Materials
A focused range of engineering plastics, led by PC-CF. Materials marked for instant quoting can be priced online now; the rest we stock and quote by email.
Compare materials
| Material | Best for | Strengths | Typical applications | Quoting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC-CF (Carbon-fibre polycarbonate) - lead engineering material | Jigs, fixtures and load-bearing parts | Very stiff, Tough, Good heat resistance, Matte finish | Jigs and fixtures, Structural brackets and mounts, Production-line tooling, Parts that run warm | Instant online quote. Quote in this material |
| PETG (Glycol-modified polyester) | Tough everyday functional parts | Tough, Slightly flexible, Chemical resistant, Moisture resistant | Enclosures and housings, Brackets and guards, Covers and clips, General functional parts | Instant online quote. Quote in this material |
| ASA (Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate) | Outdoor and UV-exposed parts | UV resistant, Weather resistant, Good heat resistance, Tough | Outdoor fittings and covers, Vehicle and marine trim, Housings for outdoor equipment | Instant online quote. Quote in this material |
| ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) | Impact-resistant housings | Impact resistant, Good heat resistance, Easy to finish | Housings and covers, Vehicle interior parts, Parts to be sanded, glued or painted | Instant online quote. Quote in this material |
| TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethane) | Flexible seals, grips and bumpers | Flexible, Abrasion resistant, Absorbs impact | Gaskets and seals, Bumpers and feet, Grips and protective covers, Vibration mounts | Instant online quote. Quote in this material |
| TPE 85A (Thermoplastic elastomer) | Soft grips, cushions and soft seals | Very flexible, Soft touch, Stretchy | Soft-touch grips, Cushions and pads, Soft seals | On request. Ask us for a price |
| PA12 (Nylon 12) | Wear parts, bushes and snap fits | Tough, Low friction, Wear resistant, Fatigue resistant | Gears and bushes, Clips and snap fits, Wear strips and guides | On request. Ask us for a price |
| PAHT-CF (Carbon-fibre high-temperature nylon) | Stiff structural parts that run hot | Very stiff, High heat resistance, Light for its stiffness | High-load brackets, Tooling that runs warm, Lightweight structural parts | On request. Ask us for a price |
| PLA (Polylactic acid) | Fit checks and visual prototypes | Stiff, Accurate, Low heat resistance | Fit checks, Visual prototypes, Display models | Instant online quote. Quote in this material |
Our materials
PC-CF - Carbon-fibre polycarbonate
Lead engineering material.
Instant online quote.
Polycarbonate reinforced with chopped carbon fibre. It is stiffer than PETG or ABS, keeps its shape at higher temperatures, and has a matte finish that hides layer lines. It is our first recommendation for working parts: jigs and fixtures, brackets, mounts and anything that carries load or sits near heat.
Typical uses: Jigs and fixtures, Structural brackets and mounts, Production-line tooling, Parts that run warm.
Properties: Very stiff, Tough, Good heat resistance, Matte finish.
PETG - Glycol-modified polyester
Instant online quote.
Durable and slightly flexible, with good chemical and moisture resistance. A reliable choice for functional parts that do not need the stiffness or heat resistance of carbon-fibre polycarbonate.
Typical uses: Enclosures and housings, Brackets and guards, Covers and clips, General functional parts.
Properties: Tough, Slightly flexible, Chemical resistant, Moisture resistant.
ASA - Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate
Instant online quote.
Similar to ABS in strength and heat resistance, with much better resistance to UV light and weathering. The choice for parts that live outside, in a vehicle or behind glass in full sun.
Typical uses: Outdoor fittings and covers, Vehicle and marine trim, Housings for outdoor equipment.
Properties: UV resistant, Weather resistant, Good heat resistance, Tough.
ABS - Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
Instant online quote.
A tough, impact-resistant plastic that handles more heat than PETG and sands, glues and paints well. Suited to housings and parts that will be finished or assembled after printing.
Typical uses: Housings and covers, Vehicle interior parts, Parts to be sanded, glued or painted.
Properties: Impact resistant, Good heat resistance, Easy to finish.
TPU - Thermoplastic polyurethane
Instant online quote.
A flexible, rubber-like material for parts that need to bend, absorb impact or provide grip. Used where compliance or vibration damping matters more than stiffness.
Typical uses: Gaskets and seals, Bumpers and feet, Grips and protective covers, Vibration mounts.
Properties: Flexible, Abrasion resistant, Absorbs impact.
TPE 85A - Thermoplastic elastomer
On request.
A soft, rubber-like elastomer, softer and stretchier than TPU. For grips that need a soft-touch feel and parts that must squash or stretch a long way. It prints slower than TPU and holds fine detail less well, so it costs more.
Typical uses: Soft-touch grips, Cushions and pads, Soft seals.
Properties: Very flexible, Soft touch, Stretchy.
PA12 - Nylon 12
On request.
A tough nylon with low friction and good wear resistance, for parts that slide against each other, flex repeatedly or take repeated impact.
Typical uses: Gears and bushes, Clips and snap fits, Wear strips and guides.
Properties: Tough, Low friction, Wear resistant, Fatigue resistant.
PAHT-CF - Carbon-fibre high-temperature nylon
On request.
A high-temperature nylon reinforced with carbon fibre. Very stiff for its weight and stable at temperature, for structural parts and tooling in demanding environments.
Typical uses: High-load brackets, Tooling that runs warm, Lightweight structural parts.
Properties: Very stiff, High heat resistance, Light for its stiffness.
PLA - Polylactic acid
Instant online quote.
Stiff and dimensionally accurate, but it softens in a hot car or full sun and is brittle under impact. We use it for fit checks, visual prototypes and display models rather than working parts.
Typical uses: Fit checks, Visual prototypes, Display models.
Properties: Stiff, Accurate, Low heat resistance.
Need a material that is not listed? Tell us what the part has to do and we will tell you whether we can source it.
Manufacturer datasheets
We do not publish strength or temperature figures of our own. For numbers, use the filament manufacturer's datasheet for the grade we print: ask us which one it is. Datasheet values are measured on test specimens, and a printed part's properties vary with print orientation and settings, so tell us what the part has to do and we will recommend a material and orientation.