Materials

Plant-based, rigid, the easiest to print and the widest colour range. Softens in heat and degrades in UV — indoor use.

Toughened PLA — less brittle, better layer bonding, prints the same way.

Strong and slightly flexible, water- and chemical-resistant, handles moderate heat and outdoor use. Food-contact grades exist.

A clearer, tougher cousin of PETG with better impact resistance and less stringing.

Tough and heat-resistant, sandable and smoothable with acetone. Warps easily; needs an enclosure and ventilation.

ABS with UV stability — the go-to for parts that live outdoors year-round.

Rubber-like and stretchable, typically 85A–95A hardness. Phone cases, grips, gaskets, soles.

Very tough and wear-resistant with low friction — gears, hinges, living joints. Absorbs moisture and must be dried.

Extremely strong and impact-resistant, holds up above 110 °C, can be printed clear. Demanding to print.

Light, chemically inert and fatigue-resistant — ideal for living hinges and containers. Notoriously prone to warping.

Chopped carbon fibre adds stiffness and dimensional stability with a matte finish. Abrasive — requires a hardened nozzle.

Similar stiffness gain to carbon fibre at lower cost, with better heat resistance. Also abrasive.

Aerospace-grade polymer: continuous use near 250 °C, chemically inert, sterilizable. Needs a high-temperature industrial printer.

High strength and flame retardance with continuous use up to about 170 °C. Industrial machines only.

Dissolves in plain water — a sacrificial support material, never part of the finished item.

Light and machinable; dissolves in limonene. Used as ABS support or as a material in its own right.

High-gloss, almost metallic sheen that hides layer lines. Purely cosmetic — slightly weaker than plain PLA.

Non-reflective, powdery finish that photographs cleanly and disguises imperfections.

Real wood fibre blended into PLA — prints can be sanded, stained and sealed like timber.

Heavy metal powder in a PLA base; polishes to a genuine metallic look and can be patinated.

Mineral particles create a speckled stone or ceramic texture for vases and homeware.

Phosphorescent additive charges under light and glows in darkness. Abrasive — hardened nozzle recommended.

Reflective flakes throughout the filament; the effect survives light scratches.

Shifts colour with heat or sunlight — popular for novelty and gift items.

Colour transitions built into the spool, giving multicolour prints from a single extruder.

Light-transmitting PETG or PC for lamps, lenses and light diffusers.

Expands as it extrudes to produce very light, low-density parts — RC aircraft, props, cosplay.

Carbon-loaded plastic that carries a low current — touch sensors and simple embedded circuits.

Made from reclaimed or renewable feedstock; a real selling point for eco-conscious buyers.

Fine detail and a smooth surface at low cost — miniatures, figurines, display models. Brittle and UV-sensitive.

Absorbs impact instead of shattering — enclosures, snap fits, parts that get handled.

Cleans up with plain water instead of isopropyl alcohol — simpler and safer workflow.

Cures to a rubber-like solid, roughly Shore 40A–80A — gaskets, grips, wearables.

Polishes to near-glass clarity for lenses, light guides and optical pieces.

Burns out cleanly with almost no ash for investment casting — the standard for jewellery masters.

Holds shape well above 200 °C after post-curing — moulds, tooling, thermal fixtures.

Certified for skin or short-term oral contact — guides, aligners, wearables. Regulated use.

Mineral-loaded for a matte stone finish and higher stiffness.

The workhorse powder: strong, dimensionally stable, no supports needed, equal strength in all directions.

Castor-oil based and bio-sourced, more ductile and impact-resistant than PA12 — orthotics and wearables.

Reinforced grades with far greater stiffness and heat resistance for structural parts.

Flexible lattices and energy-returning structures — footwear midsoles, padding, cushioning.

Chemically resistant and fatigue-tolerant — containers, ducts, hinges.

Corrosion-resistant metal for functional hardware, tooling and jewellery.

Light metal with good thermal conductivity — brackets, housings, heat sinks.

Exceptional strength-to-weight and biocompatibility — medical, aerospace, premium goods.

Produced by casting from a printed castable pattern rather than printed directly.