Filament Guide

Polylactic Acid

PLA is the most popular 3D printing filament for good reason — it is easy to print, produces excellent detail, and is made from renewable resources like corn starch. It is the ideal starting point for beginners and remains a go-to material even for experienced makers.

Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol

PETG bridges the gap between easy-to-print PLA and strong ABS. It offers excellent layer adhesion, good chemical resistance, and is slightly flexible — making it ideal for functional parts that need durability without the printing challenges of ABS.

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene

ABS is the classic engineering plastic — durable, heat-resistant, and sandable/paintable. It requires an enclosure to prevent warping and emits fumes during printing. Despite its challenges, ABS remains essential for parts that need to withstand heat or mechanical stress.

Thermoplastic Polyurethane

TPU is the go-to flexible filament for prints that need to bend, stretch, or absorb impact. It is used for phone cases, gaskets, shoe insoles, and anything that needs rubber-like properties. Printing requires patience — slow speeds are essential.

Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate

ASA is ABS's weather-resistant cousin. It offers similar mechanical properties but with significantly better UV and outdoor resistance. If you are printing anything that will live outside — garden tools, outdoor fixtures, automotive trim — ASA is the correct choice.

Polyamide (PA)

Nylon is one of the strongest and most versatile engineering filaments available. It is tough, slightly flexible, and has excellent wear resistance — ideal for gears, bearings, and mechanical parts. The challenge: it is extremely hygroscopic and must be kept dry at all times.

PLA Plus / PLA Pro

PLA+ is regular PLA with impact modifiers added to improve toughness and reduce brittleness. It prints almost as easily as standard PLA but produces parts that are noticeably stronger and less prone to snapping. The best upgrade for anyone already comfortable with PLA.

Carbon Fiber Composite

Carbon fiber composite filaments (CF-PLA, CF-PETG, CF-Nylon) add chopped carbon fiber to a base material, dramatically increasing stiffness and strength while reducing weight. The trade-off: they are abrasive and will destroy brass nozzles quickly. A hardened steel nozzle is mandatory.

Photopolymer Resin

Photopolymer resin is cured by UV light in MSLA/SLA printers, producing parts with extraordinary surface detail and resolution — far beyond what FDM can achieve. Ideal for miniatures, jewelry, dental models, and anything requiring fine features. Requires post-processing with IPA wash and UV cure.

Wood-Filled PLA Composite

Wood-filled filaments blend PLA with real wood particles (typically 15–40% wood fiber) to produce prints with a genuine wood texture and appearance. Parts can be sanded, stained, and finished like real wood. A unique material for decorative and artistic applications.

Carbon Fiber PETG

PETG-CF combines the chemical resistance and moisture tolerance of PETG with the stiffness of carbon fiber reinforcement. The result is a material that prints more reliably than CF-Nylon while delivering significantly better mechanical properties than standard PETG. A great engineering material for intermediate users.