Materials

We stock a working library of FDM filaments across the four standard families plus specialty options on request. Decide based on what your part needs to do - load-bearing, flexible, weatherproof, food-contact - and we'll recommend the best fit during your quote.

PLA - Polylactic Acid

What it is. A bio-based thermoplastic, the most common filament in consumer FDM. Easy to print, holds detail well, finishes cleanly.

Best for

• Display pieces, props, decorative items.
• Form-and-fit prototypes where heat exposure isn’t a factor.
• Mythology busts, miniatures, gaming accessories.
• Educational and gift items.

Strengths

• Highest detail of the standard filaments.
• Wide colour selection.
• Lowest cost.
• Bio-based and compostable in industrial facilities.

Limitations

• Soft above ~60 °C - don’t leave a PLA part in a hot car.
• Brittle compared to PETG or ABS under impact.
• Not suited for outdoor long-term use; UV degrades it.

PETG - Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol

What it is. A tougher, slightly flexible thermoplastic that prints almost as cleanly as PLA but holds up better under stress.

Best for

• Functional parts that take real load.
• Translucent / semi-transparent visual prototypes.
• Outdoor or UV-exposed pieces (better than PLA, not as good as ABS).
• Chemical-resistant uses (PETG resists most household chemicals).

Strengths

• Tough - ductile rather than brittle under impact.
• Higher heat resistance than PLA (~75 °C continuous).
• Translucency available.
• Good chemical resistance.

Limitations

• Stringier than PLA during printing - finish takes a touch more cleanup.
• Slightly less detail than PLA on fine features.
• Not optical-grade transparent.

ABS - Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene

What it is. The classic engineering thermoplastic - the same material as Lego bricks. Tough, heat-resistant, but trickier to print well.

Best for

• Engineering / mechanical parts.
• Parts exposed to heat (~95 °C continuous).
• Impact-resistant components (snap-fits, drop-tested housings).
• Parts that may need vapor-smoothing for finish.

Strengths

• Highest heat resistance of standard filaments.
• Best impact resistance.
• Machineable - drilled, tapped, glued without issue.
• Solvent-weldable (acetone) for assembly.

Limitations

• Requires enclosed printing (warps without controlled environment).
• Emits styrene fumes - we print in a ventilated workshop.
• Higher cost than PLA / PETG.
• Slightly less crisp on fine detail.

TPU - Thermoplastic Polyurethane

What it is. A flexible elastomer - print rubbery, stretchy parts. Available in different shore hardnesses.

Best for

• Gaskets, seals, vibration dampers.
• Phone cases, drone bumpers, camera grips.
• Custom soles, grips, handles.
• Wearable or contact-flexed components.

Strengths

• Flexible across a wide hardness range (60A-95A typically).
• Excellent abrasion resistance.
• Good chemical resistance.
• Strong layer adhesion.

Limitations

• Slow to print - flexibility makes feeding tricky.
• Hard to bridge or print steep overhangs.
• Surface finish less crisp than rigid plastics.
• Higher cost per gram than PLA.

Specialty filaments

On request we work with composites and specialty materials: wood-fill (looks and finishes like wood), metal-fill (cold-cast metal feel), glow-in-the-dark, carbon-fibre-reinforced (stiff, dimensionally stable), and conductive blends. These add cost and lead time - mention what you’re after in your quote request.

Decision matrix

Available colours

We stock a wide range of colours and tones across our filament library: multiple greens, blues, reds, greys, blacks, whites, and metallics, with finishes ranging from matte to silky to lightly shiny. Available colours and finishes vary by material - we’ll confirm the exact stock for your project at quote time. Custom colours and finishes are possible by special order; they add a few days to lead time and a small surcharge to cost.