3D Printing Materials | PLA, PETG, TPU, ASA, PA6 and CF

Materials

A practical comparison of common FDM materials for prototypes, visual models and functional parts.

Material comparison

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FDM

PLA

Easy and clean material for prototypes, visual models and simple parts.

Strength: Medium stiffness, moderate impact resistance
Flexibility: Low
Heat: Low to moderate
Outdoor: Not ideal for long outdoor use

Use cases

concept prototypesvisual modelssimple fixtures

Recommended for

Prototypes, display parts, geometry checks.

Not recommended for

Hot environments, outdoor parts, high-load use.

FDM

PLA

Easy and clean material for prototypes, visual models and simple parts.

Strength: Medium stiffness, moderate impact resistance
Flexibility: Low
Heat: Low to moderate
Outdoor: Not ideal for long outdoor use

Use cases

concept prototypesvisual modelssimple fixtures

Recommended for

Prototypes, display parts, geometry checks.

Not recommended for

Hot environments, outdoor parts, high-load use.

FDM

PETG

Tougher general-purpose material for functional parts.

Strength: Good toughness and layer adhesion
Flexibility: Slightly flexible
Heat: Better than PLA
Outdoor: Moderate, depends on conditions

Use cases

bracketsholdershousings

Recommended for

Functional parts, workshop items, durable prototypes.

Not recommended for

Very high heat or very flexible parts.

FDM

Nylon PA6

Strong and tough engineering material for durable functional parts, fixtures and mechanical components. Requires proper drying and controlled printing conditions.

Strength: High toughness and good impact resistance
Flexibility: Slightly flexible, not rubber-like
Heat: Better heat resistance than PLA and PETG
Outdoor: Usable depending on conditions, moisture protection recommended

Use cases

mechanical partsgearsfixturesdurable bracketsfunctional prototypes

Printing note

Nylon PA6 absorbs moisture easily, so the filament usually needs drying before printing.

Recommended for

Durable functional parts, mechanical components, fixtures and parts exposed to repeated stress.

Not recommended for

Decorative models, quick low-cost prototypes, parts that must stay dimensionally stable without moisture control.

FDM

PLA-CF / PETG-CF

Carbon-filled materials for stiffer, premium-looking technical parts.

Strength: High stiffness, material dependent
Flexibility: Low
Heat: Depends on base polymer
Outdoor: Depends on base polymer

Use cases

stiff prototypesvisual technical partsjigs

Recommended for

Rigid parts, premium matte finish, controlled geometry.

Not recommended for

Every geometry, thin living hinges, abrasive-sensitive hardware.

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