top of page

Materials

We stock a range of materials that you can choose from depending on your application. We only use materials from reputable suppliers to ensure good quality parts and best performance possible.

 

  • PLA

  • PETG

  • ABS

  • ASA

  • Nylon

  • PC

  • TPU

  • Resins (standard, tough and production versions)

 

We also offer more specialist materials: 

  • Carbon fibre (PETG, PC and nylon)  

  • ESD safe

  • Flame retardant filaments​​​​ (UL94 V0)

​

For available colour options for each material please use our quoting tool or contact us.

​​​

If you are interested in a material not listed in our quoting tool please get in contact and we will advise on best options for your application.

PLA (Polylactic Acid)

PLA (Polylactic acid) is probably the most widely used material for 3D printing. It is easy to print and looks good. 

Although PLA is a strong and quite rigid plastic it is not generally recommended for functional production parts due its low impact and temperature resistance. 

However, it is a great option for aesthetic parts and toys.

Pros:

  • Good surface finish

  • Wide range of colours

  • Good dimensional accuracy

  • Low cost

  • Good strength and stiffness

  • Good chemical resistance

Cons:

  • Low impact resistance and endurance

  • Low temperature resistance (only up to 55C)

  • Not UV resistant​

Example use cases: 

Prototypes, toys, decorative parts used indoors, cosplay, sculptures, parts that do not have to withstand shock loads etc.

PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)

PETG is widely used material in 3D printing. It is a variant of PET which is commonly used for packaging (e.g. drinks bottles). 

This is a good choice for functional and production parts that do not require ABS/ASA level of impact or temperature resistance. Overall, it has a good balance of properties which makes it a very versatile material.

Pros:

  • Good strength

  • Good impact resistance

  • Heat resistant (up to 70C)

  • Low cost

  • Low warping during printing

  • Glossy finish

  • Good chemical resistance

Cons:

  • Prints can have thin hairs on the parts from stringing

  • Due to glossy finish surface imperfections can stand out 

​

​

Example use cases: 

Functional prototypes, production parts, tooling, cosplay, enclosures for electronics etc.

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)

ABS is a widely used plastic that is very commonly used to make injection moulded parts. Its strengths are impact and temperature resistance. This makes it a great choice for functional parts.

Pros:

  • Good impact resistance

  • Good durability

  • Heat resistant (up to 95C)

  • Low cost

Cons:

  • Parts can experience thermal shrinkage during printing

  • Parts can warp and crack due to thermal contraction during printing

  • Not UV resistant​

Example use cases: 

Functional parts, production parts, enclosures for electronics etc.

PA-CF (Nylon with carbon fibre)

Pure nylon is a difficult material to print as it is sensitive to temperature changes. By adding chopped carbon fibres into the material it makes it a lot stiffer, stronger and easier to print.

PA-CF is a great material for functional parts that require high mechanical strength and high temperature resistance. 

Pros:

  • High strength

  • Good durability

  • Good heat resistance (up to 120C)

  • Attractive matt surface finish

Cons:

  • High cost 

  • Slow print

  • Only available in black

​

Example use cases: 

Functional parts, production parts, tooling, decorative parts requiring a nice matt surface finish 

ASA (Acrylic Styrene Acrylonitrile)

ASA is an alternative material to ABS. It's main main benefit over ABS is it's resistance to UV light. This makes it a go to option for parts that are used outdoors. As ASA was developed as an alternative to ABS it has lot of similar properties.

Pros:

  • Excellent UV resistant

  • Good impact resistance

  • Good strength

  • Good durability

  • Good heat resistance (up to 90C)

Cons:

  • Parts can warp and crack due to thermal contraction during printing

Example use cases: 

Functional parts, production parts, parts used outside

PC (Polycarbonate)

PC is a strong and tough material that is meant for demanding applications. It has very high impact and heat resistance. For 3D printing PC material includes additives to make it more printable. This however does not change the fact that it is one of the highest performance materials available for 3D printing.

Pros:

  • High impact resistance

  • High strength

  • Good durability

  • High heat resistance (up to 110C)

Cons:

  • Not suitable for large prints

  • Parts can warp due to thermal contraction during printing

  • High Cost

Example use cases: 

Functional parts, production parts, tooling, parts requiring high toughness

TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethane)

TPU is a blend of hard plastic and rubber. This makes it very flexible material and great choice for parts that need to flex and bend. It has low rigidity and strength.

Pros:

  • Very flexible

  • Good vibration dampening

  • Good impact resistance

Cons:

  • Difficult to print large parts

  • Poor bridging characteristics

  • Likely to experience stringing

Example use cases: 

Phone case, tyres for RC cars, soft grips, lens caps, vibration absorbers,

Resins

3D printing resins solidify when exposed to UV light. By precisely controlling where resin gets exposed to UV light we can print incredibly detailed models. Due to the need for the resin to be UV sensitive, material choice for resin printing is not as wide as for FDM printing. However, new materials are being developed every day. 

Pros:

  • Can produce very fine detail

  • No visible layer lines​

  • Large number of small parts can be printed fast

​

Cons:

  • High cost

  • Every print requires post processing

  • Limited material and colour choice

​

Example use cases: 

Miniatures, prototypes for injection moulded designs, end user products requiring excellent surface finish, jewellery, 

​

bottom of page