PEEK filament: the numbers
Polyether ether ketone (industrial printer required). Typical uses: aerospace brackets, medical implants and instruments, semiconductor fixtures, high-temperature bearings.
1.3 g/cm³density (1.26–1.32)
320 mper kg at 1.75 mm
3.13 gper metre
380–420 °Cnozzle
120–160 °Cbed
1.2%linear shrinkage
$400typical per kg ($250–800)
250 °Cmax service temperature
Requiredenclosure
120 °C · 4 hdrying (low hygroscopic)
5/5difficulty · very-high strength · rigid
Printing tips
- Needs an all-metal 400 C+ hotend and an actively heated chamber of at least 80-150 C; hobby printers cannot print it.
- Anneal after printing to control crystallinity and reach full strength.
- Sold in 250-500 g spools; price the part by the gram.
Grams ↔ metres for PEEK
What a PEEK print costs
Questions about PEEK
What temperature should I print PEEK at?
Nozzle 380–420 °C and bed 120–160 °C are the usual range. Start in the middle and tune with a temperature tower; an enclosure is required to avoid warping and cracking.
How many metres of PEEK are in a 1 kg spool?
About 320 m at 1.75 mm (density 1.3 g/cm³). One metre weighs 3.13 g.
Does PEEK need drying?
Rarely for fresh spools. PEEK absorbs moisture slowly; dry at 120 °C for 4 hours if it has been open for months or prints with unexpected stringing.
How much does PEEK shrink?
About 1.2% linear. To compensate, scale X and Y by 101.21% in the slicer, or measure a test print and use the shrinkage calculator.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, jlc3dp.com, goodfellow.com