Materials

Material Guide

Every material has its strengths. Learn what each filament is best for — and which one is right for your project.

Materials

Choosing the right filament

The material you choose affects how your print looks, how strong it is, how it handles heat, and whether it's suitable for outdoor or functional use. We primarily print in PLA and PLA+, which covers the vast majority of use cases — but we can also work with PETG, ABS, ASA, and TPU on request.

Not sure what you need? Just describe your project when you request a quote — we'll recommend the right material for you.

PLA & PLA+ Our Primary

PETG Available

ABS / ASA On Request

TPU (Flex) On Request

PLA is our go-to filament and the most widely used material in FDM 3D printing. It's made from renewable plant starch, prints reliably at lower temperatures, and produces excellent surface quality. If you're not sure what to choose, PLA is almost always the right answer for decorative items, gifts, name tags, keychains, and general-purpose objects.

Strength Medium

Heat Resistance Low (≈60°C)

Surface Finish Smooth & vibrant

Print Difficulty Easy

Pros

Easy to print
Excellent surface finish
Wide colour range
Biodegradable
Affordable

Cons

Low heat resistance
Brittle under stress
Not UV stable outdoors

Best for Display items Name tags Keychains Gifts Décor Prototypes

PLA+ is an enhanced version of standard PLA with improved impact resistance, reduced brittleness, and a slightly better surface finish. It prints almost as easily as regular PLA but holds up better under stress. We use PLA+ for anything that needs a little more durability without stepping up to a more demanding material like PETG or ABS.

Strength Medium–High

Heat Resistance Low–Med (≈65°C)

Surface Finish Smooth & slightly glossy

Print Difficulty Easy

Pros

Less brittle than PLA
Better impact resistance
Great surface quality
Still easy to print

Cons

Slightly higher cost
Still limited heat tolerance
Not for outdoor use

Best for Functional parts Brackets Holders Better-quality keychains Tools

PETG bridges the gap between easy-to-print PLA and tough engineering materials. It's strong, slightly flexible, and resistant to moisture, making it ideal for functional parts that need to withstand more stress than PLA can handle. PETG is also generally considered food-safe when printed correctly with a food-safe nozzle — ask us if this matters for your use case.

Strength High

Heat Resistance Medium (≈80°C)

Surface Finish Smooth, slightly glossy

Print Difficulty Good

Pros

Strong & tough
Moisture resistant
Slightly flexible
Generally food-safe

Cons

Strings more than PLA
Less rigid than ABS
More expensive than PLA

Best for Mechanical parts Enclosures Water-contact items Functional brackets Storage containers

ABS is a tried-and-tested engineering thermoplastic used in everything from LEGO bricks to car dashboards. It's tough, impact-resistant, and handles higher temperatures well. However, it's significantly more demanding to print — it requires a heated enclosure to prevent warping and produces fumes that need ventilation. We print ABS on request when its properties are genuinely needed.

Strength High

Heat Resistance Med–High (≈100°C)

Surface Finish Good (can be sanded/smoothed)

Print Difficulty Tricky

Pros

High heat tolerance
Tough & impact resistant
Machinable & sandable
Long-established material

Cons

Warps easily
Fumes require ventilation
Needs enclosed printer
Not UV stable

Best for Automotive parts Electrical enclosures High-heat environments Replacement parts

ASA is the outdoor-ready alternative to ABS. It shares ABS's toughness and heat resistance but adds UV stability, making it the best choice for anything that will live outside — garden labels, outdoor fixtures, vehicle parts, or signage. Like ABS it requires an enclosed printer and careful print settings, but the results are excellent for long-term outdoor use.

Strength High

Heat Resistance High (≈100°C)

Surface Finish Good

Print Difficulty Tricky

Pros

UV resistant — won't fade outdoors
High heat tolerance
Tough & impact resistant
Weather resistant

Cons

Needs enclosed printer
Produces fumes
More expensive
Limited colour range

Best for Outdoor signage Garden labels Vehicle parts UV-exposed fixtures Marine environments

TPU is a flexible, rubber-like filament that produces parts that can bend, compress, and stretch without breaking. It's used for anything where rigidity is a disadvantage — grips, gaskets, phone cases, wearable parts, shock absorbers, and custom seals. TPU requires slower print speeds and a direct-drive extruder, which is why it's available on request rather than as a standard offering.

Strength Medium (impact-absorbent)

Heat Resistance Medium

Surface Finish Matte to semi-gloss

Print Difficulty Moderate

Pros

Flexible & rubber-like
Excellent impact absorption
Wear & abrasion resistant
Chemical resistant

Cons

Slower to print
Difficult to post-process
Limited detail resolution
Can be stringy

Best for Phone cases Grips & handles Gaskets & seals Wearables Shock absorbers Protective bumpers

Side by Side

Material quick-reference

Material	Strength	Heat Resist.	Flexibility	UV Stable	Food Safe*	Ease of Print	Best For
PLA	Medium	Low (≈60°C)	Rigid	✗	~	✓ Easy	Display, décor, gifts
PLA+	Med–High	Low–Med (≈65°C)	Rigid	✗	~	✓ Easy	Better surface, functional parts
PETG	High	Med (≈80°C)	Slight flex	~	✓	✓ Good	Functional, mechanical parts
ABS	High	Med–High (≈100°C)	Rigid	✗	✗	✗ Tricky	Automotive, enclosures
ASA	High	High (≈100°C)	Rigid	✓	✗	✗ Tricky	Outdoor, UV-exposed parts
TPU	Med (flex)	Medium	✓ Flexible	~	✗	~ Moderate	Gaskets, grips, wearables

* Food-safe claims require food-safe filament + nozzle + post-processing. Ask us for details.

Still not sure? Just ask.

Describe your project and we'll recommend the best material and settings for it. No jargon, just practical advice.

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