PolyLight 1.0 is a lightweight LW-PLA filament with active foaming, developed primarily for producing very lightweight RC aircraft models and other parts where low weight is the priority. During printing, the material actively expands depending on the nozzle temperature and can increase its volume to more than twice its original size. This makes it possible to create significantly lighter parts while maintaining good interlayer adhesion.

The filament is particularly suitable for models printed in single-wall mode, such as LW series RC aircraft, but it can also be used to reduce the weight of other 3D-printed models. The color is not translucent and provides a universal base for subsequent painting. The material can be easily sanded and bonded using cyanoacrylate glue.

Product Features

Active material foaming: during extrusion, the filament actively expands. Depending on the nozzle temperature, it achieves a minimum foaming factor of 2.3×, which enables a significant reduction in the weight of the finished part.

Very low weight: PolyLight 1.0 makes it possible to print parts weighing less than half as much as comparable parts made from standard PLA. Thanks to the foaming process, one spool provides a volume equivalent to more than twice the amount of standard filament.

Good interlayer adhesion: the material provides strong bonding between individual layers and is suitable for lightweight structures, RC models, and other applications where the weight-to-strength ratio is important.

Adjustable properties: the degree of foaming, weight, and, to some extent, the stiffness of the printed part can be influenced by adjusting the temperature and material flow. A higher temperature generally promotes greater foaming.

Easy to process: the surface can be easily sanded, minor imperfections can be removed, and the parts can be easily bonded using CA adhesives. Thanks to the foaming process, the layers are less noticeable than with standard PLA.

Suitable for painting: the color is not translucent and provides a universal base for subsequent coloring or the creation of detailed scale-model surfaces.

Printing Recommendations

• Nozzle temperature: 230–250 °C
• Build plate temperature: 55–60 °C
• Filament diameter: 1.75 mm
• Diameter tolerance: ±0.02 mm
• Active foaming: minimum 2.3×, depending on temperature
• Cooling: set according to the model's construction and the required surface quality
• Material flow: we recommend adjusting it according to the desired degree of foaming and the resulting print density (0.55–0.6)

Printing parameters should be adjusted according to the specific printer, nozzle diameter, printing speed, and desired weight of the finished model.

Ideal for Lightweight RC Models

PolyLight 1.0 is designed primarily for printing lightweight RC aircraft and LW models, where every reduction in weight contributes to improved flight characteristics. Lower wing loading can reduce the stall speed and the energy released during an impact.

The material is suitable, for example, for Hurricane, Zero, Bungee Prop, Piper J-3 CUB, and other models up to approximately 2 meters in size. It is particularly well suited to structures printed in single-wall mode or vase mode.

Economical Operation

Thanks to active foaming, the filament provides a significantly greater volume of printed parts than standard non-foamed material. With the correct settings, a 1000 g spool can provide a volume approximately equivalent to 2300 g of standard PLA.

The lower weight of the model also makes it possible to reduce the amount of material required for individual parts and optimize the weight distribution of the entire structure.

Storage Recommendations

The filament is supplied in a resealable bag, which helps protect the material from absorbing moisture. After opening, we recommend storing the filament in a dry environment, ideally in a sealed container or bag with silica gel.

Absorbed moisture can negatively affect surface quality, extrusion stability, and the amount of stringing during printing.

Warning

Lower stiffness compared to standard PLA:
The lightweight structure of the material has lower stiffness than standard PLA. The resulting mechanical properties can be partially influenced by adjusting the temperature and material flow.

Lower heat resistance:
The material has a lower glass transition temperature and may soften at higher temperatures. However, thanks to its low density, deformation of some lightweight structures may be less pronounced.

Stringing during travel moves:
Active foaming may continue during travel moves of the print head, which can cause increased stringing. These fine strands can usually be removed easily.

Use the recommended parameters:
The degree of foaming depends primarily on the temperature and flow settings. Adjust the parameters gradually to achieve the desired weight, strength, and surface quality.

Technical Specifications

• Material: LW-PLA with active foaming
• Diameter: 1.75 mm
• Diameter tolerance: ±0.02 mm
• Spool weight: 1000 g
• Filament length: approximately 111 m
• Nozzle temperature: 230–250 °C
• Build plate temperature: 55–60 °C
• Minimum foaming factor: 2.3×
• Packaging: resealable bag protecting against moisture
• Spool: made from recycled plastic

Disclaimer

The stated values are for guidance only. Actual results depend on the specific 3D printer, temperature, material flow, nozzle diameter, printing speed, and other parameters. The degree of foaming and the resulting material density may vary depending on the printing settings.

The user is responsible for verifying the suitability of the material for the intended application. Before printing final or functional parts, we recommend carrying out your own test print and optimizing the parameters according to the required weight and mechanical properties.