
3D Printing Materials
There are a variety of different plastics that can be used in 3D printing, and each one has different characteristics and uses.
The best guide I've found is this one: Simplify3D Materials Guide.
If you aren't sure where to start, head to the contact page - let's start a conversation!
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Also - the colors displayed here are not 100% accurate. I can print a small sample medallion for you to study if you wish.
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PLA
PLA, or Polylactic Acid, is a naturally based filament. It is brittle and is mostly used for decorative purposes.
Being naturally based, it is biodegradable, so no guilt is involved when printing with this material! :)
Available Colors:
ABS
ABS is a durable plastic that is used in many everyday use items like Lego pieces.
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It's tough, and is highly resistant to weathering, which is why this plastic is often used to print items for outdoors use.
Available Colors:
PA (Nylon)
PA, more commonly known as Nylon, is an engineering plastic known for its durability.
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Its characteristics are remarkably similar to that of ABS - only Nylon has a lower coefficient of friction (it's more slippery).
Available Colors:
PETG
PETG is a material known for being water and chemical resistant. For this reason, many water bottles and containers are made of this.
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PETG is really easy to print, and is known to have a nice sheen, which is why decorative items are often printed from this material.
Available Colors:
HIPS
HIPS, or High Impact Polystyrene, is an engineering plastic. As the name implies, it handles rough treatment very well.
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However, any chemical containing Limonene will dissolve this, so be careful when cleaning it!
Available Colors:
TPU
TPU is a rubber-like plastic. It is insanely tough, and very flexible.
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I've made tires for RC cars and aircraft out of this.
Available Colors:
PC
PC, or Polycarbonate, is a very tough material, often used to make bulletproof shields and shatterproof glass.
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I wouldn't bet my life on it, but it is darned tough.
Available Colors:
Wood-Filled
Wood Filled filament basically is PLA, but with a twist: it is approximately 30% wood fiber. It is mostly used for decorative items.
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Temperature matters when printing this, as it can actually vary the shade that the prints come out as!
Available Colors:
Standard Resin
This is the standard material for a DLP printer. I can color match any hue with resin dye, the colors below are default.
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It is fairly brittle and is usually used for parts that see little wear and tear, and is commonly used for gaming pieces.
Available Colors:
Tough Resin
Suitable for engineering applications, this resin has similar qualities to ABS. I can color match any hue with resin dye, the colors below are default.
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If parts with precision down to 0.02mm are needed, look no further!