Print Profiles
Lightweight aircraft printing without the guesswork.
BANDITO is designed around foaming LW-PLA airframe parts, PETG structural hardware, and thin TPU elevon hinges. These profiles and notes are intended to help you print clean, light, repeatable parts that stay close to the target masses used in the aircraft design.
Example LW-PLA airframe parts as they come off the printer. Before assembly, remove strings, blobs, and support marks as needed, then check fitment and part mass.
Recommended setup
The supplied WUDFLY LW-PLA profiles are intended for compatible Bambu Lab printers and lightweight foaming PLA. If you use another printer, calibrate your own foaming LW-PLA profile and check your part masses against the BANDITO BOM.
Why mass matters
BANDITO is built around a strict sub-250 g target. Small variations are normal, but consistently heavy parts usually mean your LW-PLA flow, foaming behaviour, or slicer profile needs adjustment.
Not vase mode
BANDITO does not require vase-mode printing. The main airframe uses simple single-wall style lightweight printing with low gyroid infill and carefully placed supports.
Fitment first
Remove strings, blobs, and support marks as needed, but do not chase cosmetic perfection. The goal is clean fitment, correct alignment, and parts that assemble without force.
LW-PLA baseline settings
These are the core values used for the BANDITO LW-PLA profile. Treat them as a reference point, not a universal guarantee. Different printers, nozzles, filament batches, and environments may need calibration.
Material
- Filament: foaming LW-PLA
- Diameter: 1.75 mm
- Density: approx. 0.6 g/cm³
- Flow ratio: 0.48
- Max volumetric speed: 10 mm³/s
Temperature
- Nozzle: 250°C
- Initial layer: 250°C
- Build plate: 55°C
- Initial bed temp: 55°C
- Plate types: cool / hot / textured plate at 55°C
Cooling
- Fan off: first layer
- Fan range: 20–30%
- Aux fan: 20%
- Overhang fan: enabled
- Overhang fan speed: 100%
Process
- Layer height: 0.24 mm
- Line width: 0.4 mm
- Infill: 3% gyroid for most LW-PLA parts
- Speeds: around 50 mm/s for main print moves
- Supports: disabled by default, painted where required
Part-specific LW-PLA notes
Several BANDITO parts need specific orientation and support painting. Use these notes as a quick reminder, then follow the images and steps in the full manual when preparing your files.
-
Front fuselage:
Support the front FC bay and nose overhangs. Block supports from the fuselage tab slots and magnet recesses. -
Rear fuselage:
Support the wire channels, GPS/RX bays, and rear FC bay areas. Exclude the marked no-support areas. -
Wing panels:
Support the overhanging surfaces inside the servo pocket. Do not generate supports in the servo slot or wing root. -
Elevons:
Print vertically on the flat leading-edge surface. Support the angled underside section. Use the higher elevon infill setting supplied in the profile. -
Camera mount:
Orient around 45° to the build plate. Paint supports along the contact edges and across the overhanging top surface. -
Canopy front / rear:
Stand the part on its leg and paint supports only on the overhanging sections shown in the manual. -
Small LW-PLA parts:
Use the supplied orientation for FC mounts, camera support, and servo covers. Keep the parts clean and light. -
Cleanup:
Remove strings, blobs, and support marks. Focus on fitment, not cosmetic perfection. Parts should close without large gaps.
PETG structural parts
PETG is used where extra toughness, heat resistance, or structural reliability is needed. This is especially important for the motor mount, which sees motor heat and flight loads.
Motor mount
- Material: PETG recommended
- PLA: not recommended
- Reason: heat and mechanical load
- Check: fastener holes and layer adhesion
Fuselage bulkhead
- Material: PETG
- Structure: minimal internal reinforcement
- Goal: strength without unnecessary mass
Small PETG parts
- Parts: fuse tab, elevon horn, canopy pin, canopy latch
- Goal: reliable fasteners and wear areas
- Check: clean walls and good layer adhesion
Print quality
- Avoid: weak layer bonding
- Avoid: excessive stringing
- Check: fastener fit before final assembly
TPU elevon hinges
The elevon hinges are printed as extremely thin TPU strips. Bed cleanliness and careful first-layer handling matter more than aggressive slicer settings.
Geometry
- Thickness: 0.2 mm
- Print style: single layer on the bed
- Orientation: square to the bed axes
Bed prep
- Plate: clean PEI or engineering plate
- Glue stick: thin, even layer
- Purpose: adhesion and release layer
Printing
- First layer: print slowly
- Do not rush: long hinge lines need clean movement
- Remove: purge lines or flow calibration that cross the hinge
Removal
- Cool first: let the plate cool
- Remove carefully: avoid stretching the strip
- Inspect: clean edges and consistent width
Before assembly
Printed aircraft parts do not need to look perfect, but they do need to be light, aligned, and structurally sound.
- Weigh your parts: compare printed part masses with the BANDITO BOM reference masses.
- Check foaming behaviour: if most parts are heavy, recalibrate LW-PLA flow and temperature.
- Dry fit first: tabs, slots, magnets, wing roots, and canopy joints should seat without force.
- Clean only what matters: remove strings, support marks, and blobs that affect fitment.
- Keep sanding minimal: protect yourself from dust, especially when carbon fiber is involved.
- Use the manual: profile notes are a quick reference; the manual is the full build guide.
Download the profile pack
Use the WUDFLY profile pack as your starting point for BANDITO LW-PLA parts. For other printers, use these settings as a calibration target and confirm the final part weights before building.
Profile status
Tested for BANDITO using the recommended lightweight aircraft workflow. Updates may be released as the aircraft and documentation improve.