Material
General type of material for 3D printing and its key features. For more details, see the relevant sections of the help guide.
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ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene). One of the most popular modern types of plastic, not only in 3D printing but in general. The main advantages of ABS are strength, rigidity, and durability — in these criteria, this material significantly surpasses PLA and most photopolymers. Moreover, it is inexpensive. The surface of ABS plastic is glossy, it is usually opaque, and can be any color. The disadvantages of the material include a fairly high melting temperature (about 230 °C), which requires strong heating, and an unpleasant smell during operation. Furthermore, if uneven heating occurs, the finished product may warp or crack — working with ABS plastic often requires heated platforms or other special equipment.
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ABS+. An improved variety of ABS plastic (see above), which eliminates some of the shortcomings of the original material. The specific features of ABS+ depend on the brand: for example, some compositions are positioned as more flexible and less prone to deformation compared to regular ABS, others are more resistant to solvents (but easily deform) and so on. These details should be clarified separately in each case.
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ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate). A weather-resistant replacement for ABS plastic (se
...e above). This material is characterized by its durability, resistance to weather conditions, and ultraviolet rays. It also possesses high impact toughness — ASA plastic can withstand mechanical impacts without cracking or breaking, making it an excellent choice for outdoor work. ASA is less prone to deformation compared to some other thermoplastics, and during work with this plastic, minimal unpleasant odors are released. Products made from this material are easy to undergo various types of post-processing, including grinding, turning, painting, gluing, and varnishing.
— PLA (Polylactic Acid). The key feature of PLA plastic is its "environmental friendliness": it is made from natural plant materials, is biodegradable, and is considered to be safer for the environment than ABS. Other advantages of this material include a lower melting temperature, absence of unpleasant odors (a slight caramel aroma arises during heating), and the possibility for PLA to be semi-transparent and even luminescent (see FPLA). However, ready products from it are more fragile and less durable than those made from ABS.
— PLA+. A variety of biodegradable PLA plastic with a set of additives that go beyond the usual composition. The additives give the material additional properties: smooth glossy sheen, improved interlayer adhesion, excellent sintering of layers, high tensile and flexural strength, reduced mechanical fragility. Often, PLA+ plastic is odorless. The specific additive formula may vary depending on the type of plastic and the manufacturer of the 3D printing raw material. Note that some PLA+ filaments may cause nozzle clogging, while other additives increase the required heating temperature. As a result, printing settings need to be selected experimentally for the specific type of PLA+ plastic.
— FPLA (Flexible Polylactic Acid). A modified version of PLA plastic with added fluorene, making products from this material glow in the dark. It possesses all the advantages of the aforementioned PLA (see the corresponding section), i.e., it is biodegradable, made from natural resources, has a relatively low melting temperature. FPLA plastic is used for creating various decorative luminescent items, toys and souvenirs, original jewelry, etc.
— TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer). A thermoplastic elastomer combining the properties of plastic and rubber. TPE has high elasticity and flexibility, allowing its use for creating flexible and resilient parts that can deform under pressure and return to their original shape. It is used to manufacture seals and gaskets, flexible parts for toys, footwear, mobile gadget cases, automotive parts (including interior elements and tires). TPE is characterized by hypoallergenic properties, scratch resistance, and good adhesion qualities.
— TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane). A variety of thermoplastic polyurethane used in 3D printing for manufacturing a wide range of different products. This material is fairly strong with high flexibility and elasticity, and upon cooling, it almost does not shrink. Tactilely, items made from TPU plastic resemble the polyurethane sole of a shoe. Among other characteristics, it is important to note the chemical resistance to gasoline, automotive oils, alcohol, and other solvents; however, the flip side is that TPU plastic is almost non-paintable. Additionally, the material has increased hygroscopic properties, so it needs to be protected from the external environment and stored under proper conditions (preferably in a closed container with dry silica gel).
— TPR (Thermoplastic Rubber). A filament for 3D printing representing a synthetic polymer with plastic and rubber properties. The material is characterized by high wear resistance and enhanced mechanical strength compared to traditional TPU and TPE (see the relevant sections). TPR plastic has an extrusion temperature ranging from 230 to 270 °C and is suitable for manufacturing a wide range of products — from prototyping to finished goods.
— PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol). PETG plastic combines the strength characteristics of ABS and the versatility of PLA applications. With hot printing, this plastic almost does not shrink, the layers stick well together and do not deform. It enables the creation of highly precise items of almost any size. PETG is an improved variety of the classic plastic PET. The improvement consists of additional glycol saturation, making the plastic less brittle and significantly increasing its heat resistance. PETG is a non-toxic material, suitable for use in food packaging production. The extrusion temperature is within the range of 200–230 °C. This type of plastic is resistant to many alkalis, acids, and saline solutions.
— PCTG (Polycyclohexylenedimethylene Terephthalate Glycol). Plastic from the family of glycol-modified polyesters, as outlined above for PETG (see the corresponding section). However, compared to it, PCTG boasts greater strength, impact toughness, and transparency. The material almost does not shrink upon cooling and can withstand much harder impacts than products from similar plastics, while preserving the same tensile strength and heat resistance. PCTG is recommended for 3D printing housings of measuring instruments, lamps, handheld tool elements, and so on.
— Flex. A variety of thermoplastic based on polyurethane. A distinguishing feature of the material is the flexibility and elasticity of the finished products — hence the name ("flex" translates from English as "flexible"). By its properties, Flex is often compared to hard silicone: it is impact-resistant, insensitive to oil, gasoline, and many other aggressive liquids, wear-resistant, and durable (only the working temperature for finished products from this type of plastic is lower than that of silicone, averaging up to 100 °C).
— PCL (Polycaprolactone). Biodegradable plastic PCL (polycaprolactone) is a suitable filament for 3D pens with a low extrusion temperature. It reaches a plastic state at temperatures up to 60 °C, making it the safest among materials for pens with a hot working principle. Additionally, this plastic permits repeated usage: to reuse, simply soften the finished item in hot water. Crafts from PCL plastic have a glossy surface, and the solidified material is quite elastic and flexible.
— PC (Polycarbonate). A strong, heat-resistant, and impact-resistant plastic used for printing parts requiring high mechanical strength and temperature resistance. This material is well-suited for manufacturing technical products, electronic casings, and automotive components. However, for successful printing with polycarbonate, a closed chamber, heated bed (100–120°C), and high extrusion temperature (250–300°C) are required, as well as good adhesion to avoid warping.
— HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene). HIPS plastic is a blend of polybutadiene and polystyrene. It combines the characteristics of ABS and PLA. The material features decent strength, elasticity, and ease of post-processing: it can be puttied and painted, and is easily machined. Additionally, this type of plastic is non-degradable, making 3D-printed products reliable and durable. The material is moisture-resistant and can remain outdoors for extended periods. The melting temperature is within 230–260 °C. It exhibits no toxic properties, allowing its use in the production of food utensils and packaging.
— Nylon. In 3D printing, nylon has been used relatively recently, making it less common than other popular thermoplastics. Compared to traditional ABS (see the relevant section), this material requires higher temperatures, emits more harmful substances, and in the finished form tends to absorb moisture and lose strength, which imposes certain usage restrictions. On the other hand, nylon products are not as hard, which in some cases is an advantage — particularly in medical applications: such material can be used to print splints and prostheses with a characteristic mesh structure, combining lightness and strength.
— PPA (Polyphthalamide). A heat-resistant engineering plastic from the aromatic polyamides group, known for its high strength, rigidity, and temperature resistance up to 200 °C. Unlike classic nylons, it absorbs less moisture, maintains dimensions better, and functions in aggressive chemical environments. It is often reinforced with glass fiber to enhance mechanical properties. Thanks to these qualities, PPA is widely used in the automotive and electrical engineering industries for parts operating under high loads and temperatures.
— BVOH (Butanediol Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer). A water-soluble plastic for creating supports in the 3D printing process. The material's solubility in warm water allows the use of BVOH in multi-component printing projects, including those with complex geometries (where supports for overhanging parts or internal cavities are needed). Additionally, this filament is convenient for printing functional prototypes where the supporting elements of the design need to be quickly and cleanly removed without damaging the main structure of the product.
— Photopolymer Resin. Liquid photopolymer materials that harden under exposure to ultraviolet radiation. One key advantage of these materials is that they do not require heating for use, and also, finished products made from photopolymer resin will not have characteristic striations from the 3D printer's extruder. Photopolymers easily facilitate the creation of complex shapes (for instance, for use in medicine), and there is no unpleasant odor while working with them. On the other hand, such filaments are noticeably more expensive than traditional thermoplastics like ABS, PLA, and others.Extrusion temperature
Recommended temperature of a 3D printer extruder (nozzle) for working with a particular type of thermoplastic. For example, PLA material requires temperatures of about 180 – 230 °C, ABS will require 220 – 250 °C, and polycarbonate will require at least 270 °C.
Table / platform temperature
Recommended 3D printer bed heating temperature for using a specific type of thermoplastic. So, for printing with PLA plastic it should be in the range of up to 100 °C, for working with ABS plastic and nylon - in the range from 100 °C to 120 °C, and polycarbonate and refractory types of plastic can be used on high-temperature platforms.
