Every answer comes from the same ratings we use on the materials page.
ASA. It is UV stable, keeps its colour and strength in full sun and holds its shape to around 90 to 95 °C.
PETG is the cheaper second choice. It handles shade and part sun well, but for full sun all day ASA lasts longer.
PLA is the wrong pick outdoors. It goes chalky and brittle in the sun and can sag on a hot day. For roof, fence, boat, trailer and car exterior parts, choose ASA. Read more about ASA.
Yes, in ASA or ABS. Both hold their shape at temperatures that would make PLA and PETG sag.
PLA softens from about 55 to 60 °C, so it droops on a dashboard in summer. PETG is fine to about 70 to 75 °C, which is still not enough for a dashboard in full sun.
ASA holds its shape to around 90 to 95 °C and also copes with UV through the windscreen. ABS is a little cheaper and suits interior parts that stay out of direct sun. For parts near engine heat, ask us about a glass-filled grade like ABS-GF or PC-GF. The full story is in why PLA parts warp in a hot car.
TPU 95A. It is a firm rubber, a bit like a shoe sole, that bends, squashes and springs back.
Thin sections bend easily and squash under thumb pressure. Chunky sections are firm. It suits seals, gaskets, feet, bumpers, grips and phone cases.
If you want a part that bends without feeling soft, TPU 75D is semi-rigid. TPU prints slowly and the filament costs more, so a TPU part costs more than the same part in PLA or PETG. Read more about TPU.
PETG is the better pick for most brackets. It is tougher, bends a little before it breaks and copes with water and a warm shed, while PLA is stiff but snaps rather than bends and softens in heat.
Both sit at the bottom of our cost scale. PLA prints the sharpest detail and is the one to sand and paint. PETG is slightly glossy and does not sand or paint well.
For a shelf bracket indoors that stays cool, either will do. For a garage, laundry, shed or a sunny window, choose PETG. If the bracket will sit in full sun all day, choose ASA. Read how PLA vs PETG vs ASA compare.
Usually you don't need carbon fibre. Most structural household parts are fine in PETG or ASA, and many indoor ones are fine in PLA.
Carbon fibre grades are stiffer, not automatically stronger. PLA-CF and PETG-CF are stiff, but on our chart they are not rated for knocks and drops. They suit jigs, frames and mounts that must not flex.
If a part has to be stiff, take heat and take knocks, PA6-CF (carbon fibre nylon) is the step up. It costs the most ($$$$) and does not suit wet conditions. A lot of a part's strength comes from its walls and design, so choosing Strong in the quote tool often helps more than changing material. Tell us what the part has to do and we will suggest one.
PLA is the cheapest everyday choice. PLA, PLA Matte, PETG and ABS all sit at the bottom of our relative cost scale ($ out of $$$$). Every order also has a $16.50 inc GST setup fee.
The material is only part of the price. Size, how solid the inside is, the finish and print time matter more.
To keep the price down, pick Standard strength and Standard finish, and order parts together so the setup fee is paid once. Upload your file to the quote tool to see the exact price, or read how pricing works.
ASA for most car parts, inside or out. It handles UV, heat to around 90 to 95 °C and knocks, and it sands and paints well.
ABS suits interior parts that stay out of direct sun and is a little cheaper. ABS-GF stays straight and stable in heat and suits engine bay trim and covers. TPU 95A works for rubber feet, grommets and seals, but it does not suit high heat, so keep it off the dashboard and away from the engine.
Avoid PLA and PETG anywhere in a car, as both soften on a hot day. Printed plastic is not a substitute for safety-critical parts such as brake, steering or seatbelt components.
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