Why Customers Are Choosing Standard PLA for Complex Architectural Prints

     2025.05.07               NextShapes, Standard PLA, 3D Printing               ＜5 minute                                                                                       

A 3D printing enthusiast recently decided to take on a unique challenge after a casual chat with a friend: to recreate Shanghai’s iconic skyline—the "Shanghai Trio" consisting of the Shanghai Tower, the Shanghai World Financial Center, and the Jin Mao Tower.

As he searched for suitable printing materials, he was overwhelmed by the wide range of options available on the market, many of which varied in quality. After careful comparison and research, NextShapes’ Standard PLA stood out. It offered smooth and consistent extrusion, and with the official parameter pack, it delivered excellent results straight out of the box. The finished prints showed virtually no layer lines and exhibited a clean, high-quality surface finish.

Tough Where It Matters—Ideal for Complex Models
What truly impressed the customer was the material’s toughness and flexibility, especially critical for printing fragile features like thin spires or hollow decorative structures in architectural models. Standard PLA held up well even under light impact, resisting breakage and bouncing back from slight deformation, making it a perfect match for this intricate printing task.

Excited to begin, the customer fired up the printer. As the nozzle moved smoothly across the print bed, the Standard PLA extruded steadily and precisely. The outlines of the “Shanghai Trio” began to take shape with consistent flow and no material issues throughout the process.

Details That Pop—A Finish That Feels Real
Once the print was complete, the customer examined the model up close. The spiral lines of the Shanghai Tower, the distinctive cut-out in the World Financial Center, and the iconic crown of the Jin Mao Tower—all details were reproduced with stunning accuracy. The model surface was clean, smooth, and nearly free of visible layer lines.

He lightly tapped the spires and sharp corners and was pleased to find them solid and resilient. The material’s mechanical properties gave the final piece both precision and durability, even in its most delicate areas.

Looking at the lifelike "Shanghai Trio" in hand, the customer was thrilled. This successful print not only turned him into a loyal fan of Standard PLA but also renewed his excitement for future 3D printing projects.

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