Not Familiar With 3d Printing?

Read below to quickly learn about the materials and advantages that 3d printing provides. Note: we do not provide all the materials listed.

Materials

PLA (Our favorite for non-mechanical components)

PLA is the most popular 3d printing material. It is the easiest to print and the best for complicated CAD designs due to its print forgiveness.

Pros

Easy to print
Inexpensive
Environmentally friendly
Low warping

Cons

Lower strength
Lower thermal stability
Not ideal for mechanical components.

PETG (Our favorite for mechanical components)

PETG boasts slightly greater physical strength when compared to the well known ABS and has a long list of pros, which is why it's our go-to printing material.

Pros

High strength
Good durability
Easy to print
High chemical resistant
High layer adhesion
Long lasting
Ideal for outdoor use
Good for mechanical components
High heat resistant
Food safe

Cons

Can't be used for printing supports
Tough to finish
More expensive
Prone to stringing

ABS

ABS is another popular material used for 3d printing. It has similar features to PETG but with more cons.

Pros

Good strength
Good wear resistance
Inexpensive
Good thermal stability
Mechanical components applicable
Ideal for outdoor use
High chemical resistance
Easy to finish

Cons

Not safe (gives off toxic fumes)
Hard to print
Prone to warping

NYLON

NYLON offers a high amount of strength and outperforms the majority of plastics in several categories. Some applications for NYLON are military equipment and parachutes.

Pros

High strength
Flexible
High heat stability
High durability
High resistance

Cons

Prints at high temperature
Prone to warping
Filaments without a UV stabilizer degrade under UV radiation
Expensive

TPU

TPU is a flexible material and is ideal for rubber-like objects.

Pros

Rubber-like flexibility
Excellent layer adhesion

Cons

Difficult to print
Poor bridging
Cannot be smoothed or polished

PC

PC (polycarbonate) is the strongest material available for 3d printing. Some applications of polycarbonate are riot shields and bulletproof glass.

Pros

Extreme strength
High heat resistance
Good flexibility
High durability
Good optical properties

Cons

Prints at high temperture
Prone to warping
Very difficult to print
Prone to abrasion
Expensive

PP

PP (Polypropylene) is a widely used plastic that is known for its durability and impact resistance. Some applications of PP are Underground pipes and industrial storage tanks.

Pros

High strength
High impact resistance
Heat resistant
High durability
High chemical resistance

Cons

Prone to warping
Hard to print

PEEK/PEI

PEEK is known for its superior mechanical strength, heat stability, and chemical resistance. PEEK is commonly used as an alternative to aluminum and other metals.

Pros

Extreme strength
Extreme rigidity
High heat resistance
High chemical resistance

Cons

Requires very high printing temperature
Hard to print
Prone to warping
Expensive
limited availability

Composite materials

Composite materials are a mixture of materials intended to create the appearance of a material that's not generally used for 3d printing. Examples of this are 3d prints that look like wood, metal, carbon fiber, marble, or glow in the dark.

Pros

Unique aesthetics
Lots of finishing options

Cons

Can be brittle
Puts more wear on printer components
Poor bridging

Advantages

Advantages of 3d printing over traditional methods.

Speed

3d printing allows for rapid prototyping. This means you are able to get your part finished and shipped in a few days or less when compared to the traditional methods of prototyping that may take weeks for a part to get manufactured. This also means if your part needs to be modified you'll be able to do it quickly without adversely affecting the speed of your manufacture process.

Cost

For small production and prototyping 3d printing is the most cost effective solution available today. When compared to CNC machining and injection molding, 3d printing requires less resources and employees resulting in a price at a fraction of the cost.

Flexibility

3d printing allows you to create almost anything you can think of that can fit inside the build plate. You can make prototypes with geometries that aren't possible with traditional manufacturing. You're also able to make parts with multiple colors and different textures if needed.

Competitive advantage

Due to the speed and cost advantages of 3d printing, businesses are able to improve and enhance products at a much faster rate allowing them to deliver better products much faster than competitors using the tradition manufacturing methods.

Risk reduction

3d printing reduces risk by allowing designers to verify product prototypes before starting substantial manufacturing investments that could be financially devastating.

Sustainability

3d printing is more sustainable than traditional manufacturing because fewer parts need outsourcing for manufacturing. 3d printed parts use less material, and most of the materials used are recyclable.