3D Printing Materials
Choose from our professional-grade FDM filaments and resin materials
FDM (Filament) Printing
Fused Deposition Modeling uses thermoplastic filaments for strong, functional parts. Great for prototypes, mechanical parts, and larger items.
Resin (SLA) Printing
Stereolithography uses UV-cured resin for exceptional detail and smooth surfaces. Perfect for miniatures, jewelry, and intricate designs.
FDM Filament Materials
Most popular • Beginner-friendly • Eco-conscious
Our most popular material, PLA is biodegradable, easy to print, and produces excellent surface quality. Ideal for prototypes, decorative items, and general use.
Best For:
- Prototypes and concept models
- Decorative items and figurines
- Indoor use items
- Educational projects
Properties:
- Strength: Moderate
- Flexibility: Rigid
- Heat Resistance: Low (50-60°C)
- Durability: Good for indoor use
- Surface Finish: Excellent, minimal layer lines
Available Colors:
Black, White, Gray, Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Purple, and more
💡 Pro Tip: PLA is perfect for detailed prints but avoid using it for items exposed to heat or outdoor conditions.
Strong • Durable • Chemical-resistant
PETG combines the ease of printing of PLA with the strength and durability of ABS. Excellent for functional parts that need to withstand stress and environmental factors.
Best For:
- Functional mechanical parts
- Outdoor applications
- Food-safe containers (food-grade PETG)
- Impact-resistant parts
Properties:
- Strength: High
- Flexibility: Slight flexibility
- Heat Resistance: Medium (70-80°C)
- Durability: Excellent UV and weather resistance
- Surface Finish: Glossy, smooth
Available Colors:
Clear, Black, White, Red, Blue, Green, and custom colors
💡 Pro Tip: PETG is our recommended material for parts that need both strength and weather resistance.
Industrial-grade • Heat-resistant • Strong
ABS is the same material used in LEGO bricks and automotive parts. It offers excellent strength, heat resistance, and post-processing options like acetone smoothing.
Best For:
- Automotive and engineering parts
- Heat-resistant components
- Tools and jigs
- Parts requiring acetone smoothing
Properties:
- Strength: Very High
- Flexibility: Rigid
- Heat Resistance: High (95-105°C)
- Durability: Excellent impact resistance
- Surface Finish: Matte, can be smoothed with acetone
Available Colors:
Black, White, Gray, and limited colors
💡 Pro Tip: ABS can be vapor-smoothed with acetone for a professional glossy finish, perfect for display pieces.
Flexible • Rubber-like • Durable
TPU is a flexible, rubber-like material perfect for parts that need to bend, compress, or absorb impact. Highly resistant to abrasion and chemicals.
Best For:
- Phone cases and protective covers
- Gaskets and seals
- Wearable items
- Shock-absorbing parts
Properties:
- Strength: Moderate with high tear resistance
- Flexibility: Highly flexible (rubber-like)
- Heat Resistance: Medium (60-70°C)
- Durability: Excellent abrasion resistance
- Surface Finish: Slightly textured
Available Colors:
Black, White, Clear, Red, Blue, and custom colors
💡 Pro Tip: TPU prints require more expertise. Contact us to discuss your flexible printing needs.
Resin (SLA) Materials
High detail • Smooth surface • Versatile
Our standard resin offers exceptional detail and smooth surface finish perfect for miniatures, tabletop gaming models, jewelry prototypes, and intricate designs that require fine features.
Best For:
- Miniatures and tabletop gaming models
- Jewelry prototypes and master molds
- Highly detailed figurines and models
- Dental and medical models
Properties:
- Detail Resolution: Exceptional (25-50 microns)
- Strength: Moderate
- Flexibility: Rigid, slightly brittle
- UV Resistance: Requires post-cure, avoid prolonged sun exposure
- Surface Finish: Ultra-smooth, minimal layer lines
Available Colors:
Gray, White, Black, Clear, and specialty colors (varies by resin type)
💡 Pro Tip: Resin prints require post-processing (washing and UV curing). We handle all post-processing for you.
Strong • Impact-resistant • Functional
Engineering-grade resin formulated for functional parts requiring strength, toughness, and impact resistance while maintaining the high detail of SLA printing.
Best For:
- Functional prototypes and end-use parts
- Snap-fit assemblies and living hinges
- Jigs, fixtures, and tooling
- Parts requiring impact resistance
Properties:
- Detail Resolution: Excellent (25-50 microns)
- Strength: High (comparable to ABS)
- Flexibility: Slightly flexible, impact-resistant
- Heat Resistance: Moderate (50-70°C)
- Surface Finish: Smooth with good detail
Available Colors:
Typically gray or black (functional colors)
💡 Pro Tip: Tough resin bridges the gap between standard resin detail and FDM strength for functional prototypes.
Elastic • Soft-touch • Bendable
Soft, rubber-like resin that combines the flexibility of TPU with the detail capabilities of SLA printing. Perfect for soft-touch parts and wearables.
Best For:
- Soft grips and ergonomic handles
- Gaskets and seals with high detail
- Wearables and flexible jewelry
- Cushioned or compressible parts
Properties:
- Detail Resolution: Excellent (25-50 microns)
- Flexibility: Highly flexible (Shore A 60-80)
- Elongation: High stretch before breaking
- Tear Resistance: Good for thin features
- Surface Finish: Smooth, soft-touch
Available Colors:
Black, White, Clear, and specialty colors
💡 Pro Tip: Flexible resin is ideal when you need TPU-like flexibility with intricate details that FDM can't achieve.
Jewelry • Investment casting • Clean burnout
Specialized resin designed for jewelry and investment casting. Burns out cleanly during the casting process with minimal ash residue.
Best For:
- Jewelry patterns for investment casting
- Dental crowns and bridges
- Metal casting masters
- High-precision molds
Properties:
- Detail Resolution: Exceptional (10-25 microns)
- Burnout: Clean with minimal ash (<0.01%)
- Casting Compatibility: Gold, silver, platinum, bronze
- Thermal Expansion: Matched for casting process
- Surface Finish: Ultra-smooth for direct casting
Available Colors:
Amber, Purple (visual inspection colors)
💡 Pro Tip: Castable resin is the professional choice for jewelry designers and dental labs requiring precision casting patterns.
Material Comparison
| Property | PLA | PETG | ABS | TPU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of Printing | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Strength | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Flexibility | Rigid | Slight | Rigid | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Heat Resistance | 50-60°C | 70-80°C | 95-105°C | 60-70°C |
| UV Resistance | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Surface Finish | Excellent | Glossy | Matte | Textured |
| Typical Cost | $ | $$ | $$ | $$$ |
Material Selection Guide
🎨 For Display & Decoration
Choose PLA: Best surface quality, widest color selection, and most affordable. Perfect for figurines, models, and decorative items.
🔧 For Functional Parts
Choose PETG: Great balance of strength, durability, and ease of printing. Ideal for everyday functional parts and mechanical components.
🔥 For Heat Resistance
Choose ABS: Highest heat resistance, excellent for automotive parts, tools, and items that will be exposed to elevated temperatures.
🌊 For Outdoor Use
Choose PETG: Best UV and weather resistance. Won't degrade in sunlight or outdoor conditions like PLA.
📱 For Flexible Parts
Choose TPU (FDM): Rubber-like flexibility, perfect for phone cases, gaskets, wearables, and anything that needs to bend or compress. Or Flexible Resin (SLA): For detailed flexible parts with smooth surfaces.
✨ For High Detail & Smooth Finish
Choose Standard Resin: Exceptional detail (25-50 microns), ultra-smooth surfaces. Perfect for miniatures, jewelry prototypes, and intricate models that require fine features.
💍 For Jewelry & Casting
Choose Castable Resin: Clean burnout for investment casting. Industry standard for jewelry patterns, dental work, and precision metal casting.
🎮 For Miniatures & Models
Choose Standard Resin: Best choice for tabletop gaming miniatures, display models, and any highly detailed figurines. Far superior detail to FDM printing.
Need Help Choosing?
Not sure which material is right for your project? Our team can help you select the best material based on your specific requirements.