Four small 3D-printed dinosaur figures with segmented, articulated bodies, in navy, lilac, green and yellow.
  • The four printed dinosaurs seen larger and separated — blue, yellow, green and lilac — the print layers visible along their segmented bodies.

These polylactic acid dinosaurs (PLA) were 3D-printed using PLA filament, a thermoplastic monomer derived from the fermentation of renewable plant-based materials such as corn starch and sugar cane.

Composition

Polylactic acid (PLA) filament, plant sugar or starch

Handling Notes

  • PLA is plant-derived but not home compostable—it requires industrial composting facilities to break down
  • Avoid using heat guns, direct sunlight, and hot environments to prevent warping or a change in shape

Applications in Craft

Keywords

Provenance

Open Source from Dr. Lex. Acquired 2024.

In Use

Have you used this material?

Please contact Mellanee Goodman, Program Director, Curator, and Materials Specialist, to start a conversation about submitting your work for inclusion on this site.

mgoodman@centerforcraft.org