Materials

The right material.
A better print.

From display pieces to working parts, the material makes a difference. Compare finishes, flexibility and heat suitability, then explore examples to find a good fit for your project.

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Blue, ivory and charcoal filament reels with illustrative printed brackets, a planter, gear and flexible ring

Explore our materials

Click or tap a material for a printed example and a quick guide to its characteristics.

Popular materials

PLA+

A practical starting point for indoor models, prototypes and everyday accessories.

Examples & advice
Illustrative 3D printed cobalt blue desktop phone stand
Desktop phone stand
Key characteristics
  • Uses: indoor models, prototypes and desk accessories.
  • Feel: rigid, with crisp detail and a smooth finish.
  • Heat: low resistance (avoid hot cars and radiators).
  • Choose for: everyday indoor projects at good value.
Matte ivory PLA filament reel

PLA Matte

A low-sheen finish for display models and decorative indoor pieces.

Examples & advice
Illustrative 3D print: a small matte ivory geometric desktop planter, empty
Decorative desk planter
Key characteristics
  • Uses: decorative models, display pieces and covers.
  • Finish: soft, low-sheen appearance (less reflective).
  • Heat: low resistance; best for ordinary indoor use.
  • Choose for: appearance rather than added strength.

PETG

Tough and slightly yielding, for useful clips, brackets and everyday functional parts.

Examples & advice
Illustrative 3D printed teal functional cable mounting bracket with two screw holes
Cable mounting bracket
Key characteristics
  • Uses: clips, brackets and practical accessories.
  • Feel: tough, with a little give (less brittle than standard PLA).
  • Heat: generally handles warmth better than PLA (grade-dependent).
  • Environment: useful around moisture; choose ASA for prolonged sun.

ABS

For rigid functional housings where heat and impact resistance matter.

Examples & advice
Illustrative 3D printed grey two-piece electronics enclosure with small ventilation slots
Electronics enclosure
Key characteristics
  • Uses: functional housings, covers and prototypes.
  • Feel: rigid and impact resistant (useful for knocks and bumps).
  • Heat: better resistance than PLA (exact limit depends on grade).
  • Environment: mainly indoors; sunlight can cause deterioration.

Engineering / high-temp materials

ASA

UV-resistant material for outdoor covers, mounts and housings.

Examples & advice
Illustrative 3D printed orange outdoor sensor housing with sloping rain hood
Outdoor sensor housing
Key characteristics
  • Uses: outdoor mounts, housings and covers.
  • Environment: resists UV (sunlight) and weathering.
  • Heat: suited to warmer conditions (confirm grade and load).
  • Bear in mind: weather resistant does not mean waterproof.

PC (Polycarbonate)

Tough engineering plastic for functional parts facing heat and impact.

Examples & advice
Illustrative 3D print: a dark grey rigid protective machine switch guard
Protective switch guard
Key characteristics
  • Uses: protective covers and demanding functional housings.
  • Feel: tough and impact resistant (resists knocks).
  • Heat: suitable grades handle elevated temperatures.
  • Before ordering: tell us the working temperature and load.

PA / Nylon

For durable moving parts, gears and components that experience wear.

Examples & advice
Illustrative 3D print: a black nylon spur gear with evenly spaced mechanically plausible teeth and central bore
Small mechanism gear
Key characteristics
  • Uses: gears, guides and parts that rub or slide.
  • Feel: tough and wear resistant, with some flexibility.
  • Heat: performance varies by nylon grade and load.
  • Moisture: absorbs water (can change fit and stiffness).

PPA

A specialist polyamide option for demanding engineering applications.

Examples & advice
Illustrative 3D print: a black compact high-temperature cable routing clip with mounting base
Equipment cable-routing clip
Key characteristics
  • Uses: specialist clips, fittings and engineering parts.
  • Material: a high-performance nylon family (properties vary by grade).
  • Heat: suited to demanding applications after a grade check.
  • Choose for: engineering needs; PPA-CF is the fibre-filled option.

Flexible materials

TPU

Flexible and rubber-like, for grips, feet, bumpers and parts that bend.

Examples & advice
Illustrative 3D printed purple flexible protective corner bumper
Protective corner bumper
Key characteristics
  • Uses: grips, feet, bumpers and protective covers.
  • Feel: flexible and rubber-like (cushions contact and vibration).
  • Flexibility: depends on hardness and design (thicker walls feel firmer).
  • Heat: confirm the grade for warm environments.

Fibre-reinforced composites

PA-CF

Carbon-fibre-filled nylon for stiff fixtures and functional components.

Examples & advice
Illustrative 3D print: a matte black robotic gripper jaw with bolt holes
Robotic gripper jaw
Key characteristics
  • Uses: stiff brackets, gripper jaws and fixtures.
  • Material: nylon with carbon fibre (CF increases stiffness).
  • Heat: depends on the nylon grade and working load.
  • Moisture: can affect fit; print direction also affects strength.

PA-GF

Glass-fibre-filled nylon for rigid tooling, fixtures and housings.

Examples & advice
Illustrative 3D print: a matte black thick workshop alignment block with two guide bores
Workshop alignment block
Key characteristics
  • Uses: alignment blocks, tooling and rigid housings.
  • Material: nylon with glass fibre (GF increases stiffness).
  • Heat: confirm the grade for the intended temperature and load.
  • Moisture: can affect dimensions (important for close-fitting parts).

PET-CF

Carbon-fibre-filled PET for stiff parts with low moisture uptake.

Examples & advice
Illustrative 3D print: a matte black stiff camera mounting plate with screw holes
Camera mounting plate
Key characteristics
  • Uses: mounting plates and fixtures that need to hold their shape.
  • Material: PET with carbon fibre (a different material from PETG).
  • Moisture: low uptake helps maintain fit in humid conditions.
  • Heat: grade and post-processing determine suitability.

PPA-CF

Carbon-fibre-filled PPA for demanding, stiff engineering parts.

Examples & advice
Illustrative 3D print: a matte black compact ribbed equipment mounting bracket
Ribbed equipment bracket
Key characteristics
  • Uses: equipment brackets and demanding engineering fixtures.
  • Material: PPA with carbon fibre (stiff and reinforced).
  • Heat: suited to demanding thermal applications after a grade check.
  • Design: load and print direction matter (strength varies by direction).

PPS-CF

A specialist composite for heat and chemical-resistance requirements.

Examples & advice
Illustrative 3D print: a matte black chemical-process sensor mounting saddle
Process sensor mount
Key characteristics
  • Uses: specialist industrial fixtures and sensor mounts.
  • Material: PPS with carbon fibre (a stiff engineering composite).
  • Heat: a specialist option for high temperatures (grade check required).
  • Chemicals: suitability depends on the substance and temperature.

Support materials

White PVA filament reel

PVA

Water-soluble support material for compatible multi-material prints.

Examples & advice
Illustrative 3D print: a blue 3D printed arch model with cream white sacrificial support pillars beneath its arch
Water-soluble supports beneath an arch
Key characteristics
  • Uses: temporary supports beneath overhangs and inside cavities.
  • Removal: dissolves in water (helps with hard-to-reach supports).
  • Role: supports the model; usually removed from the finished print.
  • Compatibility: selected to suit the main printing material.
White HIPS filament reel

HIPS

A support option often paired with ABS; also usable for some models.

Examples & advice
Illustrative 3D print: a grey 3D printed overhanging housing resting on clearly separate white sacrificial support lattice
Sacrificial supports beneath a housing
Key characteristics
  • Uses: supports for suitable ABS prints and lightweight prototypes.
  • Feel: lightweight, rigid and impact resistant.
  • Removal: compatible solvent process required (not water-soluble).
  • Heat: confirm grade if it will form part of the finished item.

Available colours are shown in the quote tool. Exact grades, heat limits and suitability are confirmed during review.