"Platinum" PLA for Macs and Apple ][s

ShadeDream

New Tinkerer
Feb 5, 2022
12
4
3
Austin, TX
It looks like the "new design" Panachrome Muted White's hex code has changed... looks like a worse match based on the hex codes... anybody tried the new color out?
 

Nycturne

Tinkerer
Dec 18, 2024
93
54
18
A) it's not as close
B) it prints like GARBAGE. It's soft, always stringy and has poor layer adhesion.

I agree the match isn't as good anymore, but it prints like PolyTerra to me. Haven't seen the stringiness even when printing at 230C (high-flow nozzle). But I do need to adjust the extrusion multiplier for PolyTerra when printing with a HF nozzle as I get a bit of under-extrusion compared to my usual PLAs (including PolyMaker's PLA).

Have you dried the spool you got?
 

GutBomb

New Tinkerer
Dec 28, 2022
7
8
3
I have two problems with the polyterra. whatever they put in it to make it "rough" textured stains my PTFE tubing and I'm sure it's getting buildup in the works of my printer, but the more serious one: parts printed with it just aren't reliable. I think it comes down to the same stuff, the additive that makes it terra-cotta-like keeps the layers from sticking well so once any stress is put on the part at all it just breaks at a layer line. I hate that the ColorFabb stuff is so expensive but that stuff is a) a perfect color match and b) printed parts are great. they have a tiny amount of flex to them so I can safely print SE and Plus reset/interrupt switches with them that won't break the first time I use them or worse, when removing supports, like with polyterra.
 

jcm-1

Tinkerer
I agree the match isn't as good anymore, but it prints like PolyTerra to me. Haven't seen the stringiness even when printing at 230C (high-flow nozzle). But I do need to adjust the extrusion multiplier for PolyTerra when printing with a HF nozzle as I get a bit of under-extrusion compared to my usual PLAs (including PolyMaker's PLA).

Have you dried the spool you got?
My spools are always dried and stored in a gasket sealed container with hygrometer and silica gel. :D

It's not moisture. The filament is garbage. It's soft, like chewy chocolate chip cookies. Put any stress on parts printed with it and it just peels or breaks apart.
 

jcm-1

Tinkerer
I have two problems with the polyterra. whatever they put in it to make it "rough" textured stains my PTFE tubing and I'm sure it's getting buildup in the works of my printer, but the more serious one: parts printed with it just aren't reliable. I think it comes down to the same stuff, the additive that makes it terra-cotta-like keeps the layers from sticking well so once any stress is put on the part at all it just breaks at a layer line. I hate that the ColorFabb stuff is so expensive but that stuff is a) a perfect color match and b) printed parts are great. they have a tiny amount of flex to them so I can safely print SE and Plus reset/interrupt switches with them that won't break the first time I use them or worse, when removing supports, like with polyterra.
Good point. I equate the stuff to a softer version of pre-aged spindler plastic. HA!
 
  • Haha
Reactions: mmu_man

Fizzbinn

Tinkerer
Nov 29, 2021
212
203
43
Charlottesville, VA
I've had no problem printing items with Polymaker Matte PLA Filament Matte Muted White on my Bambu Lab A1 mini, about 1/3 way through my spool now.
Polymaker PolyTerra™ PLA Muted White
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TR8N5T2 (unavailable now, bought mine Jan 2024)

Here's a retro inspired mouse I printed recently:

IMG_6645.jpeg


It looks like this is the replacement?:
Polymaker Panchroma™ Matte PLA Muted White

Are you guys saying you have problems printing with one or both of these? and/or the color on the new "muted white" is different, not as close to Apple Platinum? (it def was not an exact match for the older version, not bad either though) Anyone have a comparison picture?
 
Last edited:

jcm-1

Tinkerer
I've had no problem printing items with Polymaker Matte PLA Filament Matte Muted White on my Bambu Lab A1 mini, about 1/3 way through my spool now.
Polymaker PolyTerra™ PLA Muted White
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TR8N5T2 (unavailable now, bought mine Jan 2024)

Here's a retro inspired mouse I printed recently:

View attachment 21082

It looks like this is the replacement?:
Polymaker Panchroma™ Matte PLA Muted White

Are you guys saying you have problems printing with one or both of these? and/or the color on the new "muted white" is different, not as close to Apple Platinum? (it def was not an exact match for the older version, not bad either though) Anyone have a comparison picture?
The new version of it is a little warmer on the color. ColorFABB RAL 7044 is an almost exact match.

Problems with both. "Gooey" or "doughy" is how I would categorize the plastic. I've printed it on everything from a Creality Ender 3 Pro up to a Bambu Lab X1 Carbon.

Try using it with anything that takes stress: like non-brass screw bosses, or pressure clips, or any kind of small details.
 

jcm-1

Tinkerer
Here's a color comparison. Top is ColorFABB, bottom is PanChroma.

Also: look at that print finish. Same printer. Customized, tuned settings for both filaments (flow rate, pressure advance, temperature, feed rate). Printed on Creality K2 Pro. The bottom (PanChroma) prints like garbage.
IMG_5473.jpg
 
  • Angry
Reactions: GutBomb

Fizzbinn

Tinkerer
Nov 29, 2021
212
203
43
Charlottesville, VA
Maybe the issue is with newer batches, my older spool of PolyTerra PLA Muted White prints pretty good in detail. You've got me kinda worried about when I run out now, prob would have ordered (maybe will still order?) a spool of Panchroma™ Matte PLA Muted White.

Is the the ColorFABB filament available? What does it cost? Link?


IMG_6684.jpeg
 

jcm-1

Tinkerer
ColorFABB is available but:

a) it's expensive
b) If you are outside the EU, you have to contact them from their contact page and request a quote, because their website doesn't ship outside the EU.


If your printer is printing PanChroma better than mine, then keep using it. :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fizzbinn

nglayton

New Tinkerer
Sep 10, 2024
2
3
3
ColorFABB is available but:

a) it's expensive
b) If you are outside the EU, you have to contact them from their contact page and request a quote, because their website doesn't ship outside the EU.


If your printer is printing PanChroma better than mine, then keep using it. :D

Joe - give us the update on this!
 

jcm-1

Tinkerer
Joe - give us the update on this!
The update is:

Polar Filament has color matched Mac Platinum filament in stock now, for $21.99 per KG. That's it. That's the update!

I ran into Chris Auger at the SEMVCC meetup this year. He noticed the SE Mini case I had and asked about the color. I told him the story about ColorFABB. He said he had a place that was local to him that made color matched filament. WOO HOO.

I paid them a fee to color match the speaker box from inside my Mac Color Classic. Then, I paid them for 25KG of filament - all in about $900. In exchange, I asked them to release the color to the public so anyone can use it.

Go get a spool or three and let them know it's popular, so they keep making it!
 

asphaise

New Tinkerer
Oct 20, 2024
17
20
3
The update is:

Polar Filament has color matched Mac Platinum filament in stock now, for $21.99 per KG. That's it. That's the update!

I ran into Chris Auger at the SEMVCC meetup this year. He noticed the SE Mini case I had and asked about the color. I told him the story about ColorFABB. He said he had a place that was local to him that made color matched filament. WOO HOO.

I paid them a fee to color match the speaker box from inside my Mac Color Classic. Then, I paid them for 25KG of filament - all in about $900. In exchange, I asked them to release the color to the public so anyone can use it.

Go get a spool or three and let them know it's popular, so they keep making it!
Thanks for doing this. I just ordered a spool.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jcm-1

wottle

Active Tinkerer
Oct 30, 2021
716
468
63
47
Fort Mill, SC
The update is:

Polar Filament has color matched Mac Platinum filament in stock now, for $21.99 per KG. That's it. That's the update!

I ran into Chris Auger at the SEMVCC meetup this year. He noticed the SE Mini case I had and asked about the color. I told him the story about ColorFABB. He said he had a place that was local to him that made color matched filament. WOO HOO.

I paid them a fee to color match the speaker box from inside my Mac Color Classic. Then, I paid them for 25KG of filament - all in about $900. In exchange, I asked them to release the color to the public so anyone can use it.

Go get a spool or three and let them know it's popular, so they keep making it!
Since you seem to be in contact to them, one feedback maybe you could pass along is that their site doesn’t make it clear on the order page that shipping is available. When I went to the page before, it looked like they only offered local pickup.

if they could add something like “shipping available” under the description or where it only says “pickup available”, it might get them more sales.

I did just order a spool. Thanks for doing this! I expect once word gets out of hey will do pretty good business selling these.

IMG_9560.png
 

jcm-1

Tinkerer
Since you seem to be in contact to them, one feedback maybe you could pass along is that their site doesn’t make it clear on the order page that shipping is available. When I went to the page before, it looked like they only offered local pickup.

if they could add something like “shipping available” under the description or where it only says “pickup available”, it might get them more sales.

I did just order a spool. Thanks for doing this! I expect once word gets out of hey will do pretty good business selling these.

View attachment 21648
I'll let them know.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JDW and wottle