Hatchbox PLA Black: The Filament That Just Works

Hatchbox has built a reputation on consistency, and the PLA Black 1.75mm spool tested here lives up to it. Over 24 hours of continuous printing on a Prusa MK4 with a 0.4mm nozzle and 0.2mm layer height, the filament fed without a single jam and produced parts with measured diameter tolerance of ±0.02mm — well within spec.

Print Quality

First-layer adhesion was excellent on a textured PEI sheet at 60°C bed temperature with no glue or hairspray. The matte finish hides layer lines effectively on vertical surfaces, which is useful for cosplay props and display models where post-processing time matters. Bridging up to 50mm was clean at 210°C with part cooling fan at 100% after layer 3.

Mechanical Performance

Tensile testing yielded 56 MPa break strength along the print direction, with 6% elongation at break — typical PLA behavior. Interlayer adhesion held up under torsion better than the Overture PLA tested in the same conditions, though Polymaker PLA Pro still leads for functional parts that need impact resistance.

Value Verdict

At its current price point, Hatchbox PLA Black is the filament I reach for when reliability matters more than premium properties. For prototyping and visual prints it is hard to beat. For load-bearing parts, step up to PLA Pro or PETG.