SLS Nylon PA12

Nylon PA12 (Polyamide) is a strong and heat-resistant material commonly used to print strong and functional parts.

PLA

PLA is a low-cost, rigid plastic with excellent dimensional accuracy, and is a good choice for prototypes and functional parts that do not require strength or heat resistance.

FDM

+128

HP® MJF Nylon PA12

Developed by HP, MJF Nylon is a widely used material for strong and detailed end-use parts and prototypes.

MJF

+25

PLA+ (Tough PLA)

PLA+ and Tough PLA offer enhanced strength and durability compared to regular PLA, which makes them ideal for functional prototypes and mechanical parts.

FDM

+39

Standard Resin

Standard resin is a general-purpose photopolymer optimized for fine detail and a smooth surface finish. It offers good rigidity but limited impact resistance, making it suitable for visual models and detailed prototypes, rather than functional parts.

SLADLPMSLA+3

+58

SLS/MJF Glass-Filled Nylon PA12

Glass-filled Nylon is great for functional parts that require strength and rigidity.

SLSMJF

+8

High-Detail Resin

High-detail resin is a photopolymer formulated to minimize shrinkage and maximize edge sharpness and surface resolution, capturing extremely fine features like engraved text and fabric texture that other materials can't reproduce as reliably.

DLPSLAMSLA+4

+40

Translucent Resin

Translucent resin allows light to pass through with a soft, diffused effect rather than true see-through clarity. This makes it the practical choice when frosted light diffusion is the goal rather than optical clarity.

SLADLPMSLA+2

+10

Transparent Resin

Transparent resin is a clear photopolymer that is capable of true glass-like optical clarity. It's an ideal choice for parts where you need to see clearly through the material.

SLAPolyJetMSLA+2

Elastic Resin

Elastic resin (Shore 50A–65A) is a soft, rubber-like photopolymer with high elongation and good rebound, ideal for prototyping silicone-like parts that need to stretch, compress, and flex repeatedly.

SLADLPMSLA+3

Brass

Brass is a versatile material that is great for jewelry prototypes and final parts.

Lost Wax CastingSLM / DMLS

Sterling Silver

Sterling silver is the perfect material for jewelry and unique metal art pieces.

Lost Wax Casting

Flexible Resin

Flexible resin (Shore 80A) is a soft-touch, rubber-like photopolymer similar in firmness to a shoe heel. It combines flexibility with more rigidity and detail retention than elastic resin.

SLADLPMSLA+3

+8

Wood-Filled PLA

Wood-filled PLA blends real wood fiber with PLA to create a filament that looks, feels, and can be finished like natural wood, and it is prized for its appearance rather than mechanical strength.

FDM

+1

HP® 3D HR PA 12 S, enabled by Arkema

HP® 3D HR PA 12 S delivers exceptional surface quality and precision right out of the printer. The material is perfect for functional prototypes and high-end consumer goods.

MJF

+22

Plated Brass

Brass plated with a precious metal coating is perfect for jewelry pieces.

Lost Wax Casting

Multicolor PLA

Multicolor FDM prints made with two or more PLA filaments offer vibrant, visually striking results. Ideal for decorative or functional parts, these prints combine strong layer adhesion, smooth surfaces, and precise color transitions.

FDM

Accura® ClearVue

This high-clarity plastic has excellent humidity and moisture resistance and is ideal for a multitude of applications.

DLPSLAMSLA+1

Somos® Evolve

Somos Evolve is the perfect material for strong, highly detailed functional prototypes and parts that need to withstand continuous usage.

SLA

+4

Somos® Taurus

Somos Taurus has high thermal and mechanical properties along with superior strength, high accuracy, and exceptional surface finish.

SLA

High Definition Full Color

A great material for striking visual models produced in different materials.

PolyJet

High-Temperature Resin

High-temperature resin offers a notably higher heat deflection temperature than standard resin. This makes it a strong choice for heat-resistant mounts, fixtures, and housings that need to hold their shape under sustained heat.

SLADLPMSLA+3

+1

Bronze

This classic precious metal is great for antique or modern jewelry and functional parts.

Lost Wax CastingSLM / DMLS

FDM PMMA

Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA), commonly known as acrylic or plexiglass, offers strong optical clarity and excellent UV resistance, though it's notably more brittle and less impact-resistant than materials like ABS or polycarbonate.

FDM

Food Safe SLS/MJF Nylon PA12

Food Safe Nylon PA12 is a durable and versatile material ideal for food processing tools and products.

SLSMJF

Accura® Xtreme

This ultra-tough gray plastic offers outstanding durability, accuracy, and aesthetics.

SLAMSLADLP+1

+4

Rigid Resin

Rigid resin is a glass-reinforced photopolymer that offers a high level of detail, stiffness, and deformation resistance.

SLADLPcDLM+4

Castable Resin

Castable resin is a synthetic photopolymer engineered to burn out cleanly with minimal ash during investment casting. It offers a more affordable alternative to wax-based casting patterns.

DLPSLAMSLA+1

Recycled rPLA

Recycled rPLA reprocesses post-consumer or post-industrial PLA waste into new filament. It offers a more sustainable alternative to virgin PLA with generally similar, though somewhat more variable, mechanical properties.

FDM

+22

Castable Wax Resin

Castable wax resin blends real wax into a photopolymer base, combining standard resin printer compatibility with burnout behavior closer to pure wax than standard castable resin achieves.

SLA

Multicolor ASA

Multicolor FDM prints using ASA combine vibrant color separation with exceptional UV, heat, and weather resistance. Ideal for outdoor signage, automotive parts, and durable prototypes needing both strength and visual impact.

FDM

Durable Resin

Durable resin is a polypropylene-like photopolymer with low modulus, high elongation, and the highest impact strength of common resin options. It is ideal for pliable parts like living hinges and low-friction moving components.

SLADLPMSLA+2

+7

Copper

Copper is a precious metal with high electrical and thermal conductivity.

SLM / DMLSLost Wax Casting

Metal-Filled PLA

Metal-filled PLA is the fusion of standard PLA with metal powder used to provide a metal-textured feeling. Metal-filled PLA is popular with items that do not have functional capabilities, rather an aesthetic appearance.

FDM

Castable Wax

Castable wax is a nearly pure wax material used to create investment casting patterns. It offers the cleanest, most traditional burnout behavior of any castable option.

MJMMJP

Accura® 25

This is a rigid plastic (Shore 80D) used to simulate and replace traditional CNC-machined polypropylene parts.

DLPSLAMSLA+1

+4

Somos® GP Plus 14122

Somos GP Plus 14122 is ideal for functional prototypes, concept models, and low volume production parts.

SLA

Gold

Gold is a precious metal commonly used for jewelry pieces and unique art designs.

Lost Wax Casting

Somos® PerFORM

Somos PerFORM is the material of choice for applications that require strong, stiff, temperature-resistant composite parts.

SLA

Carbon Fiber PET

PET CF is a carbon fiber-reinforced PET filament offering high stiffness, dimensional stability, and improved strength for lightweight, functional FDM parts.

FDM

PVB

PVB filament is flexible, strong, and offers excellent transparency and a smooth finish, ideal for glossy, impact-resistant 3D prints.

FDM

Lightweight PLA

Lightweight PLA (LW-PLA) is a specialized 3D printing filament that expands up to three times its volume for lighter prints without losing the strength of standard PLA.

FDM

+3

Conductive PLA

Conductive PLA is a version of PLA that is perfect for parts that need to be electrically conductive. It has a volume resistivity (perpendicular to layers) of 30 ohm-cm.

FDM

HP® MJF Multicolor

A great material for striking visual models.

MJF

SLS Nylon PA66

Nylon PA66 is known for its strength, rigidity, thermal stability, and chemical resistance, making it ideal for automotive, aerospace, and industrial use cases.

SLS

Alumide

Alumide is made from nylon and aluminum powder, and it produces strong, high-temperature-resistant parts.

SLS

420/BR Steel

420/BR steel is a great material for low-cost metal parts of all sizes.

Binder Jetting

+1

Inkbit® Titan Tough Epoxy 85

Inkbit® Titan Tough Epoxy is a type of high-performance material known for its exceptional strength, durability, and resistance to harsh environmental conditions.

VCJ

Color-Changing PLA

Temperature-based color-changing PLA is ideal for novelty prints.

FDM

PLA-ESD

PLA-ESD combines the mechanical properties of standard PLA with controlled dissipation of electrostatic charges.

FDM

PMMA

PMMA's strength and toughness makes it great for functional parts and high-quality prototypes, while being relatively affordable.

Binder Jetting

Multicolor PETG

Multicolor FDM prints using PETG combine vivid color separation with the material's toughness, flexibility, and chemical resistance. It is ideal for functional enclosures and durable prototypes that need both visual impact and everyday resilience.

FDM

High-Detail Bronze

This high detail version of the classic precious metal is great for parts that have very small sections, such as antique or modern jewelry and functional parts.

High-Detail SLM

Flame Retardant SLS Nylon PA12

SLS PA2210 FR is a flame-retardant PA12 material, combining strength, chemical resistance, and fire safety, ideal for aerospace, automotive, and electronics applications requiring flame resistance.

SLS

Markforged® ADAM Copper

The ADAM 3D printing technology builds parts layer by layer and offer smooth parts with some layering. Copper is a precious metal with high electrical and thermal conductivity.

ADAM

Brass H59

Brass H59 is a copper-zinc alloy with good strength, machinability, and corrosion resistance. It’s commonly used for fittings, decorative parts, and precision-machined components.

CNC

Stainless Steel 430 (1.4016)

Stainless steel 430 is a magnetic, chromium-only ferritic alloy offering a bright, polishable finish at lower cost than nickel-bearing grades.

CNC

Laser Cutting Woods

Laser cutting is a precise manufacturing process that uses a high-powered laser beam to melt, burn, or vaporize material, creating clean and accurate cuts in various wood types.

Laser Cutting

SLS Nylon PA11-ESD

SLS PA11 ESD is a bio-derived powder material with electrostatic discharging properties for increased process safety in advanced applications.

SLS

EnvisionTEC E-Mould

E-Mould is a strong, high detail material, which can be used to print molds used for injection molding of various plastics.

cDLMDLP

Sheet Metal Forming

Sheet metal forming shapes metal sheets using techniques like bending and stamping. It's used in automotive, aerospace, and electronics for precise, durable parts.

Sheet Metal Forming

Copper C110 (CW004A)

Copper C110 produces highly conductive, corrosion-resistant parts with excellent thermal and electrical performance. It is ideal for electrical, thermal, and precision components requiring reliable conductivity.

CNC

Copper 360

Copper 360 produces precise, durable parts with excellent machinability, corrosion resistance, and a gold-colored metallic finish. It is ideal for high-volume production of fittings, fasteners, and precision components.

CNC

Bronze C932 (Bearing Bronze, CC493K)

Bronze C932 produces durable, wear-resistant parts with excellent machinability and good corrosion resistance. It is ideal for bushings, bearings, and components requiring low friction and long service life.

CNC

Brass C260 (Cartridge Brass, CW505L)

Brass C260 produces strong, corrosion-resistant parts with excellent formability and an attractive gold-colored finish. It is ideal for precision components, decorative hardware, and electrical applications.

CNC

Acrylic (PMMA)

CNC-milled acrylic offers high clarity, smooth edges, and a glass-like finish. Ideal for displays, covers, and enclosures, it’s precise, weather-resistant, and suited for low-impact uses.

CNC

Laser Cutting Metals

Laser cutting is a precise manufacturing process that uses a high-powered laser beam to melt, burn, or vaporize material, creating clean and accurate cuts in various metal types.

Laser Cutting

Laser Cutting Plastics

Laser cutting is a precise manufacturing process that uses a high-powered laser beam to melt, burn, or vaporize plastics, producing clean edges and accurate cuts across a variety of materials.

Laser Cutting

Solid Oak Wood

Solid oak is a durable hardwood ideal for CNC machining. It offers excellent strength, good stability, and a fine finish, making it perfect for furniture, signage, and decorative parts that require both precision and visual appeal.

CNC

Nickel Silver C77000 (55-18, CW410J)

Nickel silver C77000 is a copper-nickel-zinc alloy with a white, silver-like appearance. Despite its name, it contains no silver. It is tarnish resistant and has better corrosion resistance than standard brass.

CNC

Aluminum 5005 (EN AW-5005)

Aluminum 5005 is a non-heat-treatable aluminum-magnesium alloy best known for producing an exceptionally consistent anodized finish, though it machines less readily than 3003 or 6061

CNC

Sheet Metal Joining

Sheet metal joining connects metal sheets using welding, riveting, adhesives, or fasteners, essential for creating durable assemblies across industries.

Sheet Metal Joining

Material Guide for Visual property

Technology

Category

Manufacturing process

Color

Property (1)

SLS Nylon PA12

PLA

HP® MJF Nylon PA12

PLA+ (Tough PLA)

Standard Resin

SLS/MJF Glass-Filled Nylon PA12

High-Detail Resin

Translucent Resin

Transparent Resin

Elastic Resin

Brass

Sterling Silver

Flexible Resin

Wood-Filled PLA

HP® 3D HR PA 12 S, enabled by Arkema

Plated Brass

Multicolor PLA

Accura® ClearVue

Somos® Evolve

Somos® Taurus

High Definition Full Color

High-Temperature Resin

Bronze

FDM PMMA

Food Safe SLS/MJF Nylon PA12

Accura® Xtreme

Rigid Resin

Castable Resin

Recycled rPLA

Castable Wax Resin

Multicolor ASA

Durable Resin

Copper

Metal-Filled PLA

Castable Wax

Accura® 25

Somos® GP Plus 14122

Gold

Somos® PerFORM

Carbon Fiber PET

PVB

Lightweight PLA

Conductive PLA

HP® MJF Multicolor

SLS Nylon PA66

Alumide

420/BR Steel

Inkbit® Titan Tough Epoxy 85

Color-Changing PLA

PLA-ESD

PMMA

Multicolor PETG

High-Detail Bronze

Flame Retardant SLS Nylon PA12

Markforged® ADAM Copper

Brass H59

Stainless Steel 430 (1.4016)

Laser Cutting Woods

SLS Nylon PA11-ESD

EnvisionTEC E-Mould

Sheet Metal Forming

Copper C110 (CW004A)

Copper 360

Bronze C932 (Bearing Bronze, CC493K)

Brass C260 (Cartridge Brass, CW505L)

Acrylic (PMMA)

Laser Cutting Metals

Laser Cutting Plastics

Solid Oak Wood

Nickel Silver C77000 (55-18, CW410J)

Aluminum 5005 (EN AW-5005)

Sheet Metal Joining