PLAStandard
Stiff, dimensionally stable, prints crisp. The default for anything that lives indoors and isn't under real load.
| Tensile strength | ~50 MPa |
| Max service temp | ~55 °C |
| Density | 1.24 g/cm³ |
| Finish | as-printed, sanded |
Good for
- Fit checks & prototypes
- Display & presentation models
- Sharp detail, text, logos
- Low-stress brackets
Watch out for
- Anything warm — car interiors, near motors
- Sustained load (it creeps)
- Outdoor UV exposure
PETGStandard
The everyday workhorse — tougher and more heat-tolerant than PLA, shrugs off moisture and most splashes.
| Tensile strength | ~45 MPa |
| Max service temp | ~70 °C |
| Density | 1.27 g/cm³ |
| Finish | as-printed, sanded |
Good for
- Functional brackets & enclosures
- Parts with press-fit inserts
- Chemical / water splash
- Mechanical parts that flex a little
Watch out for
- Very fine detail (slightly stringy)
- High heat above ~70 °C
- Heavy structural load
ABSEngineering
Impact-tough and heat-resistant, and it vapor-smooths to a glossy, near-injection-moulded finish.
| Tensile strength | ~40 MPa |
| Max service temp | ~95 °C |
| Density | 1.04 g/cm³ |
| Finish | as-printed, sanded, vapor-smoothed |
Good for
- Housings & consumer-style parts
- Snap-fits & living clips
- Warm environments
- Smooth cosmetic surfaces
Watch out for
- Large flat parts (can warp)
- Outdoor UV (use ASA instead)
- Tight tolerance on big footprints
ASAEngineering
ABS's outdoor cousin — same toughness and heat range, but UV-stable so it doesn't chalk or yellow in sunlight.
| Tensile strength | ~44 MPa |
| Max service temp | ~95 °C |
| Density | 1.07 g/cm³ |
| Finish | as-printed, sanded, vapor-smoothed |
Good for
- Outdoor enclosures & mounts
- Automotive trim & underhood-adjacent
- Weather-exposed brackets
- Gasket channels
Watch out for
- Warp on large flat parts
- Very fine cosmetic detail
ASA-CFEngineering · carbon
Chopped-carbon ASA — stiffer, far lower warp, and holds dimension better than plain ASA. Matte black finish.
| Tensile strength | ~55 MPa |
| Max service temp | ~100 °C |
| Density | 1.11 g/cm³ |
| Finish | matte as-printed |
Good for
- Jigs, fixtures & tooling
- Low-warp dimensional parts
- Stiff brackets that stay flat
- Outdoor + structural combined
Watch out for
- Sharp internal detail (fibre blunts it)
- Parts needing a glossy finish
PC-CFEngineering · carbon
The strong one. Carbon-filled polycarbonate — high stiffness and strength, and it holds up near real heat.
| Tensile strength | ~90 MPa |
| Max service temp | ~110 °C |
| Density | 1.19 g/cm³ |
| Finish | matte as-printed |
Good for
- Load-bearing brackets & mounts
- Heat near motors or electronics
- Replacement parts for metal originals
- Tight-tolerance functional parts
Watch out for
- Cost & print time (highest of the range)
- Thin unsupported walls
TPUFlexible
Rubber-like. Bends, compresses and springs back — ~95A shore, roughly a firm skateboard wheel.
| Hardness | ~95A shore |
| Max service temp | ~80 °C |
| Density | 1.21 g/cm³ |
| Finish | as-printed |
Good for
- Gaskets, seals & bumpers
- Vibration-damping feet
- Living hinges & flexures
- Grippy over-moulded-style covers
Watch out for
- Rigid structural parts
- Very fine detail
- Tight press-fits (it gives)
Need more stiffness or heat than this range covers? Carbon-filled PET grades (PETG-rCF, PET-CF) are available for high-modulus dimensional parts — mention it on your quote and I'll advise. Full manufacturer datasheets on request.