3D Printing Materials

a selection of sla 3d printed parts.png

Picture	Material	Details	Service
	Resin	A solid or highly viscous liquid that can be converted into a polymer	3D Printing
	ABS	The opaque thermoplastic, it is an amorphous polymer comprised of three monome	3D Printing
	PC	Strong, tough materials, and some grades are optically transparent.	3D Printing
	Nylon	Excellent abrasion resistance, high impact strength and good mechanical properties.	3D Printing
	TPU	High mechanical strength and rigidity. POM material has very good sliding properties, excellent wear resistance and low moisture absorption.	3D Printing
	Stainless Steel	Being hydrophobic, non-wetting, high density and resistant to high temperatures, PTFE is an incredibly versatile material with non-stick properties.	3D Printing
	Aluminum	It is available in different crystalline structures, referred to as HDPE, LDPE, and LLDPE.	3D Printing

SLA, SLS and FDM: Three Material Systems, Three Different Jobs

The material you can print is decided before you choose the part — it is decided by the process. Each of the three common additive technologies has its own material family and its own set of trade-offs.

Process	Materials	Detail / surface	Best for
SLA (resin)	Photopolymer resins, clear, tough and castable grades	Very fine detail, smooth surface	Visual models, fit checks, patterns for casting
SLS (powder)	Nylon PA12, PA11, glass-filled nylon	Matt, granular finish, strong and functional	Working prototypes, snap fits, small-batch functional parts
FDM (filament)	PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU, PC, filled filaments	Visible layer lines	Large simple shapes, jigs, low-cost concept models

Choosing a 3D Printing Material

Once the process is fixed, the material question is usually about the service conditions:

Looks or function? For appearance, resin gives the finest surface. For function, nylon SLS is the workhorse.
Load and impact? Nylon and glass-filled nylon take real mechanical load; standard resin is brittle by comparison.
Heat? Most resins soften early. Where heat matters, choose filled nylon, PC or a high-temperature resin.
Flexibility? TPU and rubber-like resins bend and recover; rigid materials crack.
Chemical exposure? Nylon handles oils and fuels well; check resins against the specific fluid.
Post-processing? SLS parts can be dyed, tumbled or sealed; resin parts can be sanded and painted; FDM parts are usually left as printed.

When to Print and When to Machine

3D printing and CNC machining are complementary, not competing. The fastest route to a working part is often a combination:

Print when geometry is complex and organic, when the part is one-off or a small batch, when weight should be minimal, or when the drawing changes daily during development.
Machine when tolerances are tight, when the material must be a real engineering metal or plastic, when the surface must be smooth and precise, or when the part has to survive real service loads.
Both when a printed concept proves the fit, then a machined version delivers the final precision — the standard prototype-to-production path.

Practical Limits of Printed Materials

Anisotropy. FDM and to a lesser extent SLS parts are weaker across the layer direction than along it. Orient the build for the load.
Tolerance. Expect roughly ±0.1 mm on a good SLS machine, looser on FDM. CNC still owns the tight-tolerance work.
Surface. Layer lines and a granular SLS surface are inherent; buy finish as a post-process, not a printing setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is stronger, a printed nylon part or a machined one?

For the same material, a machined part is stronger and more consistent because the material is solid and isotropic. Printed parts win on geometry, not on strength.

Can printed parts be used as end-use components?

Yes — SLS nylon brackets, covers and ducting are routinely used in production, especially in low volumes and in machines where weight and complexity matter more than ultimate strength.

How do I supply a model?

A solid STEP or STL file is ideal, along with a 2D drawing for any critical dimensions. Where only a drawing exists, our engineers can model the part first.

Can you print and then machine the same part?

Yes. Printing first for fit, then machining a final version from metal or engineering plastic, is a common and cost-effective development route.