PLA / PLA+
Standard
Easy printing • crisp detail
Low warp, excellent surface detail and a wide colour range. A strong first choice for many projects.
Good for: Prototypes, display models, fixtures, signs, housings and general indoor parts.
FDM MATERIAL OPTIONS
3D Printing Materials
From everyday PLA and PETG to polycarbonate, nylon, TPU and fibre-reinforced engineering filaments, material selection is matched to how your part needs to perform.
Standard MaterialsPLA, PETG, ABS & ASA
EngineeringPC, Nylon, PCTG, PP
FlexibleTPU & TPE
CompositesCarbon & glass fibre options
Material availability: Standard materials are the quickest to quote. Engineering, flexible, reinforced and specialty filaments may require manual review, sourcing, drying, hardened-nozzle hardware or project-specific testing. We will confirm the exact material before production.
MATERIAL GUIDE
Choose the right filament for the job
Strength, flexibility, heat, UV exposure, chemical resistance, surface finish and cost can all change which material is the best fit.
Everyday & General Purpose
3 options
PETG
Standard
Tough • moisture resistant
Good layer bonding, chemical/moisture resistance and useful impact toughness.
Good for: Functional parts, brackets, enclosures, outdoor-adjacent applications and parts that need more flex than PLA.
PCTG
By request
Impact resistant • clear options
A glycol-modified polyester related to PETG, often selected for higher impact performance and clarity.
Good for: Durable functional parts, containers, guards and applications where PETG-like handling with added toughness is useful.
Heat, Weather & Engineering
5 options
ABS
Standard
Heat-conscious • machinable
Good toughness and temperature performance. Best used when dimensional stability and post-processing matter.
Good for: Functional housings, mechanical parts, automotive-adjacent components and parts that may be sanded or post-processed.
ASA
Standard
UV & weather resistant
ABS-like mechanical properties with much better UV/weather resistance.
Good for: Outdoor enclosures, vehicle accessories, signage, brackets and functional parts exposed to sunlight.
Polycarbonate (PC)
By request
High strength • higher temperature
Very strong and temperature capable, but requires careful print conditions and project review.
Good for: Strong engineering components, guards, fixtures, mechanical parts and applications needing better heat resistance.
Nylon (PA6 / PA12 / CoPA)
By request
Tough • wear resistant
Excellent toughness, fatigue resistance and low-friction behaviour. Moisture control is important.
Good for: Gears, hinges, clips, bushings, moving parts, tooling and impact-resistant functional components.
Polypropylene (PP)
By request
Flexible • chemical resistant
Excellent fatigue and chemical resistance, but bed adhesion and warping require specialized handling.
Good for: Living hinges, containers, clips and applications needing low density and chemical resistance.
Flexible Materials
2 options
TPU
By request
Flexible • abrasion resistant
Available in different Shore hardness levels. Geometry and softness affect printability and lead time.
Good for: Feet, bumpers, protective covers, seals, flexible mounts, grips and impact-absorbing parts.
TPE
By request
Soft • elastic
Softer grades can be more difficult to feed and may need project-specific testing.
Good for: Very flexible grips, seals, dampers and specialty soft-touch parts.
Reinforced & Composite Filaments
5 options
PLA-CF
By request
Stiff • matte finish
Carbon-fibre filled PLA improves stiffness and surface finish. Abrasion-resistant nozzles are required.
Good for: Rigid prototypes, jigs, fixtures and appearance parts where dimensional stability is useful.
PETG-CF
By request
Tough • stiff
Combines PETG durability with carbon-fibre reinforcement and a technical matte appearance.
Good for: Functional fixtures, brackets, enclosures and production aids needing more rigidity than regular PETG.
Nylon-CF / PA-CF
By request
Engineering strength • wear resistant
A strong engineering composite with excellent stiffness-to-weight performance. Dry filament and hardened hardware are important.
Good for: Robotics, tooling, structural brackets, machine components and demanding functional parts.
PC-CF
By request
High strength • heat capable
A demanding engineering composite suited to carefully reviewed applications.
Good for: High-load fixtures, engineering housings and technical parts needing stiffness plus elevated-temperature performance.
Glass-Fibre Reinforced
By request
Stiff • dimensionally stable
Available in selected polymer bases such as nylon or PETG depending on the application.
Good for: Tooling, fixtures, brackets and functional parts where rigidity and dimensional stability are priorities.
Support & Specialty Materials
6 options
HIPS
By request
Support / functional plastic
Can be useful as a support material and also as a printable thermoplastic in its own right.
Good for: Breakaway support for compatible materials, lightweight models and selected functional parts.
PVA / BVOH
By request
Water-soluble support
Used primarily as dissolvable support material. Compatibility depends on the model material and geometry.
Good for: Complex models, internal channels and geometry where conventional supports are difficult to remove.
Wood-Filled PLA
By request
Decorative • wood-like
PLA blended with wood fibres for a warmer, natural-looking finish. Nozzle and detail requirements are reviewed per job.
Good for: Display pieces, signs, props, ornaments and decorative products.
Metal-Filled PLA
By request
Decorative • heavier feel
Contains metal powder for appearance and feel; it is not equivalent to a fully metal manufactured part.
Good for: Props, display pieces, awards and decorative parts where a metallic appearance or weight is desired.
Conductive / ESD-Safe
By request
Specialty electrical applications
Performance varies significantly by filament. Electrical requirements must be reviewed before production.
Good for: Enclosures, fixtures and components where static-control or limited conductivity is required.
Other Specialty Filaments
Manual review
Project-specific sourcing
If you have a specific manufacturer/material in mind, include the exact filament name or datasheet with your quote.
Good for: Flame-retardant grades, high-flow materials, specialty colours, filled polymers and application-specific filaments.
QUICK SELECTION GUIDE
Not sure what to choose?
Tell us what the part does and the environment it will live in. We can recommend a practical starting material and identify when an engineering or specialty filament is worth the extra cost.
Best general-purpose starting pointPLA / PLA+
Tougher functional partsPETG
Outdoor / UV exposureASA
Heat + engineering strengthPC
Wear, gears, hinges & toughnessNylon
Flexible / impact absorbingTPU
Maximum stiffnessCF / GF composites
Have a specific material in mind?
Upload your model and tell us the application. Specialty selections are automatically routed for manual material and pricing review.
