23 materials. Filter by what matters.

Material selection is the single biggest factor in whether your 3D printed part succeeds or fails in the field. A perfectly designed part in the wrong material will warp, crack, fade, or simply not do what you need. A mediocre design in the right material often works the first time. The 24 materials in our catalog span five technologies and cover every application category — but the right choice for your specific part comes down to three questions.

1. What does the part need to do?

Start with the application, not the material. A display model has different requirements than a functional prototype, which has different requirements than an end-use production part. Display models favor smooth surfaces and fine detail — choose SLA Standard Resin or Grey Pro. Functional prototypes need toughness and the right mechanical profile for their load — choose FDM PETG for most indoor applications, or MJF Nylon PA12 when mechanical performance matters. End-use production parts need batch consistency, on-spec mechanical properties, and the ability to ship to customers — choose MJF Nylon PA12 or PA11 for most production work.

2. What environment will the part live in?

Environment is the fastest way to eliminate materials. Will the part see direct UV? PLA and PETG degrade within a year outdoors — use ASA instead. Will it see elevated temperatures? PLA softens at 55°C — use PETG (70°C), PC CF (150°C), or High Temp resin (238°C) depending on how hot. Will it contact chemicals? PETG handles most solvents; ABS dissolves in acetone; some resins craze under contact with cleaners. Will it flex repeatedly without breaking? Use TPU, Flexible resin, or Nylon PA11 (higher impact than PA12). The mismatch between environment and material is the most common reason 3D printed parts fail in the field.

3. What volume and timeline are you working with?

Technology choice determines lead time, batch consistency, and per-part cost. FDM is the cheapest and fastest for 1-50 parts with basic thermoplastics. SLA is the go-to for visual prototypes and fine-detail parts. MJF is the production workhorse — batch-consistent nylon parts from 50 to 5,000 units at costs that often beat injection molding below the 2,000-part crossover. Industrial SLA handles large parts (up to 1000mm) with smooth presentation-grade surfaces. FGF handles oversized structural parts (up to 1200mm).

The five material categories

General Purpose. PLA, PETG, Standard Resin, Grey Pro — for concept models, display prototypes, and indoor-only parts with moderate mechanical needs.

Tough & Durable. ABS, ASA, Tough 2K, Tough 1500, Durable Resin, Nylon PA11 — for functional prototypes, parts that will see drops or flex cycles, and outdoor applications (ASA).

Production Grade. Nylon PA12, Nylon PA11, Nylon PA12 Glass Filled, PC CF, Rigid 10K — for end-use parts, production runs, structural components, and anything that will ship to customers.

Flexible & Elastic. TPU, Flexible Resin, Elastic Resin — for gaskets, wearables, soft-touch grips, impact absorbers, and prototype elastomer components.

Specialty. Castable (investment casting patterns), High Temp (thermal testing fixtures), Optical Clear (transparent parts and microfluidics), ABS-Like Resin (engineering prototypes matching injection-molded ABS reference parts).

The short version

• Prototype that will not see load: PLA or Standard Resin
• Functional prototype: PETG (cheap) or Tough 2K (smooth)
• Production part, small volume: MJF Nylon PA12
• Production part, high load: MJF PA12 Glass Filled or PC CF
• Outdoor part: ASA
• Flexible part: TPU or Flexible Resin
• High-temperature part: High Temp resin or PC CF
• Snap-fit that flexes repeatedly: Tough 2K or Nylon PA11
• Clear or translucent: Optical Clear resin
• Investment casting pattern: Castable resin

Not sure which material to pick for your application? Tell us what the part needs to do and our engineers will recommend one. For a deeper dive into 3D printing material properties, read our 3D printing materials guide or our engineer reference.