Materials Guide
Choose the Right Material
For Your Build
A practical guide to choosing the right material for prototypes, functional parts, outdoor use, flexible components, and high-detail resin prints — printed to order in our Johannesburg workshop, or bought off the shelf by the spool.
Quick Pick
Start with the use case
Choose a quick recommendation to open the matching material section, or use the filters above to narrow the page.
PLA — Polylactic Acid
The most widely used FDM material. Easy to print, great surface finish, biodegradable.
Printed to order
FDM
PLA
Standard Polylactic Acid
The entry-level filament for good reason. PLA is derived from corn starch, prints cleanly at low temperatures, and produces excellent surface detail. Best suited for visual models, prototypes, and light-duty indoor parts.
Material Properties
Strength
55%
Flexibility
20%
Heat Resist.
25%
Detail
80%
Ease of Print
95%
Advantages
Easy to print, minimal warping
Excellent surface finish
Biodegradable & eco-friendly
Cost-effective
Limitations
Poor heat resistance (50–60°C)
Brittle under impact
UV-sensitive outdoors
Not for high-load parts
Best For
PrototypesDisplay ModelsFigurinesIndoor Parts
PLA+
Enhanced Polylactic Acid
PLA+ adds modifiers to standard PLA to improve toughness, reduce brittleness, and increase layer adhesion. Our most popular everyday filament — significant upgrade over standard PLA at a small cost premium.
Material Properties
Strength
70%
Flexibility
30%
Heat Resist.
30%
Detail
82%
Ease of Print
90%
Advantages
Tougher than standard PLA
Less brittle, better impact resistance
Still easy to print
Good layer bonding
Limitations
Still not suitable for high-heat
Not as stiff as ABS
Limited outdoor durability
Best For
Functional PartsEnclosuresBracketsJigs & Fixtures
PLA Silk
Silk-Finish Polylactic Acid
PLA Silk uses a special additive that produces a glossy, metallic sheen on the printed surface. Chosen for aesthetic parts where visual impact matters — catches light beautifully but sacrifices some mechanical strength.
Material Properties
Strength
45%
Flexibility
15%
Heat Resist.
22%
Detail
85%
Ease of Print
80%
Advantages
Striking glossy metallic finish
Available in dual-colour variants
No post-processing needed for shine
Limitations
More brittle than standard PLA
Not for mechanical parts
Stringing can be an issue
Purely aesthetic material
Best For
Display ModelsGiftsFigurinesDecorative Parts
PETG — Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol
The sweet spot between ease of printing and real-world performance. Chemical and moisture resistant.
Printed to order
FDM · Engineering
PETG
Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol
PETG bridges the gap between PLA and ABS. Tougher, more flexible, and significantly more heat and chemical resistant than PLA — while being far easier to print than ABS. Ideal for parts that need to last in real-world conditions.
Material Properties
Strength
75%
Flexibility
50%
Heat Resist.
60%
Detail
70%
Ease of Print
78%
Advantages
Good chemical & moisture resistance
Semi-flexible — resists cracking
Food-safe (unpigmented)
Lower warping than ABS
Limitations
Prone to stringing
Absorbs moisture over time
Softer surface than ABS
Best For
Outdoor PartsMechanical PartsWater ContainersEnclosures
PETG-CF
PETG Carbon Fibre Reinforced
Carbon fibre-filled PETG delivers a significant boost in stiffness and dimensional stability. The CF particles reduce flex and improve layer adhesion, producing parts that look and feel genuinely industrial.
Material Properties
Strength
85%
Flexibility
20%
Heat Resist.
65%
Detail
60%
Ease of Print
60%
Advantages
High stiffness-to-weight ratio
Excellent dimensional stability
Industrial matte black finish
Low thermal expansion
Limitations
Abrasive — wears standard nozzles
Brittle under flex loading
Only available in black
Best For
Structural PartsDrone FramesToolingJigs
ABS / ASA — Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
The traditional engineering filament. Heat-resistant, impact-tough, and UV-stable in ASA form.
26 in stock · from R299
FDM · Engineering
ABS
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
ABS has been an industry standard for decades. Solid heat resistance, impact toughness, and can be acetone-smoothed to a near-injection-moulded finish. Requires an enclosure to print reliably and emits fumes during printing.
Material Properties
Strength
78%
Flexibility
40%
Heat Resist.
75%
Detail
65%
Ease of Print
45%
Advantages
Good heat resistance (up to 100°C)
Acetone-smoothable finish
Tough & impact-resistant
Machinable & sandable
Limitations
Warps without enclosure
Emits fumes during printing
UV degradation outdoors
More difficult to print
Best For
Automotive PartsEnclosuresToolsHigh-Temp Indoor
ASA
Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate
ASA is ABS's outdoor-capable sibling. Nearly identical mechanical properties but adds strong UV resistance — the go-to for exterior applications. Colours remain stable in sunlight where ABS would fade within months.
Material Properties
Strength
78%
Flexibility
38%
Heat Resist.
78%
Detail
65%
Ease of Print
42%
Advantages
Excellent UV & weather resistance
Retains colour in sunlight
Similar toughness to ABS
Good chemical resistance
Limitations
Warps — requires enclosure
Emits fumes during printing
More expensive than ABS
Best For
Outdoor SignageGarden PartsVehicle ExteriorWeatherproof Enclosures
TPU / TPE — Flexible Filaments
Rubber-like elastomers. Shock-absorbing, grip-enhancing, and flexible under load.
11 in stock · from R299
FDM · Flexible
TPU 95A
Thermoplastic Polyurethane — Shore 95A
TPU 95A is a semi-flexible elastomer — firm but with give. It resists abrasion and impact, and returns to its original shape after compression. The most printable and versatile flexible option.
Material Properties
Strength
65%
Flexibility
78%
Heat Resist.
55%
Detail
55%
Ease of Print
55%
Advantages
Excellent abrasion resistance
Shock and vibration absorption
Oil & chemical resistant
Most printable flexible option
Limitations
Slower print speeds required
Prone to stringing
Moisture-sensitive storage
Best For
GasketsGrips & HandlesPhone CasesVibration DampersSeals
TPU 87A
Thermoplastic Polyurethane — Shore 87A
Softer than 95A, the 87A shore rating makes this feel closer to silicone-like rubber. More challenging to print but produces highly compliant, soft-touch parts ideal where a softer contact surface is needed.
Material Properties
Strength
50%
Flexibility
92%
Heat Resist.
48%
Detail
45%
Ease of Print
35%
Advantages
Very soft, rubber-like feel
High elongation before break
Excellent grip surfaces
Limitations
Difficult to print reliably
Limited detail resolution
Not load-bearing
Best For
Soft GripsWearablesProsthetic PadsCable Protectors
Nylon / PA — Polyamide
High-performance engineering filament. Tough, fatigue-resistant, and self-lubricating.
Printed to order
FDM · Engineering
Nylon PA6
Polyamide 6
PA6 Nylon produces parts with exceptional toughness, natural lubricity, and fatigue resistance. Often used in gears, hinges, and load-bearing components where repeated stress is a factor.
Material Properties
Strength
88%
Flexibility
55%
Heat Resist.
80%
Detail
60%
Ease of Print
35%
Advantages
Exceptional toughness & fatigue life
Self-lubricating surface
Chemical resistant
High impact strength
Limitations
Highly hygroscopic — must be dried
Requires high print temps & enclosure
Warps significantly if not controlled
Best For
GearsHingesBearingsLoad-Bearing PartsIndustrial Components
PA12-CF
Nylon 12 Carbon Fibre Reinforced
PA12-CF combines the inherent toughness of Nylon 12 with carbon fibre reinforcement, producing parts that approach the strength of aluminium at a fraction of the weight. Used in professional prototyping and end-use components.
Material Properties
Strength
95%
Flexibility
18%
Heat Resist.
85%
Detail
55%
Ease of Print
28%
Advantages
Highest strength-to-weight of any FDM
Excellent stiffness & heat resistance
Dimensionally very stable
Limitations
Most difficult to print correctly
Expensive
Abrasive — requires hardened nozzle
Black only
Best For
Aerospace PartsAutomotiveProfessional ToolingHigh-Load Brackets
Resin — SLA / MSLA
Ultra-high detail photopolymer printing. Smooth surfaces, fine features, and engineering-grade options.
Printed to order
Resin
Standard Resin
General Purpose Photopolymer
Standard resin produces the finest surface detail achievable with 3D printing. Layer lines are essentially invisible, and fine features as small as 0.05mm can be reproduced. Best for display models, miniatures, and masters for moulding.
Material Properties
Strength
40%
Flexibility
10%
Heat Resist.
30%
Detail
98%
Ease of Print
70%
Advantages
Exceptional surface detail
Smooth finish out of printer
Wide colour range
Great for master patterns
Limitations
Brittle — not for functional parts
UV-sensitive post cure
Requires wash & cure post-processing
Resin is a chemical — handle with care
Best For
MiniaturesJewellery MastersDental ModelsDisplay Models
ABS-Like Resin
Toughened Engineering Photopolymer
ABS-Like resin adds rubber tougheners to the photopolymer formula, reducing brittleness while retaining the exceptional detail of resin printing. Better suited for functional resin parts than standard resin.
Material Properties
Strength
62%
Flexibility
28%
Heat Resist.
45%
Detail
92%
Ease of Print
68%
Advantages
High detail with improved toughness
Less brittle than standard resin
Suitable for snap fits & clips
Limitations
Still brittle vs FDM engineering filaments
Requires wash & cure
More expensive than standard resin
Best For
Snap FitsEnclosure LidsFine PrototypesConnectors
Still not sure which one?
Send us the part — a CAD file, a sketch, or a photo of the thing that broke. We print in every material on this page from our workshop in Johannesburg, and we will tell you which one it should be before you pay anything.