Materials Guide
3D Printing Materials for Engineering Parts
The right material is decided by where the part lives and what it does — heat, sun, load, chemicals, impact. This guide covers every material we print, what each is good for, and where each one fails.
Start with where the part lives
Most material mistakes are environment mistakes: a part that's perfect on a bench softens in a parked car or turns brittle in the sun. In North Texas, summer heat is the first thing to design for.
- If the part is a quick fit check or a visual model used indoorsPLAResin
- If the part lives outdoors in Texas sunASA
- If the part rides in a vehicle or sits in a hot spaceASAPolycarbonateNylon & Carbon-Fiber Nylon
- If the part sits next to a motor, pump or warm machineryNylon & Carbon-Fiber NylonPolycarbonate
- If the part carries load or replaces a machined partNylon & Carbon-Fiber Nylon
- If the part sees oils, coolant or cleaning chemicalsNylon & Carbon-Fiber NylonPETG
- If the part takes knocks and impactsPolycarbonatePETG
- If the part has to flex, seal or cushionTPU
- If the part needs fine detail or a smooth surfaceResin
The materials we print
PLA
Polylactic acid
Stiff, accurate and the cheapest to print — but it softens at roughly 50–60 °C.
Heat: 50–60 °C · Cost $
PETG
Glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate
Tougher than PLA, good chemical resistance, heat limit of roughly 65–75 °C.
Heat: 65–75 °C · Cost $
ASA
Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate
UV-stable and good to roughly 85–100 °C — the default for parts that live outside.
Heat: 85–100 °C · Cost $–$
ABS
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
The classic housing plastic: roughly 85–100 °C heat limit, and it can be vapor-smoothed.
Heat: 85–100 °C · Cost $
Nylon & Carbon-Fiber Nylon
Polyamide (PA12) and carbon-fiber-filled polyamide (PA6-CF)
Our toughest, stiffest FDM materials — carbon-fiber grades are commonly rated 150 °C or more at low load.
Heat: 150 °C + (carbon-fiber grades) · Cost $$
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate (PC)
Very tough, with a heat limit of roughly 110–130 °C.
Heat: 110–130 °C · Cost $$
TPU
Thermoplastic polyurethane
Flexible and abrasion-resistant — gaskets, bumpers, boots, pads and grips.
Heat: Varies by grade · Cost $
Resin
Photopolymer resin (standard, tough, flexible, castable)
The finest detail and smoothest surface — not for heat, sun or heavy load.
Heat: Varies by grade · Cost $
Every material, side by side
For the four materials people compare most, with more on each trade-off, see PLA vs PETG vs ASA vs Nylon.
| Property | PLA | PETG | ASA | ABS | Nylon & Carbon-Fiber Nylon | Polycarbonate | TPU | Resin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat deflection (typical, low load) | 50–60 °C | 65–75 °C | 85–100 °C | 85–100 °C | 150 °C + (carbon-fiber grades) | 110–130 °C | Varies by grade | Varies by grade |
| In a closed car, Texas summer | No | Marginal | Yes, away from direct dash sun | Yes, out of direct sun | Yes | Yes | Ask us | No |
| Outdoors in Texas | No | Shade or short-term | Yes — first choice | No — choose ASA | Yes (CF grades) | With paint or a coating | Fair | No |
| Strength | Good in-plane, brittle | Good, ductile | Good | Good | High | High | Good, elastic | Low (standard) · Medium (tough) |
| Stiffness | High | Medium | Medium | Medium | High (CF) · Medium (unfilled) | Medium | Low — flexible by design | Medium to high |
| Impact toughness | Low | Good | Good | Good | High | Excellent | Excellent | Low (standard) · Fair (tough) |
| UV resistance | Fair — fades and embrittles outdoors | Fair to good — better than PLA, below ASA | Excellent | Poor — yellows and embrittles | Fair (unfilled) to good (CF) | Fair — yellows without stabilisers | Fair | Poor — keeps curing and embrittles |
| Chemical resistance | Fair — avoid solvents | Good — water, many oils, dilute acids and bases | Fair — water and many oils fine; solvents attack it | Fair — dissolves in acetone | Excellent against oils, fuels and greases | Fair to poor against solvents | Good against oils and greases | Fair |
| Printability | Easiest | Easy | Moderate — needs an enclosure | Moderate — needs an enclosure | Demanding — dried filament, hardened hardware | Demanding — enclosure, dried filament | Moderate — slow to print | Finest detail; supports and cleanup needed |
| Relative material cost | $ | $ | $–$ | $ | $$ | $$ | $ | $ |
Heat figures are typical published heat-deflection ranges for common filament grades at low load (0.45 MPa), not measurements of our parts. Real values vary with brand, colour, print orientation, part design and — for nylon — moisture. If a number matters to your application, tell us and we'll talk through margin and testing.
Material questions
Which 3D printing material is strongest?
Among the plastics we print, carbon-fiber nylon is the stiffest and strongest for structural parts, and polycarbonate is the toughest against impact. "Strongest" depends on whether you need stiffness, impact resistance or heat resistance — tell us what the part does and we'll recommend one.
Which material is best for heat?
Carbon-fiber nylon and polycarbonate have the most heat margin of our FDM materials, followed by ASA and ABS. PETG is moderate, and PLA and standard resins soften at low temperatures.
Which material is best for outdoor use in Texas?
ASA is our default for parts that live outdoors: it's UV-stable and handles summer heat far better than PLA or PETG. Carbon-fiber nylon is the step up when the part also carries load.
Which material is cheapest?
PLA, then PETG and ABS. But material is often a small part of the price — machine time, part size and post-processing usually matter more. The instant estimate tool gives a ballpark; a person quotes the real job.
Can you print a material that isn't listed here?
Possibly. If your drawing calls out a specific material or grade, include it with your files and we'll tell you whether we can print it or suggest the closest alternative.
Put a material to work
- Replacement & Obsolete Parts — A broken or discontinued part measured, modelled in CAD and printed in an engineering material.
- Jigs, Fixtures & Manufacturing Aids — Assembly jigs, drill guides, check gauges and nests for the production floor.
- Rapid Prototyping — Form, fit and function prototypes before you commit to tooling.
- Low-Volume Production — Short runs and bridge manufacturing without paying for a mold.
- Injection Mold Design — Taking a printed prototype to a design that is ready to be molded.
- CAD Design & Reverse Engineering — Sketches, drawings, photos or a physical part turned into a manufacturable model.
- FDM 3D Printing — Functional thermoplastic parts, from PLA to carbon-fiber nylon.
- Resin 3D Printing — Fine detail and smooth surfaces for precise prototypes and master patterns.
Check a part yourself
- Instant Quote Estimate — A ballpark price from size, material and quantity.
- STL Viewer — Open an STL in the browser and check its size before you send it.
Or send your file and tell us where the part will live. A person quotes every job, usually within one business day, with a material recommendation.