Cold weather making my prints brittle any settings fix it?

[MeiLing]

My prints have started feeling a lot more brittle lately, and I’m guessing it’s the cold, dry air here in Utah. I haven’t changed my slicer settings much since summer, but the layers don’t seem to bond as well now. I’m running mostly PLA and PETG, and both are snapping easier than usual. I tried bumping the nozzle temp a few degrees, but it only helped a little. Anyone have slicer tweaks that work better for colder shops? I’m thinking slower cooling, maybe longer layer times or a higher bed temp, but I’d love to hear what’s actually working for others this time of year. It’s wild how fast print quality drops once the garage starts feeling like a fridge.

 

[Alan]

PLA especially gets brittle when ambient temps drop too low. A quick enclosure, slower print speed, and reduced fan speed usually do the trick. I’ve also heard of people pre-warming their filament spools to drive off moisture before printing. Anyone else using a filament dryer regularly this time of year?

 

[RosaBW]

cold garages wreck layer bonding. PLA especially gets weird. I’d try higher bed temp and drop the part cooling fan to like half for the first few layers. Even adding a simple enclosure or cardboard box around the printer made a bigger difference than any slicer tweak for me.