✦ 3D Printing Materials ✦
✦ 3D printing enables fast, cost-effective production for a wide range of applications. While choosing the right printing process is important, selecting the right material is just as critical—affecting strength, durability, flexibility, heat resistance, and appearance. This guide explores the most popular plastic and metal 3D printing materials, compares their properties and uses, and provides a clear framework to help you select the best material for your project. ✦
Thermoplastics ✦ The most common plastics in 3D printing, especially in FDM/FFF. They soften when heated and can be reshaped or re-melted multiple times, making them easier to recycle. No chemical bonds are formed during shaping, so the process is reversible. Examples include PLA, ABS, PETG, Nylon, and TPU. Think of them like butter—you can melt and solidify them repeatedly, though properties may change slightly over time.
Thermosets ✦ used mainly in resin-based printing (SLA, DLP, MSLA), start as liquid resins that chemically cure into a solid when exposed to heat, light, or UV radiation. Once cured, they cannot be melted or reshaped; heating will cause them to decompose instead. Examples include standard photopolymer, flexible, and high-temperature resins. They are like cake batter—once baked into a cake, you can’t turn it back into batter.
Rule of thumb:
