PLA vs PETG vs ASA: Which Material for Which Part
What we print with and what each material is good for: PLA, PETG, ASA, nylon, PA-CF, PC, TPU and SLA resins. Heat resistance, strength, finish and tolerances.
Most questions we get before an order are not about price or technology. They are about material: will it take the heat, will it hold a screw, will it look right on a client’s desk. This is a plain guide to the materials we actually print with and what each one is good for in business use.
Which FDM Materials Do We Print with?
FDM is the technology behind most of our custom 3D printing. Parts are tough, affordable and can be large. Layer lines are visible, and strength is lower across the layers than along them, which we account for when orienting the part on the build plate.
PLA
The starting point for visual prototypes, form checks and jigs that carry no load. Stiff, accurate, with crisp edges. It softens at around 60 °C, so it does not belong in a car in summer or next to a warm machine. Not for anything that needs to flex.
PETG
Our most common choice for functional parts: enclosures, brackets, cable glands, indoor spare parts. Tougher than PLA, slightly flexible, and resistant to moisture and everyday chemicals. Good to about 75 °C. The surface is slightly glossy with visible layers. Watch long, thin cantilevers, which can sag under load.
ASA
Outdoor parts: sensor housings, camera mounts, guards on machines that live outside. It takes UV without yellowing or turning brittle and handles around 95 °C. Strength is close to ABS, the surface is matt and it sands and paints well. Avoid large flat parts without ribs, which tend to warp as they cool.
PA (nylon)
Gears, bushings, snap fits, hinges and anything that flexes or slides repeatedly. Tough, wear resistant, good to about 110 °C. It absorbs moisture, which shifts dimensions slightly, so we allow for that on precise parts. The surface is slightly textured.
PA-CF (carbon-fibre nylon)
Jigs, fixtures, gauges and load-bearing brackets where stiffness and dimensional stability matter. Carbon fibre adds a lot of stiffness and cuts warping, and heat resistance rises to about 130 °C. The finish is matt black and looks engineered. It is more brittle at sharp edges than plain nylon.
PC (polycarbonate)
Clear or translucent covers, light guides and parts near heat sources up to about 110 °C. Very strong and impact resistant. It is demanding to print, so we choose it only where you genuinely need its properties.
TPU
Seals, bumpers, anti-slip feet, flexible couplings, protective sleeves for electronics. A rubber-like material; we pick the hardness to suit the job. Good to about 60 °C. Not suited to fine detail or sharp edges.
When Does an SLA Resin Make More Sense?
We choose SLA when surface and detail matter: no visible layers, legible lettering, sharp edges. Resin parts are more sensitive to sunlight and to sustained load.
- Standard: visual prototypes, personalised figurines, presentation models, branded objects, casting masters. Hard, precise, brittle when levered.
- Tough: clips, covers and functional prototypes that need to flex a little and survive a drop from a desk. Behaves close to ABS.
- Flexible: soft grips, seals with fine detail, ergonomic mock-ups. Elastic, but not for permanent stretch.
How Do You Pick the Right Material?
| You need | We recommend |
|---|---|
| Visual prototype, form check | PLA or SLA Standard |
| Indoor electronics enclosure | PETG |
| Part outdoors in sun and rain | ASA |
| Gear, hinge, sliding part | PA (nylon) |
| Jig or fixture for a production line | PA-CF |
| Clear cover or part near a heat source | PC |
| Seal, bumper, flexible part | TPU or SLA Flexible |
| Branded object with sharp detail | SLA Standard |
| Functional prototype with a smooth finish | SLA Tough |
How Does Post-Processing Bring a Part to Life?
If the part is going on a client’s desk or into a customer’s hand, material is only half the result.
- Sanding and filling: removes layer lines on FDM parts, works best on ASA and PETG.
- Painting: primer plus topcoat in any colour, including your brand shade.
- Threaded inserts: heat-set brass inserts so screws can be tightened again and again.
- Bonding: larger parts are printed in sections and joined, with the seam designed to stay out of sight.
What Tolerances and Wall Thicknesses Can You Count on?
For parts up to 100 mm, expect about ±0.2 mm with FDM and ±0.1 mm with SLA. Minimum wall thickness is 1.2 mm for FDM and 0.6 mm for SLA. If you need a precise fit, say a part that slides into an existing slot, tell us and we will print a test piece before the batch.
When Should You Let Us Choose?
You do not need to know what PA-CF is. Tell us what the part has to do: where it lives, what it holds, how hot it gets and whether anyone will see it. We will propose the material, print orientation and finish, and explain why in the quote. If you are torn between two options, ask; the advice comes with no obligation.
Send us a sketch, photo or file and you will have a quote within 48 hours.
