Material guide
Filament comparison: choose PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA and TPU
Parts rarely fail because of the filament name alone. They fail when temperature, load direction, moisture, warping or process limits do not match the use case.
Summary
Key points
- PLA is reliable for prototypes and visual models, but weak under heat and long-term load.
- PETG is a robust everyday material when print settings are clean.
- ABS and ASA need controlled printing but make sense for heat, impact or UV resistance.
- TPU, nylon and filled filaments solve special cases but increase process demands.
Start with the use case, not the strongest name
The useful question is not which filament is strongest in isolation. A car bracket, a desk prototype, a flexible clip and a visual housing need different properties.
Check heat, load duration, UV, moisture, chemicals, friction, surface quality and tolerances before selecting material.
PLA: precise, affordable and easy, but heat-sensitive
PLA is a strong starting point for many FDM orders because it prints predictably, warps little and gives clean surfaces.
Avoid blind PLA choices for cars, warm lamp areas, permanent spring load or thin snap hooks.
- Good for prototypes, design samples and decorative parts.
- Be careful with heat, long-term load and outdoor use.
PETG: a practical all-rounder for functional parts
PETG is tougher than PLA and useful for holders, covers and workshop parts.
It can show stringing or glossy artifacts, so visible design surfaces may still look cleaner in PLA.
ABS and ASA need a controlled setup
ABS and ASA are useful when heat resistance, impact strength or outdoor durability matter.
They need controlled temperatures and ventilation because warping, shrinkage and emissions are more relevant than with simple PLA jobs.
TPU, nylon and composites are specialist tools
TPU is for elastic parts, nylon for tough engineering parts, and carbon or glass filled materials for stiffness.
These materials demand drying, suitable nozzles, slower printing and more careful post-processing.
TPU 95A can now be priced directly in black, white and neon green; PLA-CF and PETG-CF in black and white.
FAQ
Common questions
Is PETG always better than PLA?
No. PETG is tougher for many functional parts, but PLA is often more accurate, easier and cleaner for visual prototypes without heat load.
Can ABS be printed without an enclosure?
For reliable results a controlled build chamber is strongly recommended; otherwise warping and cracking increase.
Which filament is suitable outdoors?
ASA is often the better FDM choice for UV and weather exposure. PETG can work depending on the part; PLA is usually weaker for permanent outdoor use.
Sources
Studies and technical sources
- Prusa Knowledge Base: Filament Material Guide
Source for technical context and further verification.
- NIOSH: Characterizing 3D Printing Emissions and Controls in an Office Environment
Source for technical context and further verification.
- EPA HERO: Stephens et al. 2013, Ultrafine particle emissions from desktop 3D printers
Source for technical context and further verification.
- Azimi et al. 2016: Emissions of Ultrafine Particles and Volatile Organic Compounds
Source for technical context and further verification.