3D printing materials guide
A plain-English look at every material we offer, so you can pick the right one without needing to be a 3D printing expert. Prices and availability are shown when you request a quote — this page is just here to help you choose.
Start an advanced quote with any of these materialsPLA
Best for aesthetics, prototypes, and display models.
Our easiest, most affordable material. Great looks and fine detail, but it softens in direct sun or a hot car — best kept indoors.
Good for
- Display models & figurines
- Prototypes & design mockups
- Gifts & decorative pieces
- Low-stress indoor parts
At a glance
PETG
Good for outdoor brackets, enclosures, and functional parts.
Tougher and more weather-resistant than PLA, with better layer adhesion for parts that take a knock. A solid all-rounder.
Good for
- Outdoor brackets & mounts
- Protective enclosures
- Functional prototypes
- Parts exposed to light moisture
At a glance
ASA
Ideal for exterior parts exposed to sun and weather.
Our go-to for anything that lives outside long-term — resists UV fading and holds its shape in the heat far better than PLA or PETG.
Good for
- Outdoor signage & housings
- Garden & exterior fittings
- Automotive exterior trim
- Parts in direct sunlight
At a glance
ABS
Great for interior car parts and tough enclosures.
A tough, slightly flexible workhorse plastic — the same family used in car interior trim and toy bricks. Handles rough use well.
Good for
- Interior car parts & trim
- Tool housings & enclosures
- Mechanical fittings
- Parts needing light sanding/machining
At a glance
PAHT-CF
For high-torque, high-heat mechanical and engineering parts.
A carbon-fibre-reinforced nylon that stays stiff and strong even under sustained heat and repeated load — our strongest, most demanding material.
Good for
- Gears & high-torque brackets
- Drone & robotics frames
- Jigs & fixtures
- Load-bearing engineering parts
At a glance
ABS-GF
Rigid, warp-free parts needing precise dimensional accuracy.
Glass fibre keeps ABS from warping as it cools, so parts come out straighter and hold tighter tolerances than standard ABS.
Good for
- Precision fixtures & jigs
- Rigid enclosures
- Dimensionally accurate parts
- Production tooling
At a glance
PC
Tough, clear or heat-resistant structural and functional parts.
One of the toughest plastics we print — very impact-resistant, and available in a see-through finish. Built to survive a drop.
Good for
- Protective covers & impact guards
- Structural brackets
- Clear viewing windows
- Load-bearing functional parts
At a glance
PC FR
Flame-retardant parts for electrical enclosures and safety uses.
The same toughness as standard PC, with a flame-retardant rating (UL94 V-0) for parts near heat or electronics — for when fire safety matters.
Good for
- Electrical enclosures & housings
- Components near heat sources
- Safety-rated fixtures
- Industrial equipment covers
At a glance
PP-CF
Lightweight, chemical-resistant parts for automotive or industrial use.
Carbon-fibre-reinforced polypropylene is light, stiff, and shrugs off oils, fuels and most chemicals — a specialist choice standard plastics can't match.
Good for
- Automotive under-bonnet parts
- Chemical-resistant fittings
- Lightweight structural parts
- Industrial jigs exposed to solvents
At a glance
Not sure which material fits your project? Send us your file and notes — we're happy to advise.
Material comparisons above are general guidance for typical use, not engineering specifications — real-world performance depends on part design, print settings and how the part is used. For anything safety-critical, please talk to our team first.
This guide was drafted with AI assistance, in line with EU AI Act transparency principles for AI-assisted public content.