3D Printing
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Choosing the right printing process and material is important for achieving the best result.
Whether your project is best suited to filament or resin printing, the guide below will help you select the right option.
Functional Materials
Stronger, more durable materials for parts that need to perform.
Engineering Materials
High-performance materials for demanding or specialised applications.
General Materials for Everyday Printing
These materials are ideal for everyday 3D printing, prototypes, and general-purpose parts. They’re cost-effective, reliable, and suit most projects.
PLA (Polylactic Acid)
PLA is a strong, rigid and cost-effective material, making it a great all-round choice for general 3D printing projects. It’s easy to work with and produces clean, detailed results.
Best for:
- Prototypes
- Decorative items (vases, models, display pieces)
- Light-use parts (clips, holders, storage items)
Avoid using PLA for:
- High heat environments (above ~50°C)
- Outdoor use or direct sunlight
- Parts that need to withstand heavy impact
Notes:
- PLA can soften if left in hot environments (e.g. inside a car)
- Thin parts may be more brittle than thicker designs
- Parts meant for constant outdoor use
Colours available:
- Red
- Blue
- Yellow
- Green
- White
- Black
- Light grey
- Orange
- Marble (white with black specks)
- Walnut wood (wood-filled PLA)
- Carbon fibre PLA
- Silk silver
- Silk gold
- Silk bronze
- Silk copper
- Silk rainbow gradient
- Dual colour pink and gold
- Galaxy black (black with teal specks)
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)
PETG is a strong, versatile material that offers better heat, UV, and impact resistance than PLA. It is slightly less rigid, but harder to break, and is a good choice for parts that need more durability.
Best for:
- General-purpose parts needing added strength
- Outdoor or UV-exposed items
- Parts exposed to moisture or water
- Marine and aquarium applications
Avoid using PETG for:
- Projects where a very rigid material is preferred
- Parts where a perfectly matte finish is important
Notes:
- PETG is waterproof and safe for use around water
- It can be more transparent, shiny, and slightly slippery than PLA
- Offers heat resistance up to around 70°C
Colours available:
- Transparent yellow
- Orange
- Red
- Dark blue
- Beige
- White
- Black
Functional Materials for Stronger Parts
These materials offer improved strength, flexibility, and durability, making them suitable for parts that need to handle real-world use.
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
ABS is a durable, impact-resistant material that offers greater heat resistance than PLA. It is a good option for stronger indoor parts that need to handle more wear, stress, or higher temperatures.
Best for:
- Indoor parts that need added strength
- Automotive parts
- Parts exposed to higher temperatures
- Projects needing chemical resistance
Avoid using ABS for:
- Long-term outdoor use or direct sunlight
- Projects where easy printing is the top priority
Notes:
- ABS has lower UV resistance than some other materials
- Offers heat resistance of around 100°C
- Resists water, aqueous acids, and alkalis
Colours available:
- Black
- White
ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate)
ASA is a strong, weather-resistant material similar to ABS, but with much better UV stability. It is ideal for outdoor parts that need to withstand sunlight, heat, and environmental exposure over time.
Best for:
- Outdoor parts exposed to sunlight
- Automotive and exterior components
- Weather-resistant functional parts
- Long-term outdoor use
Avoid using ASA for:
- Projects where cost needs to be kept low
- Simple indoor prints where PLA would be sufficient
Notes:
- ASA has excellent UV resistance and won’t degrade in sunlight like ABS
- Offers heat resistance similar to ABS (around 100°C)
- Strong and durable, with good long-term stability outdoors
Colours available:
- Black
- White
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)
TPU is a flexible, rubber-like material that can bend, stretch, and compress. It is ideal for parts that need shock absorption, grip, or repeated flexing without breaking.
Best for:
- Phone cases and protective covers
- Seals, gaskets, and flexible joints
- Vibration dampening parts
- Grips and wearable items
Avoid using TPU for:
- Rigid structural parts
- Projects that require precise, sharp edges
Notes:
- TPU is highly flexible and can stretch without snapping
- Softer prints can compress and absorb impact
- Surface finish can vary depending on print settings
Colours available:
- Orange (95A)
Engineering Materials for Advanced Applications
These advanced materials are designed for demanding applications, including high strength, heat resistance, and long-term durability.
PP (Polypropylene)
PP is a semi-flexible material with excellent chemical resistance and outstanding durability. It can bend repeatedly without damage and is a strong choice for parts that need flexibility, impact resistance, or exposure to harsh environments.
Best for:
- Chemical-resistant parts
- Flexible functional components
- Dishwasher-safe parts
- Parts exposed to repeated bending or impact
Avoid using PP for:
- Outdoor parts exposed to sunlight
- Projects that will contain unrounded corners (This can causing extreme warping with PP or other warp prone materials like ABS and nylons).
- Projects where a perfectly flat base is critical
Notes:
- PP has very high chemical resistance and handles water, acids, alcohols, and alkalis well
- It can bend repeatedly without cracking
- PP can be difficult to print and may show some warping on the bottom of the part, an adhesive will soon be ordered possibly preventing this on small and medium parts
Colours available:
- White
PA6 (Nylon 6 / Polyamide)
PA6 nylon is a tough engineering material known for its low friction, high wear resistance, and long service life. It is ideal for moving parts, mechanisms, and components that need to handle ongoing use.
Best for:
- Moving mechanisms
- Low-friction parts
- Wear-resistant components
- Heat-resistant parts
Avoid using PA6 for:
- Projects where waterproof performance is essential
- Parts where surface slipperiness would be a problem
Notes:
- PA6 nylon is naturally slippery, which helps reduce friction and wear
- It has good water resistance and can become stronger when submerged
- Well suited to industrial and mechanical applications
Colours available:
- White
PA6-CF
PA6-CF is nylon reinforced with chopped carbon fibre, giving it very high strength and stiffness. It is well suited to demanding parts where strength is critical and can be a good alternative to aluminium in some applications.
Best for:
- High-strength functional parts
- Lightweight alternatives to aluminium
- Parts with complex shapes that are difficult to machine
- Applications needing added resistance to water, UV, and some chemicals
Avoid using PA6-CF for:
- Parts that rub directly against each other
- Projects where a smooth or non-abrasive surface is important
Notes:
- The added carbon fibre makes this material much stronger than standard PA6 nylon
- It is abrasive and slightly scratchy rather than slippery
- Not recommended for parts that need to slide against each other, as they can wear down quickly
Colours available:
- Matte dark grey
PC (Polycarbonate)
Polycarbonate is a high-performance engineering material with excellent impact, stress, and heat resistance. It is a strong choice for demanding environments where durability and temperature resistance are important.
Best for:
- Industrial prototypes
- Electrical enclosures and insulators
- Machinery guards
- High-temperature applications
Avoid using PC for:
- Simple decorative prints
- Low-cost jobs where a basic material would do the job
Notes:
- PC can handle temperatures of up to around 130°C
- It has strong impact and stress resistance
- Also works well as an electrical insulator
Colours available:
- Blue
Resin 3D Printing
Resin 3D printing is the ideal choice when exceptional detail, smooth surfaces and intricate features are more important than producing large functional parts. It complements our filament printing service, allowing us to recommend the best printing method for your project.
Standard Resin
Standard resin is designed for producing highly detailed prints with excellent surface finish. It is ideal for display pieces, prototypes and intricate components where appearance and fine detail are the priority.
Best for:
- Miniatures and figurines
- Display models
- Highly detailed prototypes
- Precision mechanical components
Avoid using Standard Resin for:
- Heavy impact applications
- Long-term outdoor exposure without protection
Notes:
- Produces exceptionally fine detail
- Smooth surface finish with minimal layer lines
- Optional clear coating available where additional UV protection is required
Colours available:
- Grey
ABS-like Resin
ABS-like resin combines the fine detail of resin printing with improved toughness, making it a better choice for functional parts that may receive light impacts.
Best for:
- Functional prototypes
- Mechanical parts
- Enclosures
- Components requiring additional toughness
Avoid using ABS-like Resin for:
- Large structural parts
- Long-term outdoor exposure without protection
Notes:
- Greater impact resistance than Standard Resin
- Maintains excellent detail
- Optional clear coating available for additional UV protection
Colours available:
- White
- Clear Green
When is Resin Printing the Right Choice?
- Exceptional detail and smooth surfaces
- Complex shapes difficult to achieve with filament printing
- Consistent strength in all directions
- Ideal for miniatures, models and precision parts
Things to Consider
- Smaller build volume than filament printing
- Generally higher cost due to specialised materials and post-processing
- Resin parts intended for outdoor use may benefit from an optional protective clear coating