Selecting the Right 3D Printing Material
Dive into the essential world of 3D printing materials with our comprehensive guide, designed to help you choose the perfect material for your project. Understand the properties, advantages, and applications of various materials to make informed decisions. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced maker, our guide will empower you to maximize the potential of your 3D printing endeavors.
Upload your files with confidence and security
Thermoplastics: A 3D Printing Materials Guide
Selecting the right material for your 3D printed project, especially if you’re new to the world of 3D printing, can seem like a daunting task. But it doesn’t have to be! Think of it like choosing the right tool for a specific job. Each material has its own unique set of characteristics, just like how you might choose a screwdriver for one task and a hammer for another.
Consider what you want your 3D printed object to do. Do you need it to be strong and rigid, or perhaps flexible and durable? Think about where it will be used – indoors, outdoors, or in extreme conditions. Some materials are better suited for certain situations than others.
If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry! Contact us today for support to assist you in making the right choice. With a bit of research and some guidance, you’ll find the perfect material that will bring your 3D printing project to life.
PLA
Most popular, biodegradable.
- Durability: PLA is moderately durable, suitable for many applications but not ideal for parts subjected to heavy stress or wear.
- UV Resistance: It is not UV-resistant and may degrade when exposed to prolonged sunlight.
- Flexibility: PLA is relatively rigid and less flexible compared to some other materials.
- Cost: PLA is one of the more affordable 3D printing materials, making it cost-effective for a wide range of projects.
- Print Quality: PLA is known for its excellent print quality, capturing intricate details and producing smooth surfaces.
- Applications: Commonly used for prototyping, architectural models, and artistic creations. Additionally, it is biodegradable and non-toxic.
PETG
Durable, impact-resistant.
- Durability: PETG is known for its durability and resistance to impact and stress, making it suitable for functional parts.
- UV Resistance: It offers good UV resistance, making it a suitable choice for outdoor applications.
- Flexibility: PETG has a moderate level of flexibility, providing some bend without breaking.
- Cost: PETG is moderately priced, falling between PLA and more specialized materials.
- Print Quality: PETG provides good print quality, with smooth surfaces and good layer adhesion.
- Applications: It is versatile and used for functional prototypes, mechanical parts, and consumer products.
TPU 90A
Flexible like rubber.
- Durability: TPU 90A is highly flexible and durable, ideal for applications requiring resilience and impact resistance.
- UV Resistance: It offers fair UV resistance but may degrade over time in prolonged sunlight exposure.
- Flexibility: TPU 90A is known for its flexibility and rubber-like properties.
- Cost: It tends to be more expensive compared to rigid plastics like PLA or PETG.
- Print Quality: TPU 90A can produce parts with a high level of detail, despite its flexibility.
- Applications: Commonly used for soft, flexible parts such as gaskets, phone cases, and prosthetics.
ABS
Strong, heat-resistant plastic.
- Durability: ABS offers good durability and impact resistance, making it suitable for functional parts.
- UV Resistance: It is not UV-resistant and may degrade when exposed to sunlight.
- Flexibility: ABS is rigid but less brittle compared to PLA, providing some flexibility.
- Cost: ABS is moderately priced.
- Print Quality: ABS can produce parts with good strength and durability.
- Applications: Commonly used for mechanical parts, automotive components, and consumer goods.
ASA
UV-resistant, durable, weatherproof.
- Durability: ASA offers excellent durability and UV resistance, making it suitable for outdoor applications.
- Flexibility: ASA is relatively rigid, similar to ABS.
- Cost: It is moderately priced, slightly more expensive than ABS.
- Print Quality: ASA can produce high-quality parts with good strength and resistance to weathering.
- Applications: Often chosen for outdoor signage, automotive parts, and functional prototypes that require weather resistance.
PC
Highly durable, impact-resistant.
- Durability: PC is known for its exceptional strength and durability.
- UV Resistance: It offers good UV resistance, making it suitable for outdoor use.
- Flexibility: PC is relatively rigid and not very flexible.
- Cost: PC is on the higher end in terms of cost among 3D printing materials.
- Print Quality: PC can produce high-quality, strong parts with good heat resistance.
- Applications: Ideal for parts requiring high impact resistance, such as protective gear, engineering components, and transparent prototypes.
Nylon PA6
Tough, flexible, abrasion-resistant.
- Durability: Nylon PA6 offers excellent durability and impact resistance.
- UV Resistance: It is not UV-resistant and may degrade when exposed to sunlight.
- Flexibility: Nylon PA6 exhibits flexibility and toughness.
- Cost: Nylon PA6 is moderately priced.
- Print Quality: It can produce high-quality, durable parts with good layer adhesion.
- Applications: Commonly used for engineering applications, gears, and parts requiring chemical resistance.
Carbon Fiber Nylon PA12-CF
Stiff, strong, lightweight.
- Durability: Carbon Fiber Nylon PA12-CF is exceptionally strong and durable due to carbon fiber reinforcement.
- UV Resistance: Like standard nylon, it is not UV-resistant.
- Flexibility: Due to its carbon fiber reinforcement, it is a highly rigid and strong material, offering minimal flexibility.
- Cost: It is among the more expensive 3D printing materials due to the added carbon fiber.
- Print Quality: It can produce high-strength, lightweight parts with good layer adhesion.
- Applications: Ideal for parts requiring high stiffness-to-weight ratios, such as aerospace components and high-performance mechanical parts.
Material properties are tested prior to the printing process
Kindly be advised that material properties are tested prior to the printing process. It is imperative to acknowledge that these properties have the potential to undergo alterations post-printing, attributable to factors such as layer adhesion, printing orientation, and print speed, among others.
| Material | Strength | Flexibility | Durability | Heat Resistance | Cost | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PLA
|
Low | Low | Medium | Low | $ | Decorative items, low-stress parts |
|
PETG
|
Medium | Medium | High | Medium | $ | Functional prototypes, outdoor parts |
|
TPU
|
Medium | Very High | High | Medium | $ | Flexible parts, phone cases |
| ABS | High | Low | High | High | $$ | Automotive parts |
| ASA | High | Low | High | High | $$ | Outdoor applications, automotive |
| PC | High | Low | Very High | Very High | $$ | Protective gear, strong functional parts |
|
Nylon
|
High | High | High | High | $$$ | Gears, hinges, mechanical components |
| Carbon Fiber Nylon | Very High | Low | Very High | Very High | $$$ | Aerospace, automotive, high-stress parts |
PLA (Polylactic Acid)
PLA is a biodegradable thermoplastic. Derived from renewable resources like cornstarch or sugarcane, PLA is environmentally friendly. It offers easy printing with low temperatures and produces objects with a smooth surface finish.
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)
PETG is a versatile and durable thermoplastic. PETG exhibits excellent impact resistance, and flexibility, making it suitable for functional parts and mechanical prototypes. It has a higher heat resistance compared to PLA and offers good chemical resistance as well. With its clarity, toughness, and resistance to moisture and UV light, PETG is a popular choice for applications requiring transparency or strength.
TPU 90A (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)
TPU is a flexible and elastic thermoplastic. It is known for its excellent durability, abrasion resistance, and high elasticity, making it suitable for applications requiring flexibility and impact absorption. It is commonly used for producing functional prototypes, wearable devices, and parts that require both strength and flexibility, such as phone cases, shoe soles, and seals. TPU also exhibits resistance to oils, chemicals, and UV light, adding to its versatility in various industries.
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
ABS is a widely used 3D printing material known for its balanced combination of strength, durability, and versatility. It exhibits good impact resistance and mechanical properties, making it suitable for functional prototypes, enclosures, and consumer products. ABS can be post-processed easily through sanding, painting, or acetone vapor smoothing, providing a smooth surface finish. Its ability to withstand higher temperatures than PLA makes it suitable for applications where heat resistance is required.
ASA (Acrylic Styrene Acrylonitrile)
ASA is a 3D printing material that shares similarities with ABS but offers enhanced weather resistance and UV stability. This makes ASA particularly well-suited for outdoor applications where exposure to sunlight and environmental factors is a concern. ASA retains its mechanical properties and appearance over extended periods of time outdoors, making it an ideal choice for functional parts, signage, and products intended for outdoor use.
PC (Polycarbonate)
PC is a strong and heat-resistant 3D printing material known for its high-impact strength and optical clarity. It can withstand high temperatures, making it suitable for applications requiring resistance to heat, such as functional prototypes, enclosures, and parts in automotive and engineering fields. PC’s durability and transparency make it an excellent choice for applications where both strength and visual clarity are important. Its resistance to chemicals further expands its potential uses.
Nylon PA6 (Polyamide 6)
Nylon, also known as polyamide, is a versatile 3D printing material valued for its exceptional durability, flexibility, and resistance to wear and abrasion. Nylon parts exhibit high tensile strength and can withstand repeated stress, making it suitable for producing functional components, gears, hinges, and parts requiring toughness.
Carbon Fiber Nylon PA12-CF (Polyamide 12 with Carbon Fiber)
Carbon Fiber Nylon PA12-CF is an advanced 3D printing material known for its exceptional strength, stiffness, and durability. It combines the robust properties of nylon with carbon fiber reinforcement, making it ideal for applications requiring high-performance, lightweight, and sturdy parts. This filament excels in applications such as aerospace, automotive, and structural engineering.