Polymaker Panchroma PLA Black: problems, parts and running costs
Checked: 2026-10-25
Summary
Panchroma Basic PLA Black is a semi-gloss PLA with a published TD of 0.1 and no independent instrumented test in the sources checked.
Common problems and fixes
- Moisture absorption and drying — PLA absorbs moisture; if the filament has absorbed moisture, dry at 55 °C for 6 h, and store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight in a dryer box or resealable bag with desiccant. No warranty or shelf-life statement was found on the accessed pages, and filament is a consumable. [1][2][4][5]
- Unpublished diameter tolerance — only 1.75 mm is stated; no tolerance is published, so extrusion consistency cannot be checked against a spec before printing. [1][2][4]
- Bed-temperature disagreement — the product page badge shows 20–60 °C while the wiki and TDS state 25–60 °C; use 25–60 °C per TDS. [1][2][4]
- Young’s modulus unit disagreement — the product page shows 3071 GPa while the TDS shows 3071 MPa; the TDS unit is the physically plausible one. [1][4]
- Mechanical data are typical values — tensile strength 40.4 ± 0.86 MPa (X–Y) and 27.2 ± 0.3 MPa (Z), Young’s modulus 3071 ± 73.2 MPa, and notched Charpy impact strength 6.76 ± 0.44 kJ/m² are tested on 100 % infill specimens and labeled for reference and comparison only, not design specifications. [4]
- No independent instrumented test — no third-party test of extrusion consistency, dimensional accuracy or tensile properties of printed parts was found in accessible sources; available data are Polymaker’s own TDS typical values. [1][2][4][6]
- High-speed claim is qualified — “up to 350 mm/s” is based on a 0.4 mm nozzle and 0.2 mm layer height with up to 28 mm³/s volumetric speed; older or stock printers may need slower speeds. [2][4]
Parts and consumables
- Panchroma Basic PLA Black spool, 1 kg (SKU CA19006) — $18.99 at the Polymaker US shop at time checked; replaced when the spool is used up. [1]
- Panchroma Black refill, 1 kg (CA19029) — $17.99 at the Polymaker US shop and $17.99 at MatterHackers at time checked; requires a reusable spool and cuts packaging waste. [1][6]
- No proprietary nozzle or filter — standard nozzles 0.4 mm or larger; no filament-specific filter needs periodic replacement. [1][2]
Yearly running cost
No filters, pods or subscriptions apply to filament, and no proprietary consumable is documented. [1][2] The only recurring items are the filament itself at $18.99/kg for a spool or $17.99/kg for a refill, plus optional drying at 55 °C for 6 h and desiccant if moisture is absorbed. [1][2][4][6] Bundle discounts of 5 %, 10 % and 15 % at four, six and ten units lower the per-kg cost for bulk buyers. [1] Electricity for drying is not quantified in the sources.
When it is a good buy
Price thresholds from the Polymaker US shop and MatterHackers checked October 2026: black spool 1 kg $18.99, black refill 1 kg $17.99, with 5/10/15 % bundle discounts; MatterHackers lists the refill at $17.99. [1][4]
- Under $17.99/kg — attractive when color consistency, documented mechanical data and TD values matter and you can use bundle discounts or the refill. [1][6]
- $17.99–$18.99/kg — fair for a spool when you want the manufacturer shop price and published TDS data. [1][4]
- Above $18.99/kg — harder to justify unless you need this exact black with TD 0.1 for HueForge dark areas. [1]
Named alternatives:
- Panchroma Matte, Satin or Silk variants — better when you need a non-semi-gloss surface finish; they carry different print speeds and mechanical data, so check their own TDS. [2][3]
- Bambu brand filament — one owner preferred Panchroma over it for bed adhesion and cardboard spools, so consider it when printer integration or a different ecosystem matters more. [1]
- Refill format — better when you already have a reusable spool and want the $17.99/kg price and less packaging waste. [1][6]