materials
Material Selection Guide: Match Your Project to the Right Filament
Choosing the right material can make or break your 3D printing project. Pick wrong and you'll end up with parts that warp, crack, melt, or simply don't perform. Pick right and your print will look great, function perfectly, and last as long as you need it to.
The problem is that material selection can feel overwhelming. PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU, nylon, ASA—each has advocates claiming it's the best. The truth is simpler: there's no best material, only the best material for your specific application.
Here's a practical framework for matching your project to the right filament.
Start With Five Key Questions
Before comparing material properties, answer these five questions about your project:
1. Where will this part live? Indoor, climate-controlled environments are forgiving. Outdoor exposure, cars, or areas near heat sources demand materials that handle temperature swings and UV exposure.
2. What forces will it experience? Static loads (holding weight in place) differ from dynamic loads (repeated stress, vibration, impact). A shelf bracket has different requirements than a phone case that might get dropped.
3. Does appearance matter? Some projects prioritize surface finish and detail. Others just need to function. This affects both material choice and print settings.
4. Does it need to be watertight or chemical-resistant? Parts that contact water, food, cleaning products, or workshop chemicals need materials that won't absorb moisture or degrade.
5. Is flexibility required? Rigid parts and flexible parts live in different material categories. Snap-fits, gaskets, and shock-absorbing parts need materials with give.
With these answers in mind, let's match materials to common scenarios.
The Material Matrix: Quick Reference
Here's the fast version. We'll dig into each scenario below.
| Use Case | Best Material | Runner-Up | |----------|---------------|-----------| | Indoor decorative items | PLA | PLA Silk | | Prototyping | PLA | PETG | | Functional indoor parts | PETG | PLA+ | | Outdoor parts | PETG or ASA | ABS | | High-heat environments | ABS | PETG | | Impact-resistant parts | PETG | Nylon | | Flexible parts | TPU | TPE | | Snap-fits and clips | PETG | Nylon | | Chemical exposure | PETG | Nylon | | Maximum strength | Nylon | PETG | | Food-contact items | PETG | PLA |
PLA: The Reliable Starting Point
PLA works for more applications than most people realize. Its reputation as a "beginner material" undersells its actual capabilities.
Best applications for PLA:
- Decorative pieces and display items
- Prototypes and design iterations
- Desk accessories and indoor organization
- Replacement parts for indoor items
- Educational models and teaching aids
- Custom gifts and personalized items
The PLA sweet spot: Projects that stay indoors at normal room temperatures, where appearance matters and the part won't experience significant impact or mechanical stress.
When PLA falls short: Heat above 50°C, direct sunlight exposure, outdoor use, parts that need impact resistance, anything requiring flexibility.
The cost factor: PLA remains the most economical option. For prototyping where you might iterate through several versions, PLA's lower cost adds up to real savings.
At Mandarin3D, roughly 60% of what we print is PLA. It covers most decorative projects, prototypes, and indoor functional parts that come through our shop.
PETG: The Practical Workhorse
If PLA doesn't meet your requirements, PETG should be your next consideration. It bridges the gap between easy-printing PLA and demanding engineering materials.
Best applications for PETG:
- Functional brackets and mounts
- Outdoor items and garden accessories
- Enclosures and protective cases
- Mechanical components with moving parts
- Automotive interior accessories
- Workshop tools and jigs
- Parts experiencing regular handling
The PETG sweet spot: Functional parts that need durability, moderate heat resistance (up to 80°C), and impact resistance without requiring extreme strength or flexibility.
PETG advantages over PLA:
- 2-3x better impact resistance
- Handles temperatures up to 80°C
- Moderate UV and weather resistance
- Better chemical resistance
- Slight flexibility prevents cracking
- Excellent layer adhesion for strong parts
When PETG falls short: When you need temperatures above 80°C, maximum rigidity, or a pristine surface finish. PETG also strings more during printing, which can affect fine details.
PETG is our recommendation for any outdoor application and most functional parts. If someone asks "will this survive in my car?" the answer is usually PETG.
ABS: For Serious Heat and Rigidity
ABS was the original workhorse of 3D printing. It's been somewhat displaced by PETG for general use, but it still excels in specific scenarios.
Best applications for ABS:
- High-temperature enclosures
- Parts near engines or electronics that generate heat
- Applications requiring maximum rigidity
- Parts you want to acetone-smooth
- Traditional manufacturing prototypes (ABS matches injection-molded parts well)
The ABS sweet spot: Projects requiring heat resistance above 80°C, where rigidity matters more than impact resistance, and where you have proper ventilation for printing.
Why PETG often wins: ABS warps during printing, emits harmful fumes requiring ventilation, and offers less impact resistance than PETG. Unless you specifically need the heat resistance or post-processing options ABS offers, PETG is usually the better choice.
A note on printing ABS: ABS requires an enclosed printer and proper ventilation. The fumes aren't something to take lightly. At Mandarin3D, we can print ABS but will usually recommend PETG unless your application specifically demands ABS properties.
TPU: When Flexibility Matters
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) is in a category of its own—it's the go-to material when you need flexibility, elasticity, or shock absorption.
Best applications for TPU:
- Phone cases and device bumpers
- Gaskets and seals
- Vibration dampening mounts
- Flexible hinges
- Grip surfaces and handles
- Protective bumpers
- Straps and bands
The TPU sweet spot: Any application where the part needs to flex, compress, absorb impact, or return to its original shape after deformation.
Understanding Shore hardness: TPU comes in different hardness ratings. Shore 95A is common and moderately flexible—think of a car tire. Softer TPUs (Shore 85A and below) approach rubber-like flexibility. Harder TPUs (Shore 98A+) offer mild flex while maintaining more structure.
TPU challenges: TPU is harder to print than rigid filaments. It requires direct-drive extruders (or significant Bowden modifications), slower print speeds, and careful retraction settings. Not all printers handle it well.
Our BambuLab P1S and H2S printers have direct-drive extruders that handle TPU reliably, so we can print flexible parts when your project needs them.
Nylon: Maximum Mechanical Performance
Nylon offers the highest mechanical performance among commonly available filaments. It's strong, tough, and handles abuse that would destroy other materials.
Best applications for nylon:
- High-load mechanical parts
- Gears and bearings
- Parts requiring extreme wear resistance
- Professional and industrial applications
- Hinges and articulated parts
- Snap-fits that will see thousands of cycles
The nylon sweet spot: Applications where mechanical performance is the priority, and you can work around nylon's challenges.
Nylon challenges: It absorbs moisture aggressively, requiring careful storage and drying. It warps more than PETG, needs an enclosure for best results, and costs significantly more than standard filaments.
For most projects, PETG provides enough strength without nylon's complications. Reserve nylon for applications where nothing else will do.
Specialty Filaments: When the Basics Don't Cover It
Beyond the main players, specialty filaments address specific needs:
ASA: Like ABS but with better UV resistance. The go-to for long-term outdoor exposure where PETG's moderate UV resistance isn't enough.
PLA+/Tough PLA: Enhanced PLA variants with better impact resistance. A middle ground when you want PLA's ease of printing but need more toughness.
Carbon Fiber Filled: PLA or PETG with carbon fiber for increased stiffness. Great for drone frames, camera mounts, and applications where rigidity matters.
Wood/Metal Fill: Aesthetic filaments that contain real wood or metal particles. Not stronger, but they offer unique appearances and can be post-processed like their base materials.
Decision Trees for Common Scenarios
Let me walk through some common scenarios to show this framework in action.
Scenario: Replacement Part for a Kitchen Gadget
Questions answered:
- Environment: Indoor, kitchen temperatures (might see some warmth near stove)
- Forces: Light mechanical stress during use
- Appearance: Moderate importance
- Chemical exposure: Food contact possible
- Flexibility: Rigid is fine
Recommendation: PETG. The potential for warmth and food contact rules out PLA. PETG is food-safe when printed properly and handles kitchen temperatures.
Scenario: Mount for Outdoor Security Camera
Questions answered:
- Environment: Outdoor, year-round exposure
- Forces: Static load (holding camera weight)
- Appearance: Low priority—functional is fine
- Chemical exposure: Rain and weather
- Flexibility: Rigid needed
Recommendation: PETG is sufficient for most climates. ASA if you're in an extremely sunny location where UV exposure is intense. ABS would work for heat but lacks UV resistance.
Scenario: Prototype for Product Development
Questions answered:
- Environment: Indoor, office/workshop
- Forces: Handled frequently but not abused
- Appearance: Matters for presentation
- Chemical exposure: None
- Flexibility: Depends on final product
Recommendation: PLA for initial iterations focusing on form and fit. Switch to PETG or the target production material when testing function and durability.
Scenario: Custom Phone Case
Questions answered:
- Environment: Handled daily, pocket carry
- Forces: Drops, compression, constant handling
- Appearance: High priority
- Chemical exposure: Skin contact, pocket lint
- Flexibility: Needs impact absorption
Recommendation: TPU. The flexibility absorbs drops, and the material handles constant handling well. Rigid materials would crack or fail to protect the phone.
What We Stock at Mandarin3D
On our BambuLab P1S and H2S printers, we regularly work with:
- PLA in a wide range of colors for decorative and indoor functional parts
- PETG for durable functional parts and outdoor applications
- TPU for flexible parts and protective cases
- ABS for high-heat applications (with discussion of alternatives)
- Specialty filaments by request
Our 250mm³ build volume handles most projects. When you upload a model, let us know about your application and we'll recommend the right material—or confirm your choice if you already have one in mind.
When You're Still Not Sure
The framework above covers most situations, but 3D printing has edge cases. If you're unsure:
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Default to PLA for prototypes. It's cheap and fast. Even if the final part needs different material, PLA prototypes help validate the design.
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Step up to PETG when durability questions arise. It handles most real-world demands.
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Ask us directly. Upload your model and describe the application. We've printed thousands of parts for every scenario imaginable. We'll tell you what works.
Material selection doesn't have to be overwhelming. Start with those five questions, match your answers to the material properties, and you'll pick right far more often than not.
Ready to get started? Upload your model and let us help you match it to the right material for your specific application.
