Hard plastic 3d printer

Guide to 3D Printing Materials: Types, Applications, and Properties

3D printing empowers you to prototype and manufacture parts for a wide range of applications quickly and cost-effectively. But choosing the right 3D printing process is just one side of the coin. Ultimately, it'll be largely up to the materials to enable you to create parts with the desired mechanical properties, functional characteristics, or looks.

This comprehensive guide to 3D printing materials showcases the most popular plastic and metal 3D printing materials available, compares their properties, applications, and describes a framework that you can use to choose the right one for your project.

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There are dozens of plastic materials available for 3D printing, each with its unique qualities that make it best suited to specific use cases. To simplify the process of finding the material best suited for a given part or product, let’s first look at the main types of plastics and the different 3D printing processes.

There are the two main types of plastics:

Thermoplastics are the most commonly used type of plastic. The main feature that sets them apart from thermosets is their ability to go through numerous melt and solidification cycles. Thermoplastics can be heated and formed into the desired shape. The process is reversible, as no chemical bonding takes place, which makes recycling or melting and reusing thermoplastics feasible. A common analogy for thermoplastics is butter, which can be melted, re-solidify, and melted again. With each melting cycle, the properties change slightly.
Thermosetting plastics (also referred to as thermosets) remain in a permanent solid state after curing. Polymers in thermosetting materials cross-link during a curing process that is induced by heat, light, or suitable radiation. Thermosetting plastics decompose when heated rather than melting, and will not reform upon cooling. Recycling thermosets or returning the material back into its base ingredients is not possible. A thermosetting material is like cake batter, once baked into a cake, it cannot be melted back into batter again.

The three most established plastic 3D printing processes today are the following:

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printers melt and extrude thermoplastic filaments, which a printer nozzle deposits layer by layer in the build area.
Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printers use a laser to cure thermosetting liquid resins into hardened plastic in a process called photopolymerization.
Selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printers use a high-powered laser to fuse small particles of thermoplastic powder.

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Fused deposition modeling (FDM), also known as fused filament fabrication (FFF), is the most widely used form of 3D printing at the consumer level, fueled by the emergence of hobbyist 3D printers.

This technique is well-suited for basic proof-of-concept models, as well as quick and low-cost prototyping of simple parts, such as parts that might typically be machined.

Consumer level FDM has the lowest resolution and accuracy when compared to other plastic 3D printing processes and is not the best option for printing complex designs or parts with intricate features. Higher-quality finishes may be obtained through chemical and mechanical polishing processes. Industrial FDM 3D printers use soluble supports to mitigate some of these issues and offer a wider range of engineering thermoplastics or even composites, but they also come at a steep price.

As the melted filament forms each layer, sometimes voids can remain between layers when they don’t adhere fully. This results in anisotropic parts, which is important to consider when you are designing parts meant to bear load or resist pulling.

FDM 3D printing materials are available in a variety of color options. Various experimental plastic filament blends also exist to create parts with wood- or metal-like surfaces.

The most common FDM 3D printing materials are ABS, PLA, and their various blends. More advanced FDM printers can also print with other specialized materials that offer properties like higher heat resistance, impact resistance, chemical resistance, and rigidity.

Material	Features	Applications
ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)	Tough and durable Heat and impact resistant Requires a heated bed to print Requires ventilation	Functional prototypes
PLA (polylactic acid)	The easiest FDM materials to print Rigid, strong, but brittle Less resistant to heat and chemicals Biodegradable Odorless	Concept models Looks-like prototypes
PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol)	Compatible with lower printing temperatures for faster production Humidity and chemical resistant High transparency Can be food safe	Waterproof applications Snap-fit components
Nylon	Strong, durable, and lightweight Tough and partially flexible Heat and impact resistant Very complex to print on FDM	Functional prototypes Wear resistant parts
TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane)	Flexible and stretchable Impact resistant Excellent vibration dampening	Flexible prototypes
PVA (polyvinyl alcohol)	Soluble support material Dissolves in water	Support material
HIPS (high impact polystyrene)	Soluble support material most commonly used with ABS Dissolves in chemical limonene	Support material
Composites (carbon fiber, kevlar, fiberglass)	Rigid, strong, or extremely tough Compatibility limited to some expensive industrial FDM 3D printers	Functional prototypes Jigs, fixtures, and tooling

Stereolithography was the world’s first 3D printing technology, invented in the 1980s, and is still one of the most popular technologies for professionals.

SLA parts have the highest resolution and accuracy, the clearest details, and the smoothest surface finish of all plastic 3D printing technologies. Resin 3D printing is a great option for highly detailed prototypes requiring tight tolerances and smooth surfaces, such as molds, patterns, and functional parts. SLA parts can also be highly polished and/or painted after printing, resulting in client-ready parts with high-detailed finishes.

Parts printed using SLA 3D printing are generally isotropic—their strength is more or less consistent regardless of orientation because chemical bonds happen between each layer. This results in parts with predictable mechanical performance critical for applications like jigs and fixtures, end-use parts, and functional prototyping.

SLA offers the widest range of material options for plastic 3D printing.

SLA 3D printing is highly versatile, offering resin formulations with a wide range of optical, mechanical, and thermal properties to match those of standard, engineering, and industrial thermoplastics.

Formlabs Materials	Features	Applications
Standard Resins	High resolution Smooth, matte surface finish	Concept models Looks-like prototypes
Clear Resin	The only truly clear material for plastic 3D printing Polishes to near optical transparency	Parts requiring optical transparency Millifluidics
Draft Resin	One of the fastest materials for 3D printing 4x faster than standard resins, up to 10x faster than FDM	Initial Prototypes Rapid Iterations
Tough and Durable Resins	Strong, robust, functional, and dynamic materials Can handle compression, stretching, bending, and impacts without breaking Various materials with properties similar to ABS or PE	Housings and enclosures Jigs and fixtures Connectors Wear-and-tear prototypes
Rigid Resins	Highly filled, strong and stiff materials that resist bending Thermally and chemically resistant Dimensionally stable under load	Jigs, fixtures, and tooling Turbines and fan blades Fluid and airflow components Electrical casings and automotive housings
Polyurethane Resins	Excellent long-term durability UV, temperature, and humidity stable Flame retardancy, sterilizability, and chemical and abrasion resistance	High performance automotive, aerospace, and machinery components Robust and rugged end-use parts Tough, longer-lasting functional prototypes
High Temp Resin	High temperature resistance High precision	Hot air, gas, and fluid flow Heat resistant mounts, housings, and fixtures Molds and inserts
Flexible and Elastic Resins	Flexibility of rubber, TPU, or silicone Can withstand bending, flexing, and compression Holds up to repeated cycles without tearing	Consumer goods prototyping Compliant features for robotics Medical devices and anatomical models Special effects props and models
Medical and dental resins	A wide range of biocompatible resins for producing medical and dental appliances	Dental and medical appliances, including surgical guides, dentures, and prosthetics
Jewelry resins	Materials for investment casting and vulcanized rubber molding Easy to cast, with intricate details and strong shape retention	Try-on pieces Masters for reusable molds Custom jewelry
ESD Resin	ESD-safe material to improve electronics manufacturing workflows	Tooling & fixturing for electronics manufacturing Anti-static prototypes and end-use components Custom trays for component handling and storage
Ceramic Resin	Stone-like finish Can be fired to create a fully ceramic piece	Engineering research Art and design pieces

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Selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printing is trusted by engineers and manufacturers across different industries for its ability to produce strong, functional parts. Low cost per part, high productivity, and established materials make the technology ideal for a range of applications from rapid prototyping to small-batch, bridge, or custom manufacturing.

As the unfused powder supports the part during printing, there’s no need for dedicated support structures. This makes SLS ideal for complex geometries, including interior features, undercuts, thin walls, and negative features.

Just like SLA, SLS parts are also generally more isotropic than FDM parts. SLS parts have a slightly rough surface finish due to the powder particles, but almost no visible layer lines.

SLS 3D printing materials are ideal for a range of functional applications, from engineering consumer products to manufacturing and healthcare.

The material selection for SLS is limited compared to FDM and SLA, but the available materials have excellent mechanical characteristics, with strength resembling injection-molded parts. The most common material for selective laser sintering is nylon, a popular engineering thermoplastic with excellent mechanical properties. Nylon is lightweight, strong, and flexible, as well as stable against impact, chemicals, heat, UV light, water, and dirt.

Material	Description	Applications
Nylon 12	Strong, stiff, sturdy, and durable Impact-resistant and can endure repeated wear and tear Resistant to UV, light, heat, moisture, solvents, temperature, and water	Functional prototyping End-use parts Medical devices
Nylon 11	Similar properties to Nylon 12, but with a higher elasticity, elongation at break, and impact resistance, but lower stiffness	Functional prototyping End-use parts Medical devices
TPU	Flexible, elastic, and rubbery Resilient to deformation High UV stability Great shock absorption	Functional prototyping Flexible, rubber-like end-use parts Medical devices
Nylon composites	Nylon materials reinforced with glass, aluminum, or carbon fiber for added strength and rigidity	Functional prototyping Structural end-use parts

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Different 3D printing materials and processes have their own strengths and weaknesses that define their suitability for different applications. The following table provides a high level summary of some key characteristics and considerations.

	FDM	SLA	SLS
Pros	Low-cost consumer machines and materials available	Great value High accuracy Smooth surface finish Range of functional materials	Strong functional parts Design freedom No need for support structures
Cons	Low accuracy Low details Limited design compatibility High cost industrial machines if accuracy and high performance materials are needed	Sensitive to long exposure to UV light	More expensive hardware Limited material options
Applications	Low-cost rapid prototyping Basic proof-of-concept models Select end-use parts with high-end industrial machines and materials	Functional prototyping Patterns, molds, and tooling Dental applications Jewelry prototyping and casting Models and props	Functional prototyping Short-run, bridge, or custom manufacturing
Materials	Standard thermoplastics, such as ABS, PLA, and their various blends on consumer level machines. High performance composites on high cost industrial machines	Varieties of resin (thermosetting plastics). Standard, engineering (ABS-like, PP-like, flexible, heat-resistant), castable, dental, and medical (biocompatible).	Engineering thermoplastics. Nylon 11, Nylon 12, and their composites, thermoplastic elastomers such as TPU.

Beyond plastics, there are multiple 3D printing processes available for metal 3D printing.

Metal FDM

Metal FDM printers work similarly to traditional FDM printers, but use extrude metal rods held together by polymer binders. The finished “green” parts are then sintered in a furnace to remove the binder.

SLM and DMLS printers work similarly to SLS printers, but instead of fusing polymer powders, they fuse metal powder particles together layer by layer using a laser. SLM and DMLS 3D printers can create strong, accurate, and complex metal products, making this process ideal for aerospace, automotive, and medical applications.

Titanium is lightweight and has excellent mechanical characteristics. It is strong, hard and highly resistant to heat, oxidation, and acid.
Stainless steel has high strength, high ductility, and is resistant to corrosion.
Aluminum is a lightweight, durable, strong, and has good thermal properties.
Tool steel is a hard, scratch-resistant material that you can use to print end-use tools and other high-strength parts..
Nickel alloys have high tensile, creep and rupture strength and are heat and corrosion resistant.

Compared to plastic 3D printing technologies, metal 3D printing is substantially more costly and complex, limiting its accessibility to most businesses.

Alternatively, SLA 3D printing is well-suited for casting workflows that produce metal parts at a lower cost, with greater design freedom, and in less time than traditional methods.

Another alternative is electroplating SLA parts, which involves coating a plastic material in a layer of metal via electrolysis. This combines some of the best qualities of metal—strength, electrical conductivity, and resistance to corrosion and abrasion—with the specific properties of the primary (usually plastic) material.

Plastic 3D printing is well-suited to create patterns that can be cast to produce metal parts.

With all these materials and 3D printing options available, how can you make the right selection?

Here’s our three-step framework to choose the right 3D printing material for your application.

Plastics used for 3D printing have different chemical, optical, mechanical, and thermal characteristics that determine how the 3D printed parts will perform. As the intended use approaches real-world usage, performance requirements increase accordingly.

Requirement	Description	Recommendation
Low performance	For form and fit prototyping, conceptual modeling, and research and development, printed parts only need to meet low technical performance requirements. Example: A form prototype of a soup ladle for ergonomic testing. No functional performance requirements needed besides surface finish.	FDM: PLA SLA: Standard Resins, Clear Resin (transparent part), Draft Resin (fast printing)
Moderate performance	For validation or pre-production uses, printed parts must behave as closely to final production parts as possible for functional testing but do not have strict lifetime requirements. Example: A housing for electronic components to protect against sudden impact. Performance requirements include ability to absorb impact, housing needs to snap together and hold its shape.	FDM: ABS SLA: Engineering Resins SLS: Nylon 11, Nylon 12, TPU
High performance	For end-use parts, final 3D printed production parts must stand up to significant wear for a specific time period, whether that’s one day, one week, or several years. Example: Shoe outsoles. Performance requirements include strict lifetime testing with cyclic loading and unloading, color fastness over periods of years, amongst others like tear resistance.	FDM: Composites SLA: Engineering, Medical, Dental, or Jewelry Resins SLS: Nylon 11, Nylon 12, TPU, nylon composites

Once you’ve identified the performance requirements for your product, the next step is translating them into material requirements—the properties of a material that will satisfy those performance needs. You’ll typically find these metrics on a material’s data sheet.

Requirement	Description	Recommendation
Tensile strength	Resistance of a material to breaking under tension. High tensile strength is important for structural, load bearing, mechanical, or statical parts.	FDM: PLA SLA: Clear Resin, Rigid Resins SLS: Nylon 12, nylon composites
Flexural modulus	Resistance of a material to bending under load. Good indicator for either the stiffness (high modulus) or the flexibility (low modulus) of a material.	FDM: PLA (high), ABS (medium) SLA: Rigid Resins (high), Tough and Durable Resins (medium), Flexible and Elastic Resins (low) SLS: nylon composites (high), Nylon 12 (medium)
Elongation	Resistance of a material to breaking when stretched. Helps you compare flexible materials based on how much they can stretch. Also indicates if a material will deform first, or break suddenly.	FDM: ABS (medium), TPU (high) SLA: Tough and Durable Resins (medium), Polyurethane Resins (medium), Flexible and Elastic Resins (high) SLS: Nylon 12 (medium), Nylon 11 (medium), TPU (high)
Impact strength	Ability of a material to absorb shock and impact energy without breaking. Indicates toughness and durability, helps you figure out how easily a material will break when dropped on the ground or crashed into another object.	FDM: ABS, Nylon SLA: Tough 2000 Resin, Tough 1500 Resin, Grey Pro Resin, Durable Resin, Polyurethane Resins SLS: Nylon 12, Nylon 11, nylon composites
Heat deflection temperature	Temperature at which a sample deforms under a specified load. Indicates if a material is suitable for high temperature applications.	SLA: High Temp Resin, Rigid Resins SLS: Nylon 12, Nylon 11, nylon composites
Hardness (durometer)	Resistance of a material to surface deformation. Helps you identify the right “softness” for soft plastics, like rubber and elastomers for certain applications.	FDM: TPU SLA: Flexible Resin, Elastic Resin SLS: TPU
Tear strength	Resistance of a material to growth of cuts under tension. Important to assess the durability and the resistance to tearing of soft plastics and flexible materials, such as rubber.	FDM: TPU SLA: Flexible Resin, Elastic Resin, Durable Resin SLS: Nylon 11, TPU
Creep	Creep is the tendency of a material to deform permanently under the influence of constant stress: tensile, compressive, shear, or flexural. Low creep indicates longevity for hard plastics and is crucial for structural parts.	FDM: ABS SLA: Polyurethane Resins, Rigid Resins SLS: Nylon 12, Nylon 11, nylon composites
Compression set	Permanent deformation after material has been compressed. Important for soft plastics and elastic applications, tells you if a material will return to its original shape after the load is removed.	FDM: TPU SLA: Flexible Resin, Elastic Resin SLS: TPU

For even more details on material properties, read our guide to about the most common mechanical and thermal properties.

Once you translate performance requirements to material requirements, you’ll most likely end up with a single material or a smaller group of materials that could be suitable for your application.

If there are multiple materials that fulfil your basic requirements, you can then look at a wider range of desired characteristics and consider the pros, cons, and trade-offs of the given materials and processes to make the final choice.

Try our interactive material wizard to find materials based on your application and the properties you care the most about from our growing library of materials. Do you have specific questions about 3D printing materials? Contact our experts.

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3D Printing Materials Guide: Plastics

Published on June 8, 2020 by Alexandrea P.

A plastic is a material made of synthetic or semi-synthetic compounds that has the property of being malleable (capable of changing its shape). Most plastics on the market are completely synthetic (most commonly derived from petrochemicals). However, given the growing environmental concern, plastics derived from renewable materials such as Polylactic Acid (PLA) are also popular on the market. Due to their low cost, ease of manufacture, versatility and water resistance, plastics are used in a multitude of products and sectors. In the AM sector, 3D printing plastics are also very popular.

In the following guide, we will take a look at the most common 3D printing plastics. As you may know, the most popular and affordable 3D printing process, FDM, produces parts through the extrusion of plastic filaments. However, the precision on FDM machines is not the same as other AM processes such as SLS or SLA. Plastics are often used with this technology to create prototypes. Therefore, for industrial and end-use parts, manufacturers might decide to opt for SLS (using plastic powders) or SLA (using plastic resins) technologies that offer more accuracy and part quality. Two other technologies that can print with plastics are Material Jetting and Multi Jet Fusion.

What plastics can be used in additive manufacturing? In filament or powder form, the plastic should melt to form the object you are printing layer by layer. In resin form, it should solidify to form the object. Each plastic will require different 3D printing parameters during the building process, and will give parts varying properties.

ABS

ABS filament is the most commonly used 3D printing plastics. It is used in the bodywork of cars, appliances, and mobile phone cases. It is a thermoplastic which contains a base of elastomers based on polybutadiene, making it more flexible, and resistant to shocks. ABS can also be found in powder form for powder bed processes such as SLS, and liquid form for SLA and PolyJet technologies.

ABS is used in 3D printing when heated between 230ºC and 260ºC. It is a tough material, able to easily withstand temperatures of -20ºC to 80ºC. In addition to its high strength, it is a reusable material and can be welded with chemical processes. However, ABS is not biodegradable and shrinks in contact with air, so the printing platform must be heated to prevent warping. Moreover, it is recommended to use a closed chamber 3D printer to limit particle emissions when printing with ABS. Learn more about ABS in our dedicated guide.

PLA

Known as polylactic acid, or PLA, this material has the benefit of being biodegradable, unlike ABS. PLA is manufactured using renewable raw materials such as corn starch. PLA is one of the easiest materials to print, though it does have a tendency to shrink slightly after 3D printing. You don’t require a heated platform when printing in PLA, unlike with ABS. PLA also prints at a lower temperature than ABS, between 190ºC to 230ºC.

PLA is a more difficult material to manipulate due to its high cooling and solidification speed. It is also important to mention that models can deteriorate when in contact with water. However, the material is consistent, simple to use, and comes in a wide variety of colors, making it suitable for FDM 3D printing. Learn more about PLA in our dedicated guide.

PLA 3D printing filament spools

ASA

ASA is a material that has similar properties to ABS, but has a greater resistance to UV rays. As with ABS, it is advised to print the material with a heated bed platform to prevent warping. When printing with ASA, similar print settings are used to ABS, but extra care must be taken to print with a closed chamber due to styrene emissions.

PET

Polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, is commonly seen in disposable plastic bottles. PET is the ideal filament for any pieces intended for contact with food. Moreover, the material is fairly rigid and has good chemical resistance. To obtain the best results when printing with PET, print between 75 – 90ºC. PET is commonly marketed as a translucent filament, with variants such as PETG, PETE, and PETT also sold. Advantages of PET include that the material doesn’t release any odours when printing, and is 100% recyclable.

PETG

PETG, or glycolized polyester, is a thermoplastic widely used in the additive manufacturing market, combining both the simplicity of PLA 3D printing and the strength of ABS. It is an amorphous plastic, which can be 100% recycled. It has the same chemical composition as polyethylene terephthalate, better known by its acronym PET. Glycol has been added to reduce its brittleness and therefore its fragility. Learn more about PETG in our dedicated guide.

Polycarbonate (PC)

Polycarbonate (PC) is a high strength material designed for engineering applications. The material has good temperature resistance, able to resist any physical deformation up to around 150ºC. However, PC is prone to absorbing moisture from the air, which can affect performance and printing resistance. Therefore, PC has to be stored in airtight containers. PC is highly valued by the AM industry for its strength and transparency. It has a much lower density than glass, making it particularly interesting for designing optical parts, protective screens or decorative objects. Learn more about PC in our dedicated guide.

A 3D printed part made from PC

High Performance Polymers (PEEK, PEKK, ULTEM)

The evolution of 3D printing technologies has led to extensive research work on printing materials, enabling the development of a whole range of high-performance filaments with mechanical characteristics similar to those of metals. There are several types of high-performance 3D printing plastics such as PEEK, PEKK or ULTEM – they are distinguished by family such as polyaryletherketones (PAEK) or polyetherimides (PEI). These filaments have a very high mechanical and thermal resistance, are very strong and at the same time much lighter than some metals. These properties make them very attractive in the aerospace, automotive and medical sectors.

Due to their characteristics, high performance polymers cannot be printed on all FDM machines on the market. Indeed, the 3D printer must have a heating plate capable of reaching at least 230°C, an extrusion at 350°C and a closed chamber. Today, about 65% of these materials are printed with FDM technology, but they are also found in powder form, compatible with SLS technology. Learn more in our dedicated guides on PEEK and PEKK.

Image via VisionMiner

Polypropylene (PP)

Polypropylene is another thermoplastic widely used in the automotive sector, professional textiles sector, and in the manufacturing of hundreds of everyday objects. PP is known for its resistance to abrasion and its ability to absorb shocks, as well as relative rigidity and flexibility. However, drawbacks of the material include its low temperature resistance, and sensitivity to UV rays which can cause it to expand. Due to this, several manufacturers have developed alternative types of PP, simili-propilenos, that are stronger both physically and mechanically.

Nylon

Objects made from polyamides (nylon) are usually created from a fine, white, granular powder with SLS technology. There are however some variants of the material such as nylon that are also available in filaments used in fused deposition modeling (FDM). Due to its biocompatibility, polyamides can be used to create parts that come into contact with food (except foods that contain alcohol).

Constituted of semi crystalline structures, polyamides have a good balance of chemical and mechanical characteristics that offer good stability, rigidity, flexibility, and shock resistance. These advantages mean that the material has many applications across sectors and offers a high level of detail. Due to its high quality, polyamides are used in the manufacture of gears, parts for the aerospace market, automotive market, robotics, medical prostheses, and injection molds. You can learn more in our dedicated guide on Nylon.

Image via Sculpteo

Composites

Composites are extremely beneficial when making lightweight yet strong parts. The fibers add strength to a part without adding weight, which is why we also refer to composites as fiber reinforced materials. There are two types of reinforcements, short fiber or continuous fiber. In the first case, chopped fibers, which consist of segments less than a millimeter in length, are mixed into traditional 3D printing plastics to increase the stiffness and to a lesser extent the strength of components. Chopped fibers can be mixed with thermoplastics such as nylon, ABS or PLA.

Alternatively, the fibers can be added to the thermoplastics continuously to arrive at a stronger part. The main fiber used in the 3D printing sector is carbon fiber, but there are also other fibers such as glass fiber or Kevlar. You can find more information in our dedicated guide.

Carbon fiber reinforced filament spool

Hybrid Materials

There are a variety of hybrid materials that mix base plastics with powders to give them a new color, finish or additional material properties. Often based on PLA, these materials are usually made of 70% PLA and 30% hybrid material. For example, wood-based filaments ranging from bamboo, cork, wood dust, and more are available. These wood-based materials mixed with PLA give the hybrid filament a more organic texture. Additionally, some hybrid materials incorporate metal powders to work with FDM-based technologies, to give parts a metal finish. They can be based on copper, bronze, silver, and more.

3D filaments based on wood.

Alumide

Alumide plastic objects are manufactured from a combination of polyamides and aluminium powder using the SLS process. The material has a large, slightly porous surface and a gritty, grainy appearance offering great strength and good temperature resistance (up to 172°C). However, some post-processing treatments are necessary, such as grinding, sanding, coating, or milling.

Alumide is used for complex models, design pieces, or for small series production of functional models that need high rigidity and an appearance similar to aluminium. This technique involves few geometric limits.

Soluble Materials

Soluble materials are materials printed with the intention of being dissolved in a future stage of the manufacturing process. The two most common soluble filament materials are HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene) and PVA (Polyvinyl Acetate). HIPS is associated with ABS, and can be dissolved with limonene, whereas PVA is associated with PLA and can be dissolved using just water.

There are also BVOH filaments which are becoming increasingly popular, especially in dual extruder printers. This is because the material is soluble in water, and according to experts has a higher solubility than PVA.

Flexible Materials

A newer type of filament, and one of the most successful, are flexible filaments. They are similar to PLA, but usually made out of TPE or TPU. The advantage of using these filaments for 3D printing is they allow for the creation of deformable objects, widely used in the fashion industry. Generally, these flexible filaments have the same printing characteristics as PLA, though they come in a variety of ranges based on their stiffness. It is worth finding out which type of extruder is best suited to the material to avoid jams when 3D printing.

Flexible materials are widely used in fashion and design

Resins (for photopolymerization-based 3D printing)

3D printing technologies based on photopolymerization use UV-sensitive resins to create objects layer by layer. In other words, they use a light source such as a laser or LCD screen to solidify a liquid photopolymer. Technologies include SLA, DLP, and even Material Jetting (PolyJet). Creating parts using resins results in high detail and smooth surface objects, nevertheless, the color range is still quite limited using this process. What differentiates resins from FDM filaments is that it is impossible to mix resins to obtain different results quite easily.

Standard resin has properties similar to ABS: the surface finish of the part will be good given the photopolymerization process, however mechanical properties will be moderate. More advanced resins do exist for technical applications such as in dentistry (also need to be biocompatible), or engineering. Additionally, flexible resins that offer greater flexibility and deformation can be used to make jewelry. Over the years, manufacturers have expanded their range of liquid photopolymers to answer manufacturing needs from various sectors. Therefore, you should be able to find resins that have high-temperature resistance, can withstand large impacts, or that have high elongation properties.

The 3D printing resin is poured in a tank

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90,000 types of plastic for 3D printer

Content

- Pla
- ABS
- HIPS
- PVA
- Petg
- SBS
Every year 3D printing becomes more popular and accessible. Previously, a 3D printer was more like a complex CNC machine, but now manufacturers are meeting users. Simplified and automated settings that many beginners drove into a stupor. Despite this, it can be difficult for a novice user to understand the variety of constantly appearing plastics for a 3D printer.

The choice of plastic for a 3D printer is very important, especially when the goal is to print a functional model with certain properties. It will be a shame if the printed gear breaks almost immediately, or the decorative model quickly loses its beauty.

It is important to understand whether the printer will be able to work with the selected plastic. Some materials (most often engineering) require certain conditions for successful printing.

First, decide which model you want to print. What properties should it have? Does the model need to be durable? Or is it a master model for further replication, in which the quality of the surface is important?

90% of 3D printers use 1. 75 diameter filament. 3mm diameter is rare, but it is better to check in advance which size is used in your printer.

PLA

PLA (Polylactide) is the most popular and affordable 3D printer plastic. PLA is made from sugar cane, corn, or other natural raw materials. Therefore, it is considered a non-toxic, biodegradable material.

Extruder temperature - 190-220 degrees. Table heating is not needed, but if the printer's table has a "heater" for better adhesion, you can heat it up to 50-60 degrees. PLA is very easy to work with. The only requirement is to blow the model. There is practically no shrinkage in this material. When printed, it is practically odorless, and if it smells, it smells like burnt caramel.

Pros:
- Does not shrink. This makes it easy to build prefabricated or huge models without changing dimensions.
- There are no specific requirements for a 3D printer. Any working 3D printer will do. PLA doesn't need a heated table or a closed case.
- Non-toxic. Due to this, during printing it does not smell or has a barely perceptible aroma of burnt caramel.
- Diverse color palette.
Cons:
- PLA is poorly sanded and machined.
- It begins to deform already with a slight heating (about 50 degrees).
- Fragility. Compared to other materials, PLA is very brittle and breaks easily.
- Decomposes under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. Of course, it will not fall apart into dust, but it can become more brittle and fade.
PLA is perfect for making dimensional or composite models. For example, decorative interior items, prototyping, electronics cases, etc.

Recently, PLA+ has appeared on the market. It may differ from conventional PLA in improved performance. For example, more durable, with improved layer adhesion.

Industry:	Aircraft industry
Equipment:	Super Discovery 3D Printer
Material:	CFRP SABIC LNP™ THERMOCOMP™ AM EZ006EXAR1

Industry:	Automotive
Equipment:	Super Discovery 3D Printer
Material:	ABS with carbon fiber

Industry:	Design
Equipment:	Super Discovery 3D Printer
Material:	3D850

Industry:	Architecture
Equipment:	Super Discovery 3D Printer
Material:	ABS with cellulose fiber

Industry:	Railway industry
Equipment:	Super Discovery 3D Printer
Material:	plastic

Industry:	Engineering
Equipment:	Discovery 3D Printer 2021
Material:	Premium PLA

Industry:	Advertising
Equipment:	Super Discovery 3D Printer Workstation
Material:	plastic

Industry:	Shipbuilding
Equipment:	Super Discovery 3D Printer
Material:	flame retardant ABS

Hard plastic 3d printer

Guide to 3D Printing Materials: Types, Applications, and Properties

3D Printing Materials Guide: Plastics

ABS

PLA

ASA

PET

PETG

Polycarbonate (PC)

High Performance Polymers (PEEK, PEKK, ULTEM)

Polypropylene (PP)

Nylon

Composites

Hybrid Materials

Alumide

Soluble Materials

Flexible Materials

Resins (for photopolymerization-based 3D printing)

PLA

ABS

HIPS

PVA

PETG

SBS

Nylon

Soft plastics

Decorative plastics

Engineering plastics

Totals

Large Area 3D Printer

Problems solved

Looking for a 3D printer for your needs?

3D printers

3D printing consumables

Advantages of Discovery 3D Printer Solutions

Case Studies

FDM 3D Printing of Airbus Parts

3D printed car bumper

Create a chair with large format 3D printing

3D printed architectural statue

3D printing of railroad components

Helicopter seat 3D printing

3D printed internal combustion engine

3D printed exclusive piece of furniture

Architectural 3D printed in durable ABS with cellulose

Dior boutique window dressing

FDM Cap Prototype

3D printed complex product for the navy

3D printed marine ventilation grille

3D printed functional motorcycle part

3D printed car wheel

3D printed designer vase

Geometry 3D printing

Useful materials

Webinar on 3D printing large, complex geometries

Large Format Plastic 3D Industrial Printing Brochure

About the manufacturer

CNC Barcenas / Spain

About us

Why order a 3D printer from iQB Technology?

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Frequently Asked Questions

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