PLA
Visual prototypes, fit checks, fixtures, and indoor parts
Clean detail and a broad color range; not the default for heat or weather exposure.
Material selection
3D Printing Materials Chosen Around the Part’s Real Use
Material names are only the starting point. The right choice depends on geometry, load, environment, flexibility, finish, quantity, and the consequences of failure.
Request a Material RecommendationCommon options
A practical material shortlist
Availability, grade, color, process suitability, and lead time are confirmed after review. An engineering material label alone does not guarantee suitability for every geometry or application.
PETG
Functional parts, brackets, guards, and general shop use
A practical balance of toughness, moisture resistance, and printability.
ASA
Outdoor housings, covers, and weather-exposed components
Better suited to UV and weather exposure than standard PLA.
TPU
Flexible guards, bumpers, sleeves, and compliant features
Available in selected hardness ranges after geometry review.
Nylon
Wear-resistant parts and demanding functional applications
Grade, moisture control, geometry, and lead time are confirmed during review.
Selection factors
Tell us what the part must survive
When material is listed as “Not sure,” these are the questions used to narrow the recommendation.
01
Load and failure mode
Describe how the part is loaded, where it may flex, and what happens if it breaks. A static cover and a cyclic clip need different reviews.
02
Temperature and environment
Note expected heat, sunlight, water, cleaning products, oils, chemicals, and whether the part will live indoors or outdoors.
03
Fit and tolerances
Identify mating parts, fasteners, bearings, press fits, sliding features, and dimensions that matter to assembly or inspection.
04
Surface and appearance
Clarify whether color, layer visibility, texture, branding, paint, or post-processing matters to the result.
05
Flexibility and impact
Share whether the part should bend, absorb impact, grip a surface, snap into place, or stay dimensionally rigid.
06
Quantity and repeatability
Material choice must work not only for one prototype but also for the planned quantity, inspection method, and future reorder path.
Prototype first
Validate fit and function before a batch
A representative first article can reveal geometry, process, and material issues before the approved production quantity begins.
Explore prototypingUse limitations
Material data is not a certification claim
Printed-part performance also depends on orientation, process, geometry, moisture, finishing, and the operating environment. Certified or safety-critical requirements need explicit review.
Read how we workStart a project
Not sure which material belongs on the request?
Choose “Not sure—recommend one” and describe the load, temperature, exposure, flexibility, dimensions, and intended use. Final selection is confirmed after geometry and project review.