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Upzera3D Labs

Materials guide

3D Printing Materials Guide: PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU, Resin, Nylon & Metal

Choose the material by what the part has to do: take heat, flex, carry load, show fine detail or stay economical. Explore each plastic and metal below, compare them side by side, or answer five quick questions and we’ll suggest one.

Help me choose

Material explorer

What does each material look and behave like?

Pick a material to see its finish on a sample swatch, what it’s good at and where it struggles. The metal swatch shows a printed steel finish. Use the arrow keys to move between tabs.

Sample swatch, FDMPreview

Indicative look, not a colour match

FDMEveryday plastic

PLA

The everyday material: crisp detail, wide colour range and the most budget-friendly.

Best for

  • Display and presentation models
  • Architectural models
  • Look-and-feel prototypes
  • Decor

Avoid

Hot places like a car dashboard or direct sun for long periods.

Indicative ratings

Strength
3/5
Flexibility
1/5
Heat resistance
1/5
Fine detail
4/5
Budget-friendly
5/5
More about PLA

Compare

How do PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU, resin, nylon and metal compare?

Indicative ratings from 1 to 5. They help you shortlist, and we confirm the right grade with you in the quote.

3D printing materials compared by process, grade and indicative 1 to 5 ratings for strength, flexibility, heat resistance, fine detail and budget.
MaterialProcessGradeStrengthFlexibilityHeat resistanceFine detailBudget-friendly
PLAFDMEveryday plastic3 out of 51 out of 51 out of 54 out of 55 out of 5
PLA+FDMEveryday plastic4 out of 52 out of 52 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5
PETGFDMEveryday plastic4 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 54 out of 5
ABSFDMEveryday plastic4 out of 53 out of 54 out of 53 out of 54 out of 5
TPUFDMEveryday plastic3 out of 55 out of 53 out of 52 out of 53 out of 5
Resin (SLA/DLP)SLA / DLPFine detail2 out of 51 out of 52 out of 55 out of 52 out of 5
Nylon (SLS)SLSEngineering grade5 out of 53 out of 54 out of 54 out of 51 out of 5
Metal (Steel & Aluminium)DMLS / SLMEngineering metal5 out of 52 out of 55 out of 54 out of 51 out of 5

Ratings are indicative, not lab data. Swipe sideways on small screens.

Help me choose

Not sure which material you need?

Answer five quick questions. You'll get one or two suggestions with the reasons, and you can send them straight into a quote.

Does it carry real load or need to be metal? A structural bracket, a manifold or an end-use machine part.
Does the part need to bend or squash? Like a gasket, grip, bumper or phone case.
Will it sit near heat or outdoors? A car interior, near a motor or lamp, or a sunny balcony.
Does fine detail matter most? Small text, figurines, crisp architectural features.
Is keeping the cost down a priority? Say yes if it's a display piece or an early test version.

Your suggestion appears here

Answer any of the questions and we’ll suggest one or two materials, with the reasons. Unanswered questions count as no.

A starting point, not a spec. We confirm the right grade with you during the quote.

Material by material

Which material is right for your part?

Everyday plastics for most jobs, specialist resin and nylon when detail or toughness matters, and steel or aluminium when the part has to be metal. See how each process works on the 3D printing page.

FDMEveryday plastic

PLA 3D printing

PLA is where most projects start. It prints crisp edges and fine detail, comes in the widest range of colours and is the most budget-friendly material we use, which makes it ideal for architectural models, display pieces and early prototypes.

Its weak spot is heat: PLA softens at lower temperatures than other plastics, so keep it away from car dashboards and long hours in direct sun.

Good for: Display and presentation models, Architectural models, Look-and-feel prototypes, Decor.

FDMEveryday plastic

PLA+ 3D printing

PLA+ is a toughened PLA. It keeps PLA's easy detail and colour range but is less brittle, so clips, holders and prototypes that get handled every day survive knocks better.

It's a good default for gifts, trophies and jigs. Heat resistance is still close to standard PLA.

Good for: Handled prototypes, Jigs and holders, Gifts and trophies.

FDMEveryday plastic

PETG 3D printing

PETG is the functional all-rounder. It's strong with a little flex, shrugs off moisture and handles more warmth than PLA, which suits enclosures, brackets, clips and parts that live outdoors part of the time.

Surfaces can look slightly glossy and very fine cosmetic detail is a little softer than in PLA.

Good for: Functional parts, Enclosures, Brackets and clips, Outdoor-ish use.

FDMEveryday plastic

ABS 3D printing

ABS is tough and heat tolerant, the same family of plastic used in many appliance housings and car interiors. It sands and paints well, so it suits parts that need finishing after printing.

Large flat parts can warp as ABS cools, so we review the shape and orientation before printing big pieces.

Good for: Parts near heat, Automotive interior parts, Enclosures, Parts to be sanded or painted.

FDMEveryday plastic

TPU 3D printing (flexible)

TPU is a rubber-like flexible material. It bends, squashes and springs back, so it's the right choice for gaskets, seals, grips, bumpers, device cases and vibration-damping feet.

It isn't suited to rigid parts or precise mating features, and fine detail is softer than in rigid plastics.

Good for: Gaskets and seals, Grips and bumpers, Phone and device cases, Feet and dampers.

SLA / DLPFine detail

Resin 3D printing (SLA / DLP)

Resin printing cures liquid resin with light in very thin layers, giving smooth surfaces and the finest detail of any process here. Miniatures, figurines, jewellery masters and small presentation pieces benefit most.

Standard resins are brittle compared with FDM plastics, so they're not the pick for load-bearing or outdoor parts.

Good for: Miniatures and figurines, Jewellery masters, Small detailed parts, Presentation pieces.

SLSEngineering grade

Nylon 3D printing (SLS)

SLS nylon parts are tough and engineering-grade, and because the powder supports the part as it prints, there are no support marks. It handles snap fits, living hinges, complex assemblies and small production batches well.

It costs more than FDM, so it's best saved for parts that genuinely need the strength. We'll tell you if a cheaper plastic will do.

Good for: Tough functional parts, Snap fits and hinges, Complex assemblies, Small production batches.

DMLS / SLMEngineering metal

Metal 3D printing: stainless steel 316L and aluminium AlSi10Mg

Laser powder-bed fusion (DMLS/SLM) melts fine metal powder layer by layer into fully dense parts. Stainless steel 316L is strong and corrosion resistant; aluminium AlSi10Mg is light and handles heat well. Both suit end-use parts, brackets, manifolds and lattice structures that can't be machined.

Critical holes and mating faces can be post-machined where tolerances demand it. For simple, blocky shapes, CNC machining is usually the more economical route, and we'll say so in your quote.

Good for: End-use metal parts, Complex brackets and manifolds, Heat-exposed components, Lightweight lattice structures.

Questions

Material questions

Still unsure? Describe the part and we’ll recommend a material. No file yet? Start with CAD design help.

Which material should I choose?

Tell us what the part needs to do: take heat, flex, carry load, look great or stay outdoors. We'll recommend a material. Our materials guide gives a quick overview.

What's the difference between PLA and PETG?

PLA prints sharper detail, comes in more colours and costs less, but softens in heat. PETG is tougher, a little flexible and handles moisture and warmth better, so it suits functional parts, enclosures and things that live outdoors part of the time.

Which material is best for outdoor or hot places?

PETG and ABS both cope far better than PLA. ABS handles more heat, which suits car interiors and parts near motors or lamps. For long-term sun or weather, tell us where the part will live and we'll confirm the right grade.

Can you print flexible parts?

Yes. TPU is rubber-like: it bends, squashes and springs back, which makes it right for gaskets, grips, bumpers, feet and device cases.

Do you 3D print in metal?

Yes. We print stainless steel 316L and aluminium AlSi10Mg by laser powder-bed fusion (DMLS/SLM), for end-use parts and shapes that can't be machined. Simple, blocky parts are often cheaper to CNC machine, and we'll tell you which route suits yours.

Can I choose the colour?

Usually. PLA has the widest colour range. Tell us the colour you want and we'll confirm what's available in your chosen material in the quote.

Are 3D printed parts food safe?

We don't promise food safety for printed parts. Layer lines can trap bacteria and food-contact use depends on the exact grade and finish. Tell us what the part is for and we'll advise honestly.

Are the ratings on this page lab test results?

No. They're indicative 1 to 5 comparisons to help you shortlist. Real performance depends on the grade, the design and the print settings, and we confirm the right grade during the quote.

Keep exploring
OverviewAll servicesPrototypes, batches, enclosures, scale models, replacement parts, gifts, decor and metal parts.Process3D printingFDM, resin, SLS nylon and metal. Layer height, finish and what shapes the price.Metal partsFabricationCNC machining, laser cutting and sheet metal, quoted alongside your printed parts.DesignCAD & prototypingFrom a sketch, photo or broken part to a Fusion 360 model, a prototype and production.

Next step

Not sure? We'll pick the material with you

Tell us what the part has to survive and how it should look. We'll recommend the most economical material that does the job, usually with a quote the same day.

Ask on WhatsApp

Helpful to include

  • What the part does and what it touches
  • Heat, sun, water or flexing it will face
  • How it should look and feel
  • Quantity and budget priorities
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