The filament guide
Not sure whichfilament to use?
PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU, resin. The material makes or breaks a print. Answer a few quick questions and we will match your project to the right one, or browse and compare all 51 yourself.
Filament finder
Answer three questions, get a match
Tell us what you are making and we will match it to the right material, and flag the tempting wrong ones too. No jargon needed.
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Material guide
Every filament, explained
Browse 51 curated materials. Filter by what matters, then open one for its full breakdown, print settings and South African buying guide.
ABS
Intermediate●●●●filament
Strength70
Flex20
Heat75
Ease45
Automotive partsElectronic housingsMechanical components
ABS-GF
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength85
Flex10
Heat85
Ease30
Structural housingsHeat-resistant bracketsAutomotive clips
ASA
Beginner●●●●filament
Strength70
Flex20
Heat75
Ease55
Outdoor signageGarden toolsCar accessories
ASA-AERO
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength60
Flex15
Heat75
Ease35
Lightweight outdoor partsDrone shellsUV-resistant housings
ASA-CF
Intermediate●●●●filament
Strength80
Flex10
Heat80
Ease45
Outdoor structural partsUV-exposed bracketsAutomotive components
BVOH
Intermediate●●●●filament
Strength10
Flex25
Heat15
Ease45
Soluble supports for PETG/ABSBetter water solubility than PVAComplex internal cavities
EVA
Beginner●●●●filament
Strength30
Flex80
Heat25
Ease55
Foam-like partsCushioningShoe insoles
HIPS
Beginner●●●●filament
Strength50
Flex20
Heat60
Ease50
Soluble supports for ABSLightweight housingsHobby parts
METALLIC PLA
Beginner●●●●filament
Strength48
Flex30
Heat20
Ease85
Metallic-look decorationsCosplay propsDisplay pieces
PA
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength85
Flex50
Heat80
Ease25
GearsBearingsHinges
PA-CF
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength95
Flex10
Heat90
Ease15
Jigs and fixturesDrone framesIndustrial tooling
PA-S
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength80
Flex45
Heat75
Ease30
Support material for PAComplex nylon printsDual-extrusion builds
PA12-CF
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength95
Flex8
Heat95
Ease10
Industrial toolingEnd-use partsHigh-temp jigs
PAHT-CF
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength95
Flex5
Heat98
Ease8
Under-bonnet automotiveIndustrial toolingAerospace prototypes
PAHT-GF
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength90
Flex8
Heat95
Ease10
High-temp housingsGlass-filled nylon partsIndustrial brackets
PAHT-S
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength70
Flex40
Heat85
Ease15
Support material for PAHTComplex high-temp builds
PC
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength90
Flex15
Heat95
Ease15
Impact-resistant housingsOptical partsHigh-temp enclosures
PC-ABS-FR
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength88
Flex12
Heat90
Ease12
Flame-retardant housingsElectrical enclosuresAerospace parts
PCTG
Beginner●●●●filament
Strength60
Flex30
Heat55
Ease72
Transparent partsImpact-resistant housingsPETG alternative
PE
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength40
Flex55
Heat45
Ease20
Chemical-resistant containersWaterproof partsFood-safe items
PE-CF
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength65
Flex20
Heat50
Ease18
Reinforced chemical-resistant partsStiff waterproof housings
PEBA
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength50
Flex90
Heat40
Ease25
Flexible engineering partsSealsVibration dampeners
PEEK
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength98
Flex10
Heat99
Ease5
Medical implantsAerospace componentsChemical-resistant parts
PET-CF
Intermediate●●●●filament
Strength82
Flex12
Heat60
Ease50
Stiff functional partsCamera mountsBrackets
PET-GF
Intermediate●●●●filament
Strength78
Flex12
Heat58
Ease50
Glass-filled structural partsHousingsBrackets
PETG
Beginner●●●●filament
Strength65
Flex25
Heat50
Ease75
Functional partsOutdoor itemsFood containers
PETG-CF
Intermediate●●●●filament
Strength80
Flex15
Heat55
Ease55
Stiff bracketsCamera mountsLightweight structural parts
PETG-GF
Intermediate●●●●filament
Strength75
Flex12
Heat55
Ease52
Glass-reinforced functional partsHousingsMounts
PHA
Beginner●●●●filament
Strength45
Flex30
Heat25
Ease70
Biodegradable partsEco-friendly prototypesCompostable packaging
PLA
Beginner●●●●filament
Strength55
Flex15
Heat20
Ease95
PrototypesDisplay modelsToys
PLA-CF
Beginner●●●●filament
Strength70
Flex10
Heat30
Ease70
Stiff lightweight partsDrone armsRC car chassis
PLA-GLITTER
Beginner●●●●filament
Strength45
Flex30
Heat20
Ease85
Decorative printsGiftsHoliday items
PLA-MAT
Beginner●●●●filament
Strength52
Flex30
Heat20
Ease90
PrototypesDisplay modelsHides layer lines
PLA-SATIN
Beginner●●●●filament
Strength40
Flex30
Heat50
Ease88
Decorative printsDisplay modelsGifts
PLA-WOOD
Beginner●●●●filament
Strength45
Flex30
Heat50
Ease65
Decorative itemsFigurinesArtistic models
PP
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength45
Flex60
Heat60
Ease20
Living hingesChemical containersFood-safe containers
PP-CF
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength70
Flex25
Heat65
Ease18
Reinforced chemical-resistant partsStiff PP components
PP-GF
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength68
Flex25
Heat63
Ease18
Glass-reinforced PP partsChemical containers
PPA-CF
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength95
Flex5
Heat95
Ease8
High-temp industrial toolingAutomotive under-bonnetAerospace
PPA-GF
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength90
Flex8
Heat92
Ease10
Glass-filled high-temp partsIndustrial brackets
PPS-CF
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength90
Flex5
Heat99
Ease5
Extreme-heat partsChemical-resistant housingsAerospace
PPS-GF
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength88
Flex5
Heat98
Ease5
High-temp chemical-resistant partsIndustrial tooling
PVA
Intermediate●●●●filament
Strength10
Flex30
Heat15
Ease50
Soluble supports for PLAComplex geometriesZero-mark overhangs
PVB
Beginner●●●●filament
Strength50
Flex20
Heat25
Ease70
Vapor-smoothable partsHigh-detail display modelsTransparent prints
TOUGH PLA
Beginner●●●●filament
Strength70
Flex30
Heat50
Ease88
Functional bracketsTool handlesMechanical parts
TPE
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength35
Flex92
Heat30
Ease35
Soft gripsFlexible jointsWearables
TPU
Intermediate●●●●filament
Strength40
Flex95
Heat35
Ease42
Phone casesGasketsShoe insoles
TPU-AERO
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength35
Flex85
Heat35
Ease28
Lightweight flexible partsCushioning insertsWearables
TPU-GF
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength55
Flex70
Heat40
Ease25
Reinforced flexible partsWear-resistant gasketsIndustrial seals
UltraPA
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength90
Flex30
Heat90
Ease10
End-use industrial partsAutomotive componentsHigh-performance prototypes
UltraPA-CF25
Advanced●●●●filament
Strength98
Flex5
Heat95
Ease5
Strongest FDM materialAerospace prototypesIndustrial end-use
Compare
PLA vs PETG vs ABS, side by side
Put two or three materials head to head. The best score in each row is highlighted.
Pick up to 3
ABS
ABS-GF
| Property | ABS | ABS-GF |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | 20 | 10 |
| Impact | 70 | 75 |
| Strength | 70 | 85 |
| Heat | 75 | 85 |
| UV | 30 | 35 |
| Water | 70 | 70 |
| Food | 3 | 3 |
| Fumes | 20 | 15 |
| Ease | 45 | 30 |