Material basics
Pick the material by what the print needs to do.
We are not trying to turn this into a textbook. This is the practical store-floor version: what looks great, what holds up better, what belongs outdoors, and what needs a more careful printer setup.
PLA
Best starting point, easiest to print, and usually the biggest color selection.
Silk & Matte PLA
Great for dragons, gifts, signs, seasonal prints, and anything where the finish matters.
PETG
Tougher and a bit more flexible than PLA, with fewer colors but better utility.
ASA
Our outdoor-minded choice when UV and weather matter. Usually needs an enclosed printer.
ABS
Useful for tougher technical parts, but it needs more controlled printing than PLA.
TPU & Specialty
Flexible, fiber-filled, high-speed, and high-heat materials live here when the project calls for them.
Filament Types
Filament Types, Uses, Advantages, and Disadvantages
Picking filament starts with what the print needs to do. This guide covers each filament type's use case, strengths, and weaknesses so you can choose the right material for your project.
Standard PLA (Polylactic Acid)
Why it is used: PLA is the most common 3D printing filament because it is easy to use and beginner-friendly.
Advantages: Low printing temperature, no heated bed required, detailed prints, smooth surface finish, and environmentally friendly.
Disadvantages: Brittle, less durable than some materials, poor heat resistance around 60°C, and prone to moisture absorption.
Silk PLA
Why it is used: Glossy, smooth, reflective prints where appearance matters.
Advantages: Shiny silk-like finish, easy to print like standard PLA, and no heated bed required.
Disadvantages: Slightly weaker than standard PLA, more prone to stringing and oozing, and less layer adhesion.
Ultra Silk PLA
Why it is used: Enhanced silk PLA with stronger shine and smoother finish.
Advantages: Premium-looking prints for art pieces, figurines, and decorative items.
Disadvantages: Slightly reduced strength and flexibility, trickier post-processing, and possible stringing.
Standard PLA+ & Pro
Why it is used: Improved PLA with better mechanical properties while staying easy to print.
Advantages: Increased strength, better layer adhesion, improved impact resistance, and reduced brittleness.
Disadvantages: Slightly higher print temperature, still limited heat resistance, and moisture sensitivity.
High-Speed PLA
Why it is used: Optimized for rapid printing while maintaining structural integrity.
Advantages: Higher speed, good layer adhesion, impact resistance, and less warping.
Disadvantages: May need tuned settings, and some formulas can be more brittle than PLA+.
High-Speed PLA+
Why it is used: High-speed performance with enhanced durability.
Advantages: Maintains strength and flexibility at high speeds, resists warping, and offers higher impact resistance than standard PLA.
Disadvantages: Higher temperature than regular PLA and may need optimized cooling.
PETG
Why it is used: Functional parts that need strength, flexibility, and water resistance.
Advantages: Stronger than PLA, good chemical/water/UV resistance, and less brittle.
Disadvantages: More stringing and oozing, heated bed recommended, and slightly harder to dial in.
High-Speed PETG
Why it is used: Faster PETG printing while keeping durability.
Advantages: Faster printing, less oozing, strong parts, and improved layer adhesion.
Disadvantages: Needs tuned settings and may curl on overhangs if cooling is off.
Glass Fiber PETG
Why it is used: PETG with glass fiber for more rigidity and durability.
Advantages: More strength, stiffness, heat resistance, and impact resistance.
Disadvantages: Abrasive on nozzles, less flexible, and needs higher temperatures.
ABS
Why it is used: Functional parts that need toughness and heat resistance.
Advantages: High impact resistance, better heat performance than PLA/PETG, and acetone smoothing options.
Disadvantages: Needs heated bed, enclosure, ventilation, and more careful printing.
High-Speed ABS
Why it is used: ABS formulated for faster printing.
Advantages: Faster printing, reduced warping, and strong heat/impact performance.
Disadvantages: Still needs bed heat and enclosure, and can split if cooling is too aggressive.
TPU
Why it is used: Flexible, elastic, shock-absorbing parts.
Advantages: Flexible, impact resistant, chemical resistant, and useful for gaskets, seals, grips, and soft parts.
Disadvantages: Best with direct-drive extrusion, slower printing, and trickier on bowden-style printers.
High-Speed TPU
Why it is used: Faster flexible printing while maintaining elasticity.
Advantages: Higher speed, less deformation, better layer adhesion, and consistent flexible prints.
Disadvantages: Needs optimized settings and can still be tricky with bowden extruders.
Glass Fiber ASA
Why it is used: Outdoor applications that need UV resistance and rigidity.
Advantages: Weather-resistant, strong, heat resistant, impact resistant, and stiff.
Disadvantages: Harder to print than ABS, abrasive on nozzles, and needs an enclosure.
ABS+
Why it is used: Modified ABS for better printability and reduced warping.
Advantages: Easier than standard ABS, stronger layer adhesion, and heat/impact performance.
Disadvantages: Still produces fumes and needs heated bed plus enclosure.
Carbon Fiber ABS
Why it is used: ABS infused with carbon fiber for stiffness and strength.
Advantages: Strong, rigid, heat resistant, and useful for functional lightweight parts.
Disadvantages: Abrasive to standard nozzles, less flexible, and needs high temperatures plus enclosure.
PC (Polycarbonate)
Why it is used: Extreme strength, heat resistance, and impact durability.
Advantages: Very tough, high heat resistance up to around 110-120°C, and excellent dimensional stability.
Disadvantages: Needs high nozzle and bed temperatures, enclosure or heated chamber, and dry storage.
PC-ABS
Why it is used: Blends PC strength and heat resistance with ABS toughness.
Advantages: Stronger and more impact resistant than ABS, with better heat resistance and layer adhesion.
Disadvantages: Needs heated bed/enclosure, is harder than PLA or ABS, and requires ventilation.
Let us know if you have questions. If you are not sure what material your project needs, bring the idea or file into the store and we can help choose the next practical step.