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Material guide

Know your material.
Print with confidence.

Everything you need to know about 3D printing filaments and resins: what they're made of, what they're good for, and how to pick the right one for your project.

What are 3D printing filaments?

3D printing filament is a thermoplastic supplied on a continuous spool that is melted and deposited layer by layer to build three-dimensional objects. Filaments are used in FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) printers, the most popular and widely used machines in additive manufacturing.

Each material offers different strength, flexibility, heat and chemical resistance, durability and surface finish. The right one depends on your application, the mechanical properties you need and how you want the final print to look.

Filament · FDM printers

PLA

PLA (Polylactic Acid) is a biodegradable thermoplastic made primarily from renewable resources such as corn starch or sugarcane. It is the easiest material to print and is widely used by beginners, educational institutions, hobbyists, and professionals for prototypes and visual models. Its low printing temperature, minimal warping, and excellent surface finish make it the most commonly used filament.

Key properties

  • Easy to print
  • Minimal warping
  • Excellent surface quality
  • Biodegradable under industrial composting conditions
  • Wide range of colors
  • Low odor while printing
Shop PLA

Best for

  • Beginners
  • Rapid Prototyping
  • Educational Projects
  • Display Models
  • Product Mockups
  • Decorative Objects
  • Cosplay Props

Industries

  • Education
  • Architecture
  • Product Design
  • Consumer Goods
  • Hobby & DIY
  • Art & Design

Applications

  • School projects
  • Product prototypes
  • Architectural models
  • Toys
  • Display pieces
  • Custom gifts
  • Figurines
Filament · FDM printers

ABS

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a durable engineering plastic known for its impact resistance, toughness, and ability to withstand higher temperatures than PLA. It is commonly used for functional parts that require strength and durability.

Key properties

  • High strength
  • Good impact resistance
  • Heat resistant
  • Can be sanded and acetone smoothed
  • Durable
Shop ABS

Best for

  • Functional Parts
  • Automotive Components
  • Mechanical Parts
  • Industrial Prototypes
  • Enclosures

Industries

  • Automotive
  • Manufacturing
  • Electronics
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Consumer Products

Applications

  • Automotive brackets
  • Tool holders
  • Machine components
  • Electronic enclosures
  • Protective covers
Filament · FDM printers

PETG

PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol) combines the ease of printing found in PLA with the durability and chemical resistance of ABS. It offers excellent layer adhesion and is widely used for functional prototypes and end-use parts.

Key properties

  • Strong
  • Durable
  • Water resistant
  • Chemical resistant
  • Excellent layer adhesion
  • Low warping
Shop PETG

Best for

  • Functional Parts
  • Food-safe containers (when printed and processed appropriately)
  • Mechanical Components
  • Outdoor Products
  • Transparent Parts

Industries

  • Manufacturing
  • Packaging
  • Medical
  • Food Processing
  • Consumer Products

Applications

  • Water bottles
  • Protective covers
  • Containers
  • Machine guards
  • Functional prototypes
Filament · FDM printers

TPU

TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) is a flexible and elastic filament that can bend, stretch, and compress without breaking. It is ideal for products requiring flexibility and impact absorption.

Key properties

  • Flexible
  • Abrasion resistant
  • Shock absorbing
  • Durable
  • Chemical resistant
Shop TPU

Best for

  • Flexible Parts
  • Wearables
  • Gaskets
  • Phone Cases
  • Wheels
  • Protective Components

Industries

  • Automotive
  • Healthcare
  • Consumer Electronics
  • Sports Equipment
  • Footwear

Applications

  • Phone cases
  • Shoe soles
  • Seals
  • Gaskets
  • Flexible hinges
  • Robot wheels

What are 3D printing resins?

3D printing resin is a liquid photopolymer that solidifies when exposed to UV light. Used in resin printers, it produces parts with exceptional detail, smooth surfaces and high dimensional accuracy.

Different formulations are engineered for specific jobs, from visual prototypes and miniatures to functional engineering parts, dental models and jewellery casting.

Resin · SLA / DLP printers

Standard Resin

Standard Resin is the most widely used material for resin 3D printing. It is designed to produce highly detailed parts with smooth surfaces and excellent dimensional accuracy, making it ideal for prototypes, display models, and general-purpose printing.

Key properties

  • High detail and precision
  • Smooth surface finish
  • Easy to print
  • Available in multiple colors
  • Cost-effective
Shop Standard Resin

Best for

  • Visual Prototypes
  • Miniatures
  • Figurines
  • Product Mockups
  • Educational Models
  • Decorative Prints

Industries

  • Product Design
  • Education
  • Architecture
  • Consumer Goods
  • Art & Design

Applications

  • Miniatures
  • Product prototypes
  • Architectural models
  • Figurines
  • Display pieces
  • Collectibles
Resin · SLA / DLP printers

Castable Resin

Castable Resin is specially formulated for investment casting applications. It burns out cleanly during the casting process, leaving minimal ash or residue, making it ideal for producing highly detailed metal parts.

Key properties

  • Clean burnout
  • Exceptional detail
  • High dimensional accuracy
  • Smooth surface finish
  • Minimal residue after burnout
Shop Castable Resin

Best for

  • Jewellery Casting
  • Dental Casting
  • Precision Metal Components
  • Custom Metal Products

Industries

  • Jewellery Manufacturing
  • Dental Laboratories
  • Precision Manufacturing
  • Industrial Prototyping

Applications

  • Rings
  • Pendants
  • Bracelets
  • Dental crowns
  • Custom metal components
  • Artistic castings
Resin · SLA / DLP printers

Special Resin

Special Resin is a category of advanced photopolymer resins engineered to meet specific performance requirements — applications that demand enhanced strength, flexibility, heat resistance, chemical resistance, or faster printing speeds. It may include engineering, tough, flexible, high-temperature, transparent, and other application-specific resin formulations.

Key properties

  • Enhanced mechanical properties
  • Improved durability
  • Application-specific formulations
  • High precision
  • Excellent surface quality
Shop Special Resin

Best for

  • Functional Prototypes
  • Engineering Parts
  • Industrial Applications
  • Specialized Manufacturing
  • High-Performance Components

Industries

  • Aerospace
  • Automotive
  • Manufacturing
  • Electronics
  • Healthcare
  • Research & Development

Applications

  • Functional prototypes
  • Engineering components
  • Jigs and fixtures
  • Industrial tooling
  • Custom manufacturing parts
Resin · SLA / DLP printers

Water-Washable Resin

Water-Washable Resin is formulated to simplify post-processing by allowing printed parts to be cleaned with water instead of isopropyl alcohol (IPA). It offers excellent print quality while making cleanup more convenient for beginners, educational institutions, and professionals.

Key properties

  • Easy water-based cleaning
  • High print detail
  • Smooth surface finish
  • Reduced need for cleaning solvents
  • Simple post-processing
Shop Water-Washable Resin

Best for

  • Beginners
  • Educational Institutions
  • Hobbyists
  • Home Users
  • Rapid Prototyping

Industries

  • Education
  • Product Design
  • Consumer Products
  • Art & Design
  • Small Businesses

Applications

  • Miniatures
  • Figurines
  • Educational models
  • Product prototypes
  • Hobby projects
  • Display models
Quick picker

Which material should I pick?

Start from what your print needs to do. Tap a card to read the full guide.

Guides & inspiration

Read before you print.

View all articles
PLA vs PETG vs ABS: The Ultimate 3D Filament Buyer's Guide Filament Guide
6 min read

PLA vs PETG vs ABS: The Ultimate 3D Filament Buyer's Guide

A comprehensive comparison of PLA, PETG, and ABS filaments to help you choose the right material for strength, heat resistance, and ease of printing.

Read article
How to Properly Store & Dry Your 3D Printing Filaments Maintenance & Storage
5 min read

How to Properly Store & Dry Your 3D Printing Filaments

Moisture is the #1 enemy of clean 3D prints. Learn simple, effective habits to dry spools, eliminate stringing, and prevent print failure.

Read article
Choosing the Right Nozzle Size & Material for Maximum Print Strength Hardware & Specs
7 min read

Choosing the Right Nozzle Size & Material for Maximum Print Strength

From 0.2mm high-detail nozzles to 0.8mm high-speed nozzles, discover how nozzle diameter and material impact print speed and layer strength.

Read article

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