3D Printing

3D Printing Materials Guide: PLA, PETG, ABS & More

9 min read · Beginner

The most important print setting you'll make isn't in your slicer: it's at the filament rack. Choosing the wrong material for your part's use case leads to failures that no amount of slicer tuning can fix. Here's what you need to know.

PLA: Start Here

Best for: Prototypes, decorative parts, low-stress functional parts

PLA (Polylactic Acid) is the easiest filament to print with and the most widely available. It prints at 200–220°C and doesn't require an enclosure. It's biodegradable, made from corn starch, and comes in hundreds of colors.

Limitations: PLA softens at around 60°C: left in a hot car, it will deform. It's also brittle under impact loads. Don't use PLA for parts that will be outdoors or exposed to heat.

PETG: The Everyday Workhorse

Best for: Functional mechanical parts, brackets, enclosures, anything that needs to be a bit tougher than PLA

PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol) prints at 230–250°C. It's tougher than PLA, slightly flexible, and more heat-resistant (80°C+). It sticks to the bed well and has minimal warping. Most makers who graduate from PLA go to PETG.

Limitations: PETG strings slightly more than PLA and can be stringy if retraction isn't tuned. It's also hygroscopic: store it in a sealed bag with desiccant.

ABS: The Classic (Mostly Obsolete)

Best for: High-temperature applications, parts that need post-processing (sanding, acetone smoothing)

ABS prints at 230–250°C and requires an enclosed printer and a heated bed at 100–110°C. It warps significantly without enclosure. Heat resistance is good (95°C+) but its printing difficulty has made it less popular.

Better alternative: ASA (see below) solves most of ABS's problems.

ASA: Outdoor ABS Replacement

Best for: Outdoor parts, automotive applications, UV-resistant housings

ASA is chemically similar to ABS but UV-stabilized. Use it for outdoor enclosures, garden fixtures, or anything that will see prolonged sunlight. Requires an enclosure to print reliably.

TPU: Flexible Parts

Best for: Gaskets, phone cases, cable covers, vibration dampeners, snap-fit parts that need to flex repeatedly

TPU is a thermoplastic polyurethane: it's rubber-like and flexible. Shore hardness varies by brand (95A is common). It prints at 220–240°C and is surprisingly easy to print on direct-drive extruders. Bowden setups struggle with TPU.

Nylon: High Performance

Best for: Gears, bearing surfaces, structural parts under sustained load

Nylon is strong, tough, and self-lubricating. It's ideal for gears and mechanical parts. However, it's extremely hygroscopic: it must be dried before printing and stored in a dry box. Prints at 250–280°C and requires an enclosure.

Quick Selection Guide

When designing in FreeTextToCAD, specify your material in the prompt if it affects wall thickness or tolerance decisions: “Design for PETG printing with 0.3mm print tolerance.”