Materials Guide

PLA (polylactic acid) is the most popular 3D printing material. Made from renewable resources, it prints easily even without a heated bed and produces no strong fumes. PLA+ is its enhanced version with greater toughness and better layer adhesion — ideal when you need higher strength at a reasonable price.

• Decorations & gifts
• Prototypes
• Figurines
• School projects
• Signs & logos
• Organizers

PETG combines the print ease of PLA with the chemical and heat resistance of PET. Its low moisture absorption makes it suitable for food contact (when surface is smooth enough) and humid environments. Clear variants are popular for light diffusers and display cases.

• Mechanical parts
• Brackets & holders
• Waterproof containers
• Clear components
• Outdoor parts
• Food-contact parts

ASA is a modern replacement for ABS with significantly better UV and weathering resistance. It won't fade in sunlight and withstands frost and rain. ABS is a classic engineering plastic with good heat resistance and the option of chemical smoothing with acetone. Both materials suit demanding technical applications but require a heated bed and ideally an enclosed printer.

• Outdoor installations
• Garden parts
• Automotive components
• Electronics enclosures
• Industrial prototypes
• Functional replacement parts

TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) and related TPE are flexible materials with a rubber-like character. TPU parts absorb impacts, resist abrasion and return to shape after compression. Printing is slower and requires a direct-drive extruder, but the results — soft cases, gaskets or damping elements — cannot be replicated with other materials.

• Phone cases
• Gaskets & O-rings
• Anti-slip pads
• Damping elements
• Tool handles
• Sports equipment

Nylon (PA) combines high toughness with resistance to repeated dynamic stress. It is self-lubricating and suitable for gears, plain bearings and mechanical joints. PA-CF with short carbon fibers adds extreme stiffness while keeping weight low — resulting parts have strength comparable to metals. Both materials are moisture-sensitive and require filament drying before printing.

• Gears
• Plain bearings
• Hinges & clips
• Industrial parts
• Drones & RC models
• Machine spare parts

Polycarbonate is one of the toughest plastics available for FDM printing. It combines transparency, impact resistance and thermal stability — working reliably even above 130 °C. It requires a high-temp printer (hot-end above 280 °C) and a heated bed, but the resulting parts excel where other materials fail.

• Transparent covers
• Optical parts
• Protective shields
• Aerospace models
• Engine bay parts
• Light covers

Resin printers cure photopolymer with UV light layer by layer, achieving resolutions as fine as 0.05 mm — many times better than FDM. Standard resin is more brittle but offers an excellent surface with no visible layers, ideal for figurines, architectural models or art objects where detail matters more than strength.

• Figurines & miniatures
• Jewelry & casting patterns
• Architectural models
• Art objects
• Detailed prototypes
• Cosplay props

ABS-like resin is a tougher variant of standard resin with reduced brittleness and better impact resistance. It suits cases where you want resin's detailed surface but also need the part not to crack during assembly or a drop. Suitable for connectors, covers and functional components with fine details.

• Functional prototypes
• Connectors & sockets
• Technical covers
• Fine-detail parts
• Assembly components

Specialized resins for dentistry and jewelry. Dental resins are certified as biocompatible (ISO 10993) and suitable for temporary crowns, splints or orthodontic models. Castable resins (wax substitute) are used in lost-wax casting — the model is cast, burned out and replaced with metal or gemstone.

• Temporary dental crowns
• Orthodontic models
• Splints & guards
• Jewelry templates
• Casting patterns
• Prosthetic models