Food-safe PETG grades are available, and PETG resists moisture and most household chemicals. Note that the layer lines in any FDM print can trap bacteria, so we recommend food-contact parts be used with a food-safe sealant or treated as dry-contact / single-use.

Can PLA be used outdoors?

We don’t recommend PLA for outdoor or in-car use — it softens around 55–60 °C and degrades under sustained UV. For weather-exposed parts choose ASA, which is UV-stable and holds its colour and strength through sun, rain and humidity.

Which material should I choose if I’m not sure?

Start with PLA for visual prototypes and PETG for functional parts — together they cover most jobs. Use the interactive comparison and quiz above, or send us your part on Telegram and we’ll recommend the right material for your use case.

Materials Guide

COMPARE MATERIALS

Choose up to 3 materials to compare side by side. Every material has unique strengths — pick the right one for your project's requirements.

Click to select/deselect. Maximum 3 materials.

Property

PLA

Beginner · Rigid

PETG

Intermediate · Semi-flexible

Strength

Low

Moderate

Heat Resistance

Poor

Moderate

Flexibility

Poor

Low

Ease of Printing

Excellent

Good

UV Resistance

Poor

Moderate

Chemical Resistance

Poor

Moderate

Food Safe

Yes

Max Temp

~60 °C

~80 °C

Not sure?

WHICH MATERIAL SHOULD I CHOOSE?

Answer a few questions and we'll recommend the best material. Or use the common scenarios below.

Question 1 of 3

What will you use the part for?

Common Scenarios

🧪

Prototyping & Concept Models

Recommended: PLA

Fast, cheap, excellent detail. Perfect for validating designs before committing to stronger materials.

Quote with PLA →

☀️

Outdoor & Weather-Exposed Parts

Recommended: ASA

UV-stable and weather resistant. Maintains colour and strength through sun, rain, and humidity.

Quote with ASA →

⚙️

Mechanical & Load-Bearing Parts

Recommended: Nylon

Exceptional toughness and fatigue resistance. Self-lubricating for gears and moving parts.

Quote with Nylon →

🔄

Flexible Gaskets & Seals

Recommended: TPU

Rubber-like flexibility with excellent abrasion resistance. Can be bent and stretched repeatedly.

Quote with TPU →

🍽️

Food-Contact Containers

Recommended: PETG

Food-safe grades available with good chemical resistance. Stronger than PLA.

Quote with PETG →

🔥

High-Temperature Applications

Recommended: PC

Withstands up to 120 °C. Engineering-grade strength for demanding environments.

Quote with PC →

Print Quality

LAYER HEIGHT & SURFACE FINISH

Layer height determines the trade-off between surface smoothness and print speed. We'll recommend the best option based on your part requirements.

0.12 mm

Fine

Best surface finish. Near-invisible layers. Ideal for display models and detailed parts.

Best with: PLA, PETG

Speed:Slow

0.20 mm

Standard

Good balance of quality and speed. Suitable for most functional and visual parts.

Best with: All materials

Speed:Medium

0.28 mm

Draft

Visible layers but significantly faster. Good for internal parts, jigs, and rough prototypes.

Best with: PLA, PETG, ASA

Speed:Fast

Material Details

PLA

PLA is the most popular 3D printing material and the ideal starting point for most projects. It is plant-based, biodegradable, and produces excellent surface detail with minimal warping. Best suited for prototypes, display pieces, and parts that will not be exposed to heat or heavy loads.

Typical Uses

Prototypes & concept modelsDisplay pieces & figurinesArchitectural modelsLow-stress enclosuresEducational projects

Pros

+Easiest material to print
+Excellent dimensional accuracy
+Low warping
+Biodegradable and low-odour

Cons

-Brittle under impact
-Very low heat resistance (~60 °C)
-Degrades in UV light over time
-Not suitable for outdoor use

Quote with PLA

PETG

PETG strikes an excellent balance between strength, flexibility, and ease of printing. It offers superior layer adhesion and impact resistance compared to PLA, along with good chemical and moisture resistance. A versatile all-rounder for functional parts.

Typical Uses

Functional mechanical partsOutdoor enclosuresContainers & bracketsWater-resistant housingsSnap-fit assemblies

Pros

+Strong layer adhesion
+Good impact resistance
+Chemical and moisture resistant
+Food-safe grades available

Cons

-Stringing can be an issue
-Supports are harder to remove
-Surface finish slightly glossy
-Scratches more easily than PLA

Quote with PETG

All Materials at a Glance

Material	Food Safe
PLA	Yes	Get Quote
PETG	Yes	Get Quote
ASA	No	Get Quote
TPU	No	Get Quote
Nylon	No	Get Quote
PC	No	Get Quote
PA-CF	No	Get Quote

Every material is printed on our Bambu Lab H2-series machines. See why we only use the H2 series →

Material FAQs

COMMON MATERIAL QUESTIONS

For load-bearing parts, Polycarbonate (PC) and Nylon are the toughest filaments we print — PC for rigidity and heat resistance up to ~120 °C, Nylon for fatigue resistance and self-lubricating moving parts. PETG is a strong, more affordable middle ground for everyday functional parts.

Still unsure which filament fits your project? Read the full FAQ or get an instant quote →