Materials
Materials we print
Everyday plastics, engineering plastics and specialty resins, all printed in our own production facility. Not sure which one? Upload your file and press Help me choose: tell us what the part does and we’ll suggest a material.
Plastic or resin?
Plastic (FDM): strong and affordable
Built up from melted plastic in fine layers. The best value for working parts: brackets, mounts, enclosures, tools, large parts. Choose how strong you need it. Layer lines are visible up close.
About plastic printing →Resin (SLA): smooth and detailed
Cured from liquid resin with light. Fine detail and smooth surfaces: miniatures, small precise parts, clear and rubber-like parts, molds. Always solid. Smaller sizes than plastic.
About resin printing →Choose by what your part needs
Our rules of thumb. The part’s job comes first; budget chooses among the materials that can do it.
| Your part needs | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest cost, no special needs | PLAStiff, crisp and the cheapest. Indoors, at room temperature. | Stiff, crisp and the cheapest. Indoors, at room temperature. |
| Everyday working part | PETGTough, handles water and mild heat, many colors. | Tough, handles water and mild heat, many colors. |
| Clips, snap-fits, hinges | PETG, Tough (PAU20)Bend a little instead of snapping. Tough resin for small, detailed ones. | Bend a little instead of snapping. Tough resin for small, detailed ones. |
| Must not bend or sag | PET-CFCarbon fiber makes it very stiff: long arms, heavy loads, precision jigs. | Carbon fiber makes it very stiff: long arms, heavy loads, precision jigs. |
| Large flat or long part | PETG, PET-CF, PET-GFThese stay flat at any size; ABS, ASA and PC can warp. | These stay flat at any size; ABS, ASA and PC can warp. |
| Outdoors, in the sun | ASA, PET-CFASA won't fade; PET-CF for outdoor parts under load. | ASA won't fade; PET-CF for outdoor parts under load. |
| Underwater or always wet | PETGChoose Heavy strength so it's dense and sinks. | Choose Heavy strength so it's dense and sinks. |
| Warm: up to about 90 °C | ABS, ASACar interiors, near electronics and motors. | Car interiors, near electronics and motors. |
| Hard hits and heat | Polycarbonate (PC)Our toughest rigid plastic, to about 110 °C. | Our toughest rigid plastic, to about 110 °C. |
| Very hot: engine bays, hot fluids | PPA-GF, Nylon CF (PA6-CF)Glass and carbon fiber engineering nylons. | Glass and carbon fiber engineering nylons. |
| Extreme heat, chemicals, flame | PPS-CFResists almost all solvents and fuels; flame retardant. | Resists almost all solvents and fuels; flame retardant. |
| Flexible and rubbery | TPU, PEBA, Elastic (PAE10)TPU for most; PEBA for springiness; Elastic resin for soft, detailed parts. | TPU for most; PEBA for springiness; Elastic resin for soft, detailed parts. |
| As light as possible | PLA-Aero, PEBA Air, TPU AirFoaming plastics: rigid, springy or soft. | Foaming plastics: rigid, springy or soft. |
| Miniatures and figurines | Standard Resin · Grey (PARP10)Fine detail, survives thin swords and staffs, ready to paint. | Fine detail, survives thin swords and staffs, ready to paint. |
| Looks like a molded product | Standard Resin · Black (PAS10)Sand it and add a Matte coat. | Sand it and add a Matte coat. |
| See-through | Clear (PAT10)Crystal clear or frosted finishing. | Crystal clear or frosted finishing. |
| Injection-mold inserts | Tooling (PAH270)Resin rated to 270 °C, for short runs. | Resin rated to 270 °C, for short runs. |
Plastics (FDM)
Everyday
- PLAGeneral purpose, great surface finish+141
- Metal PLAReal metal powder in PLA: heavy, cast-metal look; sand, polish or patina it
- Wood PLAReal wood fibers in PLA: matte, woody look; sand and stain it
- PETGTougher, handles heat, water & sun+21
- TPUFlexible & rubbery: gaskets, bumpers, grips (black)
- ABSTough & heat resistant, the classic engineering plastic (black)
- ASALike ABS, but outdoor-rated: won't fade or yellow in sun+1
Engineering & specialty
- Polycarbonate (PC)Very impact resistant, holds up to heat (black)
- Nylon CF (PA6-CF)Carbon fiber nylon: stiff, strong, lightweight (black)
- TPU-GFGlass fiber TPU: flexible but firmer, holds its shape & size better (black)
- PET-CFCarbon fiber PET: stiff, strong & stays flat on large parts
- PET-GFGlass fiber PET: rigid, very dimensionally stable
- PPA-GFHigh-temp glass fiber nylon: engine bays & hot fluids (black)
- PPS-CFExtreme heat & chemical resistance, flame retardant (black)
- PLA-AeroFoaming lightweight PLA: very light parts for RC planes, props & cosplay
- PEBASpringy, tough flexible: bounces back better than TPU
- PEBA AirFoaming PEBA: soft, light & springy cushioning (black)
- TPU AirFoaming TPU: very soft & light, for padding and grips (black)
- PETG V0 (Flame-Retardant PETG)Flame-retardant PETG that stops burning on its own, good for electronics cases
- PVB (Smoothable Clear)Clear plastic that turns glossy and glass-like after a wipe with rubbing alcohol
- ASA-GFGlass fiber ASA: stiff, heat- and sun-resistant for outdoor and car parts
- PC Space Grade (ESD-safe PC)Carbon-filled polycarbonate: anti-static, heat resistant & low outgassing for electronics
- ASA-CFCarbon fiber ASA: stiff, matte, sun- and weather-proof for outdoor parts
- ABS-FR (Flame Retardant)Flame-retardant ABS: puts itself out within seconds, great for electronics enclosures
- ABS-CFCarbon fiber ABS: very stiff, light, matte black parts that handle heat up to ~85 °C
- ABS-GFGlass fiber ABS: stiff, heat-resistant parts with a matte finish that hides layer lines
- PPA-CFCarbon fiber high-temp nylon: very stiff, strong, matte black, handles oil & chemicals
Resins (SLA)
Everyday
Engineering & specialty
- Tough (PAU20)Polycarbonate-like: strongest resin, stiff & impact resistant (black)
- Wear-Resistant (PAWR10)Hard, slippery surface for joints, sliding & repeated use
- High-Temp (PAH10)Rigid, holds shape up to 110 °C
- Clear (PAT10)Acrylic-like clarity, resists yellowing
- Tooling (PAH270)Low-volume injection molds, to 270 °C (white)
- Elastic (PAE10)Soft rubber-like resin, Shore 49A (translucent)
Ready when you areSee your part in 3D and your price in seconds. An engineer checks every order before we print.