Types of material for 3d printing

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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Ultimate Materials Guide - Tips for 3D Printing with PETG

Overview

PETG is a Glycol Modified version of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), which is commonly used to manufacture water bottles. It is a semi-rigid material with good impact resistance, but it has a slightly softer surface which makes it prone to wear. The material also benefits from great thermal characteristics, allowing the plastic to cool efficiently with almost negligible warpage. There are several variations of this material in the market including PETG, PETE, and PETT. The tips in this article will apply to all of these PET-based filaments.

Glossy and smooth surface finish
Adheres well to the bed with negligible warping
Mostly odorless while printing

Poor bridging characteristics
Can produce thin hairs on the surface from stringing

Hardware Requirements

Before 3D printing with PET / PETG make sure your 3D printer meets the hardware requirements listed below to ensure the best print quality.

Bed

Temperature: 75-90 °C
Heated Bed Recommended
Enclosure Not Required

Build Surface

Glue Stick
Painter’s tape

Extruder

Temperature: 230-250 °C
No special hot-end required

Cooling

Part Cooling Fan Required

Best Practices

These tips will help you reduce the chances of common 3D printing issues associated with PET / PETG such as stringing, oozing, and poor bed adhesion.

Invest In a Good Build Surface

Some 3D printers come with a glass bed or blue painter’s tape installed on the bed. Although these surfaces might work fine for PETG, we recommend using a heated build platform for best results. The heated bed can significantly improve the first layer adhesion, making things much easier for future prints. Many of these heated beds come with a glass surface, allowing you to print directly on the bed without needing to apply any additional layers of tape or glue.

Calibrate Retraction Settings to Reduce Stringing

One of the few common issues that we see with PETG is stringing. These strings are thin hairs, similar to a spider web, that run between the different surface of your 3D print. Preventing these strings requires precisely calibrated retraction settings, so make sure to adjust your retraction distance and speed for the best results. Simplify3D also includes several useful features that can further reduce stringing. The first is called Coasting, which works by reducing the pressure in the nozzle right before the end of a segment. This way, when moving to the next segment, there is less pressure in the nozzle, so you are less likely to see stringing and oozing during that move. Another great option can be found on the Advanced tab of your Simplify3D process settings. By enabling the “avoid crossing outline for travel movements” option, the software will automatically adjust the travel movements of your print to stay on top of the interior of your model as much as possible. This means that the strings stay inside of your part where no one can see them, instead of being on the outside of your model. If you are looking for more tips to reduce stringing, we have an entire section dedicated to this issue on our Print Quality Guide: How to Reduce Stringing and Oozing.

Optimize Extruder Settings to Prevent Blobs and Zits

When 3D printing at higher temperatures associated with PETG, you may notice small blobs or zits on the surface of your model. These print defects typically occur at the beginning or end of each segment, where the extruder has to suddenly start or stop extruding plastic. There are several ways to eliminate these print defects such as enabling “Extra Restart Distance” or “Coasting” options located in the Extruder tab. Simplify3D also includes an option to perform a dynamic retraction, where the filament is retracted while the extruder is still moving. This completely eliminates blobs that are typically formed from a stationary retraction. To learn more about these features and other tips for reducing blobs on the surface of your print, please refer to our Print Quality Guide.

Pro-Tips

The glossy surface of PETG is especially useful when using rafts. The part separates easily from the raft and maintains a clean surface finish.
Try disabling your part cooling fan for the first few layers of the print to prevent warping. This trick especially works well for larger prints.

Get Started with PET / PETG

Now that you are ready to start printing with PET / PETG, here are a few ideas to help you get started – from common applications to popular filament brands.

Common Applications

Water proof applications
Snap fit components
Planter Pot

Sample Projects

Self-watering Planter
Water Bottle
Snap Fit Parts

Popular Brands

ColorFabb PETG
eSun PETG
E3D Spoolworks Edge
Hatchbox PETG
HobbyKing PETG

types, applications and features

3D printing enables rapid and cost-effective prototyping and production of models for a wide range of applications. But choosing the right 3D printing technology is only one side of the coin. Ultimately, the ability to create models with the required mechanical properties, functional characteristics or appearance will depend on the materials.

This comprehensive guide provides information on the most popular plastic and metal 3D printing materials available, compares their properties and applications, and provides guidance on how to select the most suitable material for your project.

Interactive Material

Need help choosing your 3D printing material? Our new interactive materials wizard will help you select the right material from our growing range of polymers, based on your intended application and the properties that matter most to you.

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Dozens of plastic materials are available for 3D printing. Each of them has unique properties suitable for specific applications. To make it easier to find the best material for a particular model or product, let's first look at the main types of plastics and the various 3D printing processes.

There are two main types of plastics:

thermoplastics are the most common type of plastics. The main feature that distinguishes them from thermosetting plastics is their ability to withstand multiple melting and solidification cycles. Thermoplastics can be heated and shaped into desired shapes. This process is reversible because no chemical bond is formed. As a result, they can be recycled or melted down and reused. Thermoplastics can be compared to butter: it melts and hardens many times. With each melting cycle, the properties of thermoplastics change slightly.
thermoset plastics (also called thermosets) remain permanently solid after polymerization. The polymers in thermosetting plastics are crosslinked during the polymerization process, which is induced by heat, light, or appropriate radiation. Thermoset plastics decompose when heated, rather than melt. In addition, they do not change their shape when cooled. It is not possible to recycle thermosetting plastics or restore the material to its original state. Thermosetting is like pie dough: once baked, the pie cannot be melted back into dough.

The three most common plastic 3D printing processes today are:

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printers melt and extrude thermoplastic filaments, which the printer's nozzle deposits layer by layer on the work area.
The Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printer uses a laser to photopolymerize thermoset liquid polymers into a hardened plastic.
The Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D Printer is equipped with a high power laser to sinter fine particles of thermoplastic powder.

How-to video

Can't find the 3D printing technology that best suits your needs? In this video tutorial, we compare Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) technologies in terms of the top factors to consider when purchasing.

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Fused fusion modeling (FDM), also known as fused filament manufacturing (FFF), is the most common form of consumer grade 3D printing, fueled by the rise of hobbyist 3D printers.

This method is well suited for making basic experimental models, as well as for quickly and inexpensively prototyping simple products, such as parts that are usually machined.

Consumer grade FDM has the lowest resolution and accuracy of any other plastic 3D printing process, making it unsuitable for printing complex designs or models with intricate features. It is possible to improve the surface quality of models printed using this technology using chemical and mechanical polishing processes. FDM-based industrial 3D printers, which offer a wider range of engineering thermoplastics, can solve these problems, but are also much more expensive.

Each layer is formed with a thermoplastic thread. Sometimes, if the layers are not completely adjacent to each other, there may be voids between them. As a result, anisotropic models are obtained, which is important to consider when designing products that must withstand load and be resistant to tension.

FDM 3D printing materials are available in a variety of colors. There are also various experimental mixtures of thermoplastic threads designed to create models with a surface that mimics wood or metal.

The most common materials for 3D printing in FDM technology are ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), PLA (polylactic acid) and various mixtures of these polymers. More advanced FDM printers can also print on other materials with different properties, such as increased temperature and chemical resistance, impact resistance, and rigidity.

9008 9008 9008 9008 9008 9008 9008 9008 Excellent vibration damping

Material	Features	Methods of use
ABS (acrylonitril-butadien-styrol)	Strong and durable Thermal and impact-resistant need for a heated printing platform		Easiest media to print with FDM technology Strong, tough but brittle Less resistant to temperature and chemicals The biodegradable does not have a smell of	Conceptual models Realistic prototypes
PETG (polyethylenertalatlatglycol)	is compatible with low printing temperatures .	Waterproof application Clip-on components
nylon	Hard, durable and light Strong and partially flexible heat -resistant and shockproof Complex for printing using FDM	Functional Prototypes Basement models
TPU (thermal polyurate)	Flexible Prototypes
PVA (polyvinyl alcohol)	Soluble support structure material The material for supporting structures
impact -resistant polystyrene	The material for creating soluble supporting structures, the most commonly used with ABS	Material for supporting structures
Composit materials (carbon, composite composite materials are dissolved in water. Kevlar, fiber optic)	Strong, tough and incredibly hard Only compatible with some expensive industrial 3D printers based on FDM technology	Functional prototypes Clamping fixtures, fixtures, tooling

Invented in the 1980s, stereolithography is the world's first 3D printing technology and is still one of the most popular among professionals today.

Models printed with stereolithography printers have the highest resolution and accuracy, the sharpest detail and the smoothest surface of any other plastic 3D printing technology. Resin 3D printing is a great option for producing highly detailed prototypes that require tight tolerances and smooth surfaces such as molds, templates, and functional models. Models printed using SLA technology can be easily polished and/or painted after printing, resulting in highly detailed finished products.

Models printed on SLA 3D printers are generally isotropic: their strength is more or less constant and independent of orientation, since chemical bonds occur between each layer. This results in models with predictable mechanical characteristics critical for applications such as fasteners, fixtures, finished products, and functional prototypes.

Stereolithography supports a wide range of plastic 3D printing materials.

SLA 3D printing is versatile and provides a wide range of optical, mechanical and thermal properties that match those of standard, engineering and industrial thermoplastics.

jewelry resins

Materials of FORMLABS	Characteristics	Methods of use
Standard polymers	High resolution Smote, matte surface	Conceptual models 958 Conceptual models	Conceptual Models Realistic prototypes
Clear Resin	The only truly transparent material for 3D printing from plastics can be polished to almost full optical transparency	models, which should be optically transparent
DRAFT REDI	One of the fastest 3D printing materials Prints 4x faster than standard resins and 10x faster than FDM	Initial prototypes Rapid iterations
Tough Resin and Durable Resin	Materials that are tough, strong, functional and dynamic Able to withstand compression, tension, bending and impact without breaking Various materials with properties similar to ABS	Enclosures and Enclosures Clamps and Mounting Devices Connectors Wear Prototypes
Rigid Resins	Highly filled, stiff and strong material, resistant to bending Resistant to temperature and chemicals Maintains dimension under load	Clamping and clamping fixtures, tooling Turbines and fan blades Fluid/air components Electrical enclosures and enclosures used in the automotive industry
High Temp Resin	High temperature resistant High Precision	Hot Air, Gas, and Liquid Components Heat Resistant Fasteners, Housings, and Fixtures Molds and Inserts
Flexible Resin and Elastic Resin	Flexibility of Rubber, TPU, or Silicone compression Withstand many successive cycles without wear	Consumer product prototypes Foldable structures for robotics Medical devices and anatomy models Props and models for special effects
Medical and dental resins	A wide range of biocompatible resins for the manufacture of medical and dental products	Dental and medical products, including surgical templates, dentures and prosthetic limbs
Lost Wax and Vulcanized Rubber Casting Materials Easy to cast, allows for intricate designs and retains shape well	Products for trying on Models for reusable press forms Jewelry to order
Ceramic Resin	Surface System, similar to the Firing Personal Product, the possibility of firing for creating a real ceramic product	Technical survival Unique articles 908

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Selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printing is a technology trusted by engineers and manufacturers across industries to create durable and functional models. With its low model cost, high performance, and use of common materials, this technology is well suited for a wide range of applications, from rapid prototyping to low-volume production, limited trial runs, or custom-made products.

The green powder supports the model during printing and eliminates the need for special support structures. As a result, SLS is ideal for complex geometries, including internal features, undercuts, thin walls, and negative draft features.

Like stereolithography, SLS produces more isotropic models than FDM models. Models created with SLS technology have a slightly rough surface due to powder particles, but have almost no visible layer lines.

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

Compared to FDM and SLA technologies, SLS technology allows the use of a limited number of materials. However, the available materials have excellent mechanical properties. They have strength comparable to die-cast models. The most common selective laser sintering material is nylon, a popular engineering thermoplastic with excellent mechanical properties. Nylon is light, strong and flexible, resistant to impact, heat, chemicals, UV radiation, water and dirt.

Material	Description	Methods of use
Nylon 12 Powder	Strong, hard and durable Siberian, Solp. water	Functional prototypes End use products Medical devices
Nylon 11 Powder	Similar properties to Nylon 12 Powder. Possesses greater elasticity, elongation at break and impact resistance, but less rigidity	Functional prototypes Products for the final use of Medical devices
TPU	Flexible, elastic, elastic resistant to deformation High resistance to ultraviolet Excellent damping capacity	. end use Medical devices
Nylon composites	Nylon materials reinforced with glass, aluminum or fiberglass for greater strength and rigidity	Functional Prototypes Structural End-Use Products

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Different 3D printing materials and processes have their own advantages and disadvantages that make them suitable for different scenarios. The following table provides a brief overview of some of the main features and factors to consider. Disadvantages Poor accuracy
Poor detail
Limited conformance to design design
High cost of industrial devices if precision and high performance materials are required Susceptibility to prolonged UV exposure More expensive supply of materials More expensive2 Applications Inexpensive Rapid Prototyping
Basic experimental models
Production of special end-use products using professional industrial devices and materials Functional prototypes
Templates, molds and tooling
Dental products
Prototypes and molds for casting jewelry
Props and models Functional prototypes
Small-scale production, production of limited trial runs, creation of products to order Materials Standard thermoplastics such as ABS, PLA and their various blends on consumer grade devices. High performance composite materials on high value industrial applications Various polymers (thermosetting plastics). Standard, engineering (similar to ABS and PP, flexible, heat resistant), molding, dental and medical (biocompatible). Engineering thermoplastics. Nylon 11 Powder, Nylon 12 Powder and their composite materials, thermoplastic elastomers such as TPU.

There are several 3D printing processes not only from plastics, but also from metals.

Metal FDM printers are similar in design to traditional FDM printers, but use extruded metal rods held in place by a resin binder. The finished models are in an intermediate state and then sintered in an oven to remove the binder.

SLM and DMLS printers are similar to SLS printers, but instead of polymer powders, they fuse metal powder particles layer by layer using a laser. 3D printers based on SLM and DMLS technologies can create strong, precise and complex metal products, making this process ideal for the aerospace, automotive and medical industries.

Titanium is a light metal with excellent mechanical properties. It is strong, hard and highly resistant to heat, oxidation and acids.
stainless steel has high strength, ductility and corrosion resistance.
aluminum is a lightweight, durable, strong metal with good thermal properties.
Tool Steel is a hard, scratch-resistant material that can be used to print end-use tools and other high-strength products.
nickel alloys have high tensile, creep and tensile strength, as well as heat and corrosion resistance.

Compared to plastic 3D printing technologies, metal 3D printing is much more expensive and difficult, and therefore beyond the reach of most companies.

As an alternative to casting workflows that produce metal models cheaper and faster than traditional methods and provide greater design freedom, SLA 3D printing is well suited.

Another alternative is galvanization of SLA printed models. It involves applying a layer of metal to plastic using electrolysis. This combines some of the best qualities of metal (strength, electrical conductivity, corrosion and abrasion resistance) with the special properties of the base (usually plastic) material.

Plastic 3D printing is well suited for creating templates that can be cast to produce metal models.

With so many materials and options available for 3D printing, making the right choice can be difficult.

We provide a 3-step process for selecting the right material for 3D printing.

Plastics used for 3D printing have different chemical, optical, mechanical and thermal characteristics that affect the properties of 3D printed models. As you move from the intended use case to the actual operating environment, the performance requirements increase accordingly.

Requirement	Description	Recommendations
Low Efficiency	Example: Prototype mold for a ladle for ergonomic testing. Other than surface quality, there are no performance requirements.	FDM PLA SLA: Standard Resins, Clear Resin (transparency), Draft Resin (fast)
Medium Efficiency	For validation or pre-production use, printed models should have properties as close as possible to those of final production models , for functional testing, but do not meet stringent requirements regarding service life. Example: housing for electronic components to protect against sudden impacts. Functional characteristics include the ability to absorb impact energy. In addition, the body must snap into place and retain its shape.	FDM ABS SLA: Engineering Resins SLS: Nylon 11 Powder, Nylon 12 Powder, TPU
High Efficiency	Final 3D printed models need to be highly stable to achieve end use products to wear and tear over a certain period of time, whether it be a day, a week or several years. Example: shoe soles. Functional features include rigorous cycling and unloading life testing, color fastness over many years, and tear resistance, among other things.	FDM Composites SLA: Engineering, Medical, Dental or Jewelry Resins SLS: Nylon 11 Powder, Nylon 12 Powder, TPU, Nylon Composites

material requirements: material properties that will satisfy these requirements. These indicators are usually given in the technical specifications of the material.

Requirement	Description	Recommendation
Tensile strength	Resistance of material to fracture under tension. High tensile strength is important for structural, load-bearing, mechanical or static models.	FDM PLA SLA: Clear Resin, Rigid Resin SLS: Nylon 12 Powder, Nylon Composites
Flex Modulus	Material resistance to bending under load. Indicates either rigidity (high value) or flexibility (low value) of the material.	FDM PLA (high), ABS (medium) SLA: Rigid Resin (high), Tough Resin and Durable Resin (medium), Flexible Resin and Elastic Resin (low) SLS: Nylon composite materials (high value), Nylon 12 Powder (medium value)
Elongation	Material resistance to tensile failure. Allows you to compare the degree of stretching of flexible materials. It also indicates whether the material is stretched or immediately destroyed.	FDM ABS (medium), TPU (high) SLA: Tough Resin and Durable Resin (medium), Flexible Resin and Elastic Resin (high) SLS: Nylon 12 Powder (medium), Nylon 11 Powder (medium), TPU (high)
Impact strength	The ability of a material to absorb impact and its energy without breaking. Shows toughness and durability. Allows you to determine how easily the material breaks when it falls to the ground or collides with another object.	FDM ABS, Nylon SLA: Tough 2000 Resin, Tough 1500 Resin, Gray Pro Resin, Durable Resin SLS: Nylon 12 Powder, Nylon 11 Powder a certain load. Indicates whether the material is suitable for high temperature applications.	SLA: High Temp Resin, Rigid Resin SLS: Nylon 12 Powder, Nylon composites
Hardness (durometer)	Material resistance to surface deformation. Allows you to determine the right degree of plasticity for soft plastics such as rubber and elastomers for a particular application.	FDM TPU SLA: Flexible Resin, Elastic Resin SLS: TPU
Tear resistance	Material resistance to notching under tension. This indicator is important for evaluating the durability and wear resistance of soft plastics and flexible materials such as rubber.	FDM TPU SLA: Flexible Resin, Elastic Resin, Durable Resin SLS: Nylon 11 Powder, TPU
Creep	Creep is the tendency of a material to permanently deform under the influence of constant stress: tension or bending, compression, shear . Low creep indicates durability of hard plastics and is very important for structural models.	FDM ABS SLA: Rigid Resin SLS: Nylon 12 Powder, Nylon 9 composites0092
Compression set	Irreversible deformation after material compression. An important indicator for soft plastics and applications where elasticity is needed. Indicates whether the material will restore its original shape after the load is removed.	FDM TPU SLA: Flexible Resin, Elastic Resin SLS: TPU

For more information on material properties, see our guide to the most common mechanical and thermal properties.

By converting performance characteristics into material requirements, you can most likely find out which material, or small group of materials, is right for your application.

If several materials meet your basic requirements, a broader range of desired characteristics, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of these materials and processes, can be considered for the final selection.

Use our interactive material wizard. It will help you select the right materials from our growing range of polymers for your application and the properties that matter most to you. Do you have specific questions about 3D printing materials? Contact our experts.

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What is the best plastic for 3D printing? Let's figure it out together!

Plastic for 3D printing

After purchasing your own FDM 3D printer, as well as in the course of choosing it, it becomes necessary to choose the right plastic for 3D printing. But how to do this if you are new to 3D printing and have little to no understanding of this issue? Plastic for printing on a 3D printer is in most cases the main component of successful product reproduction. Therefore, we will not save on knowledge, and will tell you how to choose the best plastic for 3D printing.

Types of plastic for a 3D printer

First of all, you need to consider the types of plastic for a 3D printer. Plastic for 3D printing, or filament, is produced in the form of a thin thread with a diameter of 1.75 mm and 3 mm. Most often, filaments with a thickness of 1.75 mm are used in the basic configuration, but some manufacturers of 3D printers provide the ability to install a 3 mm plastic feed system. Plastic for 3D printing has many varieties, among which the most common are ABS and PLA plastic.

Plastic for 3D printing: varieties

By popularity in the Ukrainian market, the following types of plastic for 3D printing can be distinguished:

PLA (PLA) or polylactide. Organic and short lived. Suitable for 3D printing of decorative products, but not able to withstand high mechanical loads;
ABS (ABS) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. It has a long life and excellent mechanical properties. Heat-resistant and used for industrial purposes. Shrinks on cooling. It is recommended to print in ventilated areas;
PVA (PVA) or polyvinyl alcohol. A water-soluble material that is used as a support;
Nylone (Nylon). An alternative to ABS plastic, suitable for many engineering structures. When printing with nylon, it is recommended to ventilate the room;
HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene). In terms of physical properties, it is a cross between PLA and ABS. May also emit toxic fumes when printed.

Other questions and answers about 3D printers and 3D printing:

What is the best plastic for a 3D printer?

In fact, there are many more types of plastic for 3D printing. This can include flexible, fluorescent and luminescent filament, wood and metallized materials. But in practice, such consumables are rarely used and are needed for narrowly specific purposes. Metallized plastics are interesting in their own right, but they are at the initial stage of development and are inferior in performance to ordinary reinforced materials. “And what plastic is best for a 3D printer?” - you ask. You should choose based on specific goals. If you intend to print decorative elements that will not be subject to payload, you can look at PLA plastic. If your goal is to print gears, structural parts and other things, look at reinforced materials for 3D printing.

What plastic to print with?

Please note that not every printer supports the full range of 3D printing materials. Before buying a specific filament, check the specifications of your own device to avoid wasting money. The rest is up to you and your imagination. A huge range of colors and shades of plastic is available for sale, matte and glossy, semi- and fully transparent materials. Such a variety will allow you to make almost any product to your taste.

Remember that if you need to buy plastic for 3D printing - 3DDevice store is at your service! We offer a wide range of different materials in all possible color options and are ready to provide advice when choosing a filament.

If you have additional questions that we have not covered, write to us by e-mail and we, if necessary, will add your questions! Best regards, 3DDevice team. We also provide 3D modeling, 3D scanning and 3D printing services.