Pick the right plastic
Every material we print, in plain terms: what it suits, what it doesn't, and roughly what it costs. All of it comes from Siddament in Australia, in any colour they stock.
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PLA
Everyday. Models, gifts, organisers and indoor parts. Cheapest, best detail.
PLA, Matte, Silk →PETG
Tougher with a bit of give. Brackets, clips, garden and shed parts.
PETG, PCTG →ASA
Sun, heat and weather. Car, boat, trailer and outdoor fittings. Paintable.
ASA, ABS, ABS-GF →TPU
Flexible and rubbery. Seals, feet, grips, bumpers and cases.
TPU 95A, 75D →Fibre-filled engineering grades
PLA-CF
Stiff with a carbon matte finish. Jigs, frames and display parts.
PETG-CF
Stiffer PETG for outdoor brackets and mounts.
PC-GF
Polycarbonate with glass fibre. Very high heat and strength.
PA6-CF
Carbon fibre nylon. Strong, stiff and heat resistant. Hard-working mechanical parts.
PA6-GF
Glass fibre nylon. Wear resistant. Gears, bushes and sliding parts.
These cost more and print slower, and most jobs don't need them. If yours does, pick it in the quote tool or tell us what the part has to survive and we'll suggest one. The full comparison, with what each one handles, is in the table below.
Compare every material
Each material rated on the same six things, in plain words. Questions? See which material should I use.
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| Material | Outdoors / UV | Heat (60 °C+) | Wet | Impact | Flexible | Paintable | Relative cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | $ | The everyday choice. Models, gifts, organisers, cosplay and display pieces. |
| PLA Matte | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | $ | PLA with a soft matte look that hides layer lines. Great for display pieces. |
| PLA Silk | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | $$ | Glossy, shiny finish. Vases, trophies and decorative parts. |
| PETG | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | $ | Tougher than PLA with a little give. Garden, shed and garage parts. |
| PCTG | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | $$ | Like PETG but tougher. Clips, brackets and parts that take a knock. |
| ASA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | $$ | Made for the Australian sun. Car, boat, trailer and outdoor fittings. |
| ABS | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | $ | Takes heat and is easy to sand and paint. Car interiors and finished props. |
| TPU 95A | Yes (shade) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | $$$ | Soft and rubbery. Phone cases, feet, seals, grips and bumpers. |
| TPU 75D | Yes (shade) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | $$$ | Semi-rigid. Bends without breaking. Guards, hinges and protective covers. |
| PLA-CF | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | $$ | Stiff with a carbon matte finish. Jigs, frames and display parts. |
| PETG-CF | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | $$ | Stiffer PETG for outdoor brackets and mounts. |
| ABS-GF | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | $$ | Glass filled ABS. Stays straight and stable in heat. Engine bay trim and covers. |
| PC-GF | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | $$$ | Polycarbonate with glass fibre. Very high heat and strength. |
| PA6-CF | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | $$$$ | Carbon fibre nylon. Strong, stiff and heat resistant. Hard-working mechanical parts. |
| PA6-GF | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | $$$$ | Glass fibre nylon. Wear resistant. Gears, bushes and sliding parts. |
Yes means the material suits that use for everyday parts. Relative cost runs from $ (cheapest) to $$$$. We check every order and will tell you if a different material suits your part better.
Not sure?
- Indoors, looks matter: PLA or PLA Matte.
- It has a job to do, inside or in the shed: PETG.
- Sun, car, boat, heat: ASA.
- It has to bend or seal: TPU.
- Stiff, hot or hard-wearing: a fibre-filled grade. Ask us.
Pick wrong and we'll tell you. Every order is checked by a person, and if the material doesn't suit the part we email you before printing.
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