Mixing PLA with PETG: PrusaSlicer multi-material interlocking

[Zoips]

In episode 575, Toby questioned the mechanical integrity of prints mixing PLA with PETG. I'm just wondering what folks are thinking about Prusa's new feature in V 2.9.2 of PrusaSlicer.

"Bond any filaments with multi-material interlocking!
PrusaSlicer can now interlock neighboring parts made from different materials, creating a cross-hatching boundary between them. This creates a bond for filaments that don’t usually stick together, such as PLA, PETG, and FLEX, greatly simplifying the process of printing on multi-extruder printers like Prusa XL."

https://files.prusa3d.com/?latest=slicer-stable&lng=en

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

You want an opinion? Ok…

It’s yet another solution for a non problem.

Simply use materials that bond together in the first place.

[Sophie]

I can see this being useful 

I've actually already printed an idea like this for an outdoor frisbee I needed for camping!

Made it out of TPU and PLA and the two areas were hatched together to ensure a good bond

Credit to the designer - Eternity Labs (They make some pretty cool stuff by the way might be good for a thing of the week here and there) Link to their Frisbee

 

[Sophie]

I meant interlocked - not "hatched" in this case

[Kurt Gluck]

Cool

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Hey Sophie - I really LOVED the pics for the Interlocking for the Frisbee design - that is pretty Damn SWEET!!!!!

You're using 2 nozzles to print the 2 materials. At least I suspect that is indeed what you're doing!

But, yeah - just seeing how it interlocks the 2 diverse filaments together - is really, really WILD!

However, I do have to ask. I'd like to know a little more about why those 2 different materials to begin with? Why not both of them being TPU (but, yeah - 2 different colors of TPU)???

 -K 

On Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 6:33:18 PM UTC-4 Sophie wrote:

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

I've never had an issue with TPU and PLA not bonding. I've used TPU for hinges and all sorts of other things without needing a mechanical interface beyond the two materials simply fusing.

Here's an example of something I printed way back when I first got my E3D Toolchanger that intermixes TPU with PLA:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3515796

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Yeah Andy - I do Indeed remember you posting about printing the Chest piece - and that was pretty cool. 

Although, now I'm surprised by your comment of TPU/PLA fusing together. Since, recently, someone posted a video a dude did - with PLA as supports for TPU - and they came apart easily - but, stuck together well enough that the print worked Great! It was a kind of Bellows design that the guy did...

-K

[Bryan Eckert]

This is an "Aerobie" style disc. They came around in the 90's and had a solid core with a rubberish outer coating. Set the world record at that time for the longest throw (over a quarter mile!)

If it was all TPU it would flex too much to fly properly, it needs to be stiff. Hence the 2 materials.

https://www.aerobie.com/products/pro-ring-orange

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "3D Printing Tips and Tricks" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to 3d-printing-tips--...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/7505c629-f86d-4fb5-8532-fb58c70afd64n%40googlegroups.com.