The material you choose decides how your part behaves in the real world — how strong it is, how much heat it can take and how it looks. Here we walk through the most common materials we work with, what they're good at and where they fall short.
FDM materials — filament melted layer by layer
Most functional parts are printed in FDM, where a plastic filament is melted and laid down layer upon layer.
- PLA — easiest to print, with sharp detail and fine surfaces. Stiff but brittle, and softens already at around 55–60 °C. Perfect for prototypes, models and decoration. Read more in our PLA vs PETG comparison.
- PETG — tougher and more heat resistant than PLA (~70–80 °C). Handles moisture and a knock. Good for enclosures, brackets and parts that will actually be used.
- ABS — impact and heat resistant, and can be smoothed with acetone for a glossy finish. Needs an enclosed chamber and can shrink, so it suits technical parts rather than fine models.
- ASA — essentially a UV-stable ABS. The first choice for parts that live outdoors and need to take sun and weather without fading.
- Nylon (PA) — very tough and wear resistant with low friction. Excellent for gears, hinges and moving parts. It absorbs moisture and must be kept dry.
- TPU — flexible and rubber-like. Used for seals, dampers, grips and bendable parts.
Composites — reinforced filament
Many materials also come with added carbon fibre or glass fibre, such as PETG-CF or nylon-CF. The fibres make the part stiffer and more dimensionally stable, which is valuable for brackets and structural parts. The surface becomes matte and slightly rough, and the material wears equipment harder.
Resin — for the finest detail (SLA)
Resin is cured with UV light instead of being melted. The result is extremely detailed with smooth surfaces, which makes it ideal for figurines, jewellery models and small technical parts. Standard resin is, however, often more brittle and less heat resistant than FDM plastics, although tough and durable variants exist.
How to choose
Think about how the part will be used rather than which material sounds best:
- Just needs to look good or fit: PLA or resin.
- Will be used and loaded: PETG or nylon.
- Outdoors in sun and weather: ASA.
- Needs to flex: TPU.
- Maximum stiffness: a carbon-fibre composite.
Not sure what suits your part best? Compare the materials side by side, see all our materials or upload your model and get a quote with material suggestions right away.