P 179-1 U | |
| Snow White | #F2F2ED | P 1-1 C | |
| Desert Tan | #C1AC98 | 15-1309 TPG | |
| Flat Dark Earth | #977B6C | 4257 CP | |
| Chocolate Brown | #58413B | P 67-16 C | |
| Bubblegum Pink | #EAAAB6 | 4064 UP | |
| Grape Purple | #5E528F | 7679 CP | |
| Cobalt Blue | #0C3681 | 2736 CP | |
| Ocean Blue | #0069A4 | 2935 CP | |
| Olive Green | #545746 | 176-15 C | |
| Grass Green | #4D9D5A | P 139-8 U | |
| LulzBot Green | #C8CB18 | 14-0443 TPG | |
| Daffodil Yellow | #FFC02C | 109 UP | |
| Tangerine Orange | #EF744C | 16-1349 TPG | |
| Fire Engine Red | #C73229 | P 52-16 C | |
| Iron Red | #8A292A | P 54-8 C | |
| Metallic Copper | #894D3F | 7601 CP | |
| Metallic Gold | #C58F4C | 16-0950 TPG | |
| Metallic Silver | #7D8081 | Cool Gray 11 U | |
| Industrial Gray | #858B8D | Cool Gray 10 U | |
| Charcoal Gray | #4D545A | 296 UP | |
| Midnight Black | #353535 | 19-4006 TPG | |
| Fluorescent Orange | #EA7A68 | P 45-5 U |
Additional Filament Information
- Recommended Printing Temperature: 260-280C
- Recommended Bed Temperature: 70-80C
- Bed Surface: PEI, heated bare glass, BuildTak, WhamBam
- Recommended Print Speed: 60 – 250 mm/s
Quality:
All 3D-Fuel 3D printer filament is manufactured in the United States. We have complete control over the manufacturing process and can ensure consistent quality for every spool. Learn more about 3D-Fuel filament quality.
Diameter Tolerance:
Variable 3D filament diameters can cause significant problems in your 3D printer. We use a multi-axis laser measurement system to control our filament diameter and ovality in real time during production.
Packing Information:
A full 1kg (2.2 lbs) of Pro PCTG plastic filament arrives on a durable plastic reel compatible with the Bambu Lab AMS. The reel is vacuum-sealed with a desiccant packet to keep out moisture.
Test Printing:
The 3D-Fuel test lab features multiple brands of 3D printers, including Bambu Lab, Creality3D, Prusa, Raise3D, MakerBot, LulzBot, FlashForge, and more. We use what we manufacture in our 3D printing operations to ensure that our filament provides the best quality possible.
Shipping Notes
- Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
- Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
- Delivery to the USA:
- Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
- If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
- We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
- Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
- To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
- Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
4.2 ★★★★★
Based on 2247 reviews
Sort
Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
What is silence? Something of the sky in us.
Format: Paperback
Maybe the best poetry collection I've ever read. I rarely enjoy an entire collection. I usually like individual poems or even individual lines within a poem. Deaf Republic is a masterpiece. If I ever meet Ilya Kaminsky in real life, I might cry.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2023
★★★★★ 5
Worth the hype on NPR that led me here--I've found my new favorite book!
Format: Hardcover
As an Asian-American creative, I knew I'd love this when I first read a positive review for this online, and I was not disappointed once! The perspective is so unique--a Chinese girl in 1800s Georgia!--and the writing's mesmerizing. I wished this book could never end, and LOVED it for so many reasons:
The quick version:
-Have you ever read anything about Chinese-Americans living in the Reconstructionist South? Thought not. This book provides such a necessary historical lens into highly underrepresented people and untold stories--and does it with remarkable talent and grace. This alone is worth heavy consideration.
-Jo is a protagonist you can't help admiring - she's witty, a nonconformist by circumstance and by choice, and unafraid of getting back a little (or a lot) at people who've done her wrong.
-The narrative voice is unlike any I've ever seen before ("Mischief dangles from his smile") and there are great humorous moments.
-Great pun one-liners here and there - even Yours Truly, who admits to hating puns, likes how they're done here.
-A wonderful and dynamic supporting cast, including Jo's wry adoptive father, a socialite who reveals her cleverness with pepper, an enigmatic Southern Belle who becomes Jo's employer for the second time, and a stout-of-heart black boy that'll melt your cold dead heart. Also a very enthusiastic herding dog.
-A climax that honestly almost moved me to tears from the poignancy, but also the deep symbolism of how Jo's actions come to stand for so, so much more in those several pages.
-If you like to learn cool new words, you'll definitely learn a few by reading this.
-On a personal note, I was ecstatic to find references to Chinese knotting and barley tea, which I've grown up with, but never encountered in print before.
Stacey Lee isn't afraid to show how difficult it was to be Asian-American in post-Civil War Georgia: In the opening scene, Jo is fired from her job at a hat shop because of her ethnicity. Due to the Chinese Exclusion Act in effect at the time, Jo and her adoptive father are legally not US citizens and cannot even own land or rent; they're forced to live secretly as squatters in the basement of a family who prints a struggling local newspaper.
We also see realistic depictions of other social issues, like the initial implementation of segregation laws (which confuses Jo and her father, as they're neither black nor white), the erecting of Confederate statues, calls for women's suffrage (as well as the emergence of modern bicycles) treated with derision by many women who think the idea foolish, and white suffragists rejecting black women who support their ideals.
In all seriousness, get this book. If you have kids, get this for your kids. I rarely write book reviews, but I'm breaking the pattern because this novel is THAT good.
Come for the incredibly unique historical perspective that's surely the first of its kind ever published and shines a spotlight on sorely underwritten stories.
Stay for Jo's incredible strength, role model-ism, one-of-a-kind journey, and how her story reminds us all not just of the power of devastatingly clever puns, but the power that words give all of us in finding who we are and making the world a better place.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2019
★★★★★ 4
"Luck rides a horse named Joy"
Format: Kindle
What a delightful book! I was constantly rooting for the protagonist, Jo. She grew up without a true mother or father but found guidance and love with a Chinese man named Old Gin. They both found work with an aristocratic family as servants, while living secretly in the basement of a printing company. It was there that Jo learned to read and write through listening to the family who owned the printing press upstairs. She discovers the paper they publish, The Focus is in trouble and decides to help them out by secretly writing a column under the name Miss Sweetie. An adventure begins and secrets are revealed, but Jo emerges as a local hero as a result.
I loved the author's prose and they way she incorporated Chinese anecdotes. I laughed out loud and cried in equal measure.
It is a story about overcoming the struggle of race and poverty, but also about love and fighting for what you believe in. I highly recommend if your in the mood for something uplifting to read.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2021
★★★★★ 5
Excellent historical novel during the Gilded Age
Format: Hardcover
During the late 1800's Jo Kuan lives with her stand-in father, Old Gin, in a basement. She works as a milliner's assistant until she is let go one day because her employer deems that she is too opinionated and makes customers uncomfortable. However, there is one customer, Mrs. Bell, who admires Jo's craftmanship making intricate knots, which happens to be the lady who resides in the same residence as Jo. However, Mrs. Bell doesn't know Jo and Old Gin take refuge below the residence. Jo is given the opportunity to write as Miss Sweetie for the Focus's advice column when she sends an anonymous letter to the Bells. Miss Sweetie creates a huge buzz in her community. Jo anonymously writes articles regarding societal norms during the Gilded Age time period. What a great opportunity for someone who is "too opinionated." While she works as a lady's maid at the Paynes household during the day, she moonlights as Miss Sweetie at night.
Stacey Lee tells a wonderful and insightful story of what it means to be Asian in the South of the United States in the late 1800's. I am always delighted to read historical fiction with characters I can relate to. I often wonder how life was for Chinese-Americans in the past. There is hardly any information about the history of Chinese-Americans living in the United States and how life was for them. Lee is one of my favorite historical fiction novelists. Her characters are relatable and I love being transported to a different time period and a different location every time I pick up one of her books.
I absolutely love the voice of Jo. She is sassy but she knows her place. Jo is an advocate of women's rights and equality for all races. Being of Chinese descent, she teeters in between Whites and Blacks. It's hard to find a place in society, especially since there are not many Asian people living in the United States at the time. Most Chinese in the States at the time are men working on the railroad. Jo is longing to know more information regarding her parents. Who is her birth father? Who is her birth mother? Why was she given up? Jo is fortunate to have Old Gin raise her. The twist at the end caught me off guard for sure.
Although Jo may feel out of place, she has Old Gin as her family. I also enjoyed reading how Jo finds solace in Sweet Potato and she finds friendship with Noemi. Jo even has a complex relationship with Caroline Payne, who can be very cruel.
The Downstairs Girl shows readers a glimpse of the Gilded Age and what is it like to live as an Asian American during that time period. Jo defies the stereotype of Asian women being docile and quiet. Not only does she defy the stereotype for Asian women but she defies the gender stereotype of being a lady. Jo is quite capable of doing what a man does and she is quite outspoken. From writing in a newspaper to horse racing, Jo can do anything!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2019
★★★★★ 5
A story of someone who refuses to settle for less
Format: Hardcover
Stacey Lee takes you into a world you’re probably familiar with if you paid any attention in your U.S. History class and helps you see it in new ways. Most of us are familiar with the agonies of post reconstruction era South, but few stories shine a spotlight on the Chinese laborers who were shipped in by Southern plantation owners to replace emancipated slaves. This is the world seventeen-year-old Jo Kwan lives in. Much of Jo’s life is lived in secret. She can’t rent, let alone own, property, so she’s forced to live with her uncle in the basement of a white family who owns a failing newspaper. She can’t interact directly with the white patrons of the hat store because her boss says she makes the customers “uncomfortable.” She can’t even participate in the growing Suffrage movement because the women are only concerned with advancing the rights of white women.
What’s a strong, opinionated girl to do? Start an advice column.
She starts submitting columns to the paper under the pseudonym Miss Sweetie and immediately attracts attention, both good and bad, from Atlanta’s high society. Through the column, Jo finds her voice and an outlet to express views on her segregated and chauvinistic society. The more freedom she experiences, the more she wants and soon she is uncovering secrets of her past that threaten to ruin her.
The Downstairs Girl never lets the reader forget how crushing life was for Chinese and Black Americans during this time, but the book isn’t a downer. Mostly this is due to Jo Kwan being such a spirited and sympathetic character. Her story is one of someone who refuses to settle for less and it’s fun watching her get the best of some of her antagonists. Lee’s writing is also witty and engaging, filled with the kind of southern colloquialisms that help transport the reader to this time and place.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2019
recommand products
Wood & Wire: North Of Despair - COMPACT DISCS
22.00
Clerici, Umberto / Schaupp, Karin: Wayfaring - COMPACT DISCS
34.00
Josefowicz, Leila / st. Louis Symphony: John Adams: Violin Concerto - COMPACT DISCS
20.99
Victoria Bernardi: Solo Se - COMPACT DISCS
23.99
Mahler / Dumno: Das Ewige Ratsel / L'enigme Eternelle - COMPACT DISCS
16.00