Materials
Every part is printed to order, so I can match the material to the job. Not sure which to pick? Choose "Not sure, recommend one for me" on the request form and I will suggest one.
Standard materials
- PLA and PLA+: easy to print and good looking. Fine for display, bodies and light use. PLA+ is tougher. Not ideal for hot cars or hard knocks.
- PETG: tough, with some give, and good outdoors. A solid all-rounder for bumpers and skirts.
- ABS and ASA: strong and heat tolerant. ASA also resists sunlight and weather.
- TPU: flexible and rubbery. Good for parts that need to flex and absorb impacts.
- Nylon (PA): very tough, and the best choice for parts that take real knocks, like bumpers and suspension arms.
- Polycarbonate (PC): very strong and heat tolerant. Best for small and medium parts, because large flat parts can warp.
- Looks materials: silk, marble or sparkle PLA, glow in the dark, and wood or metal filled.
Premium materials
These are stiffer and lighter than standard plastics, but they wear out standard printer hardware, so they use hardened tooling and are priced a little higher.
Carbon fibre here means plastic reinforced with chopped carbon fibre. It gives a stiff, matte black part, but it is not woven carbon cloth, so there is no woven carbon pattern. Stiff does not always mean tough: for parts that take hard knocks, a nylon-based material is usually the better choice.
- Carbon fibre reinforced: carbon fibre nylon (PA-CF), heat-resistant carbon fibre nylon (PAHT-CF), carbon fibre PETG, PLA, ABS or ASA, and polycarbonate (PC-CF). Heat-resistant nylon and PC-CF are best for small to medium parts.
- Glass fibre: glass fibre nylon (PA-GF) and glass fibre PETG or PLA.
Premium materials are quoted individually, so you always see the price before anything is made. Something not on the list? Choose "Something else" on the request form and tell me what you want.