3D Printing Materials

Explore Material Characteristics

PLA: Polylactic Acid

PLA produces clean detail and a rigid finish, making it useful for visual models, prototypes, decorative items, fit checks and many lightly loaded indoor components.

Typical uses:

• Display and decorative pieces
• Visual prototypes
• Fit and form models
• Indoor organisers
• Light-duty brackets
• Concept models
• Custom personal items

Advantages:

• Clean surface detail
• Good dimensional behaviour
• Wide colour availability
• Rigid feel
• Suitable for many indoor projects

Considerations:

• Lower heat resistance than several engineering materials
• Can be more brittle than PETG or nylon
• Not normally the first choice for demanding outdoor exposure
• May deform in hot vehicles or near heat sources
• Suitability depends on loading and geometry

Often suitable when appearance, rigidity and clean detail matter more than high heat or demanding mechanical use.

PETG: Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol

PETG is a versatile material that combines useful toughness, durability and chemical resistance for many functional indoor applications and some protected outdoor uses.

Typical uses:

• Functional brackets
• Equipment mounts
• Enclosures
• Replacement components
• Household parts
• Prototypes
• Production components

Advantages:

• Good general-purpose toughness
• Less brittle than standard PLA
• Useful layer adhesion
• Suitable for many functional parts
• Moderate chemical and moisture resistance

Considerations:

• Can show stringing or surface gloss
• Fine cosmetic finish may differ from PLA
• Can creep under sustained load
• Outdoor and heat suitability remain application dependent
• Exact behaviour varies by grade

A strong general-purpose option for many practical parts where toughness matters more than the crispest cosmetic finish.

ABS: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene

ABS is a durable engineering material used for functional components that may require improved heat performance and impact resistance compared with standard PLA.

Typical uses:

• Functional housings
• Equipment components
• Workshop parts
• Automotive interior accessories
• Brackets
• Enclosures
• Replacement components

Advantages:

• Useful impact resistance
• Improved temperature capability
• Suitable for many practical components
• Can be post-processed where agreed
• Good option for enclosed functional parts

Considerations:

• Cooling shrinkage can cause warping
• Large flat or thin geometry may require design consideration
• Surface appearance may vary with geometry
• Not inherently the best choice for prolonged ultraviolet exposure
• Suitability depends on environment and loading

Often considered for durable functional parts requiring greater temperature capability than ordinary PLA.

PA6: Nylon 6

PA6 is a tough engineering nylon for functional parts that need wear resistance and resistance to breaking, such as clips, guides, gears and moving mechanisms.

Typical uses:

• Functional mechanisms
• Gears and guides
• Clips and snap fits
• Wear-resistant parts
• Durable brackets
• Workshop components
• Production parts

Advantages:

• High toughness
• Good wear behaviour
• Useful fatigue resistance
• Handles repeated flexing and impact
• Suitable for many mechanical components

Considerations:

• Absorbs moisture from the air, which changes its behaviour
• Less stiff than PA6-CF
• Tight dimensions need careful review
• Surface finish is less cosmetic than PLA
• Final suitability should be tested for demanding applications

A good choice for tough functional parts where wear, repeated movement or resistance to breakage matters most.

PA6-CF: Nylon 6 Carbon Fibre

PA6-CF is nylon 6 reinforced with chopped carbon fibre. It is stiffer and holds its shape better than unfilled nylon, with a matte finish, for brackets, jigs, fixtures and structural parts.

Typical uses:

• Stiff brackets and mounts
• Jigs and fixtures
• Structural components
• Hinges and housings
• Replacement machine parts
• Trade and production batches

Advantages:

• High stiffness for its weight
• Good dimensional stability
• Strong, functional parts
• Matte finish that hides layer lines well
• Suits load-bearing parts

Considerations:

• Less flexible than unfilled PA6; it can snap rather than bend
• Absorbs moisture like other nylons
• Strength depends on print orientation
• Surface is matte and slightly fibrous, not glossy
• Final suitability should be tested for demanding applications

Often chosen when a part must stay stiff and keep its shape under load, such as brackets, fixtures and replacement machine parts.

PA12: Nylon 12

PA12 is an engineering nylon that absorbs less moisture than PA6, so its size and behaviour stay more consistent. It suits tough clips, housings and functional parts used in damp conditions.

Typical uses:

• Clips and snap fits
• Functional housings
• Parts used in damp conditions
• Durable brackets
• Moving components
• Production parts

Advantages:

• Tough and impact resistant
• Lower moisture uptake than PA6
• More consistent dimensions than PA6
• Good wear behaviour
• Suitable for many mechanical components

Considerations:

• Less stiff than PA6-CF
• Still absorbs some moisture
• Tight dimensions need careful review
• Surface finish is less cosmetic than PLA
• Final suitability should be tested for demanding applications

Considered for tough functional parts that need to keep their size and behaviour, including parts used in damp conditions.