Sunlu PLA+ Review: The Budget King for Bambu Lab Printers?
Owning a fast printer like the Bambu Lab A1 is amazing, but it has one downside: it eats filament. A 1kg spool can disappear in a couple of days. Buying premium filament at $25+ a roll adds up fast.
That's why I decided to test Sunlu PLA+. It's often on sale for nearly half the price of premium brands. But does "cheap" mean "bad"?
What is PLA+?
PLA+ (or PLA Plus) is basically standard PLA with additives to make it stronger and less brittle. It usually prints just as easily as regular PLA but offers better layer adhesion and a smoother finish.
Printing Performance on the A1
I loaded a spool of Sunlu PLA+ Grey into my AMS Lite.
- Settings: I used the "Generic PLA" profile in Bambu Studio.
- Temperature: 215°C Nozzle / 60°C Bed.
- Speed: I ran it at full "Sport" mode speeds.
The Result: Flawless.
I was expecting stringing or underextrusion at high speeds, but the Sunlu filament kept up perfectly. The layers melted together smoothly, and the finish was actually slightly glossier than the basic matte PLA I usually use.
Strength Test
To test the "Plus" claim, I printed a few functional parts—hooks for my pegboard and a stand for my phone.
- Snap Test: I tried to snap the printed hook by hand. It bent significantly before breaking, whereas standard PLA would have shattered instantly. This toughness makes it great for mechanical parts.
The Tangle Issue?
Some people online complain about cheap filament having messy winding (tangles). The rolls I received were "Neatly Wound" (it actually says that on the box), and I had zero tangles during a 14-hour print. It seems Sunlu has improved their quality control recently.
The Verdict
If you are printing decorative items, prototypes, or functional parts that don't need to be heat-resistant (it's still PLA, so don't leave it in a hot car), this is the best bang for your buck.
You should buy it if:
- You print a lot and want to save money.
- You need functional parts that are tougher than standard PLA.
- You have an AMS/MMU and want affordable colors for multicolor prints.
You should skip it if:
- You need a specific matte finish (this is slightly glossy).
- You require engineering-grade heat resistance (use PETG or ABS instead).
🔥 Bulk Deal: You can often find "bundle deals" on Amazon where the price drops even lower if you buy 2 or more rolls.