Printing Guide

Print settings, bed and nozzle temperatures, and tips for each material family.

PLA

Print Temp Bed Temp

Low-warpage classroom-safe biopolymer. Best for prototypes, visual models, toys. Silk/matte/high-white variants.

Pros

Cons

PETG

Print Temp Bed Temp

Amorphous copolyester balances clarity, impact, and food safety. Low odor. Preferred for industrial end-use parts.

Pros

Cons

TPU (Flexible)

Print Temp Bed Temp

TPU Shore 60A to 98A. Exceptional abrasion resistance, elastic recovery, oil resistance.

Pros

Cons

ABS

Print Temp Bed Temp

Durable heat-resistant engineering plastic. Excellent post-processing: acetone smoothing, machining, painting, electroplating.

Pros

Cons

ASA (Weatherproof)

Print Temp Bed Temp

Outdoor-grade UV/weather-stable ABS replacement. No yellowing or gloss loss. Automotive exteriors and signage.

Pros

Cons

PA / Nylon

Print Temp Bed Temp

High toughness, fatigue resistant. Excellent wear properties. Requires dry-box storage to prevent moisture-induced brittleness.

Pros

Cons

PC (Polycarbonate)

Print Temp Bed Temp

High-impact heat-resistant engineering plastic. Transparent grades. 275-310°C nozzle + heated chamber required.

Pros

Cons

PVA / BVOH (Support)

Print Temp Bed Temp

Water-soluble support. PVA for PLA / PETG, BVOH for engineering materials. Dissolves fully in warm water.

Pros

Cons

Carbon-Fiber (CF)

Print Temp Bed Temp

Chopped CF reinforced. High stiffness-to-weight, low CTE. Jigs, fixtures, drone parts, end-effectors.

Pros

Cons

Glass-Fiber (GF)

Print Temp Bed Temp

Chopped glass-fiber reinforced. High rigidity, economical vs CF, good dimensional stability at elevated temp.

Pros

Cons

Specialty Engineering

Print Temp Bed Temp

PEEK / PEKK / PPSU / PSU for aerospace, medical ISO 10993, and oil & gas. 350-420°C nozzle + heated chamber.

Pros

Cons

Still not sure?

Use the structured finder to narrow down materials by application, printer, and constraints.