3D PRINTING MATERIALS SOUTH AFRICA

POPULAR 3D PRINTING MATERIALS

PLA (Polylactic Acid)

PLA, or polylactic acid, is a popular thermoplastic material used in 3D printing. It is made from renewable resources and is environmentally friendly. PLA is easy to print with and has a low melting point, making it ideal for use in desktop 3D printers. While PLA is not as durable as other plastics, it is biodegradable and non-toxic, making it a great option for applications where sustainability and safety are a priority.

PLA Characteristics:

• Biodegradable: PLA is made from renewable resources and is biodegradable, making it an eco-friendly option.
• Low Melting Point: PLA has a relatively low melting point compared to other plastics, which makes it easy to print with and ideal for use in desktop 3D printers.
• Non-Toxic: PLA is non-toxic and safe for use in food packaging and other applications where safety is a priority.
• Brittle: PLA can be brittle and is not as durable as other plastics, which makes it less suitable for applications that require high strength or impact resistance.
• High-Quality Surface Finish: PLA has a high-quality surface finish, which makes it an attractive option for creating aesthetic or decorative objects.

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)

ABS, or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, is a popular thermoplastic material used in 3D printing. It is a durable and strong material that is resistant to impact and heat. ABS is also easily customizable and can be easily sanded, painted, or glued. ABS has a high melting point, making it ideal for use in applications that require heat resistance. However, it can be more challenging to print with compared to other materials, requiring a heated bed and enclosed printer to minimise warping. Overall, ABS is a reliable and versatile material that offers a range of benefits for 3D printing applications that require strength and durability.

ABS Characteristics:

• Durable and Strong: ABS is a strong and durable material that is resistant to impact and heat, making it ideal for creating functional parts.
• Heat Resistance: ABS has a high melting point, which makes it suitable for use in applications that require heat resistance.
• Customisable: ABS can be easily sanded, painted, or glued, which makes it a popular choice for creating aesthetically pleasing objects.
• Challenging to Print: ABS can be more challenging to print with compared to other materials. It requires a heated bed and an enclosed printer to minimize warping and achieve optimal results.
• Non-Biodegradable: ABS is not biodegradable and can take hundreds of years to decompose, making it less environmentally friendly than other materials like PLA.

PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)

PETG, or glycol-modified PET, is a thermoplastic material used in 3D printing. It is a strong and durable material that is resistant to impact, heat, and chemicals. PETG is also transparent and has a high gloss finish, making it ideal for creating objects that require clarity or transparency. It has a lower melting point than ABS, which makes it easier to print with and less prone to warping. Additionally, PETG is food safe and can be used for creating objects like water bottles and food containers. Overall, PETG is a versatile and reliable material that offers a range of benefits for 3D printing applications that require strength, clarity, and safety.

PETG Characteristics:

• Strong and Durable: PETG is a strong and durable material that is resistant to impact, heat, and chemicals, making it ideal for creating functional parts.
• Transparent and Glossy: PETG has a high gloss finish and is transparent, making it ideal for creating objects that require clarity or transparency.
• Easy to Print: PETG has a lower melting point than ABS, which makes it easier to print with and less prone to warping.
• Food Safe: PETG is food safe and can be used for creating objects like water bottles and food containers.
• Environmentally Friendly: PETG is recyclable and can be melted down and reused, making it an eco-friendly option for 3D printing.

Nylon

Nylon is a strong and durable thermoplastic material used in 3D printing. It is known for its excellent tensile strength, impact resistance, and flexibility. Nylon is also resistant to chemicals and abrasion, making it a popular choice for creating functional parts that require strength and durability. It is a versatile material that can be used in a range of applications, including automotive and aerospace industries. However, nylon can be challenging to print with due to its high melting point and tendency to absorb moisture from the air, which can affect its mechanical properties. Overall, nylon is a reliable and versatile material that offers a range of benefits for 3D printing applications that require strength, flexibility, and chemical resistance.

Nylon Characteristics:

• Strong and Durable: Nylon is a strong and durable material that is known for its excellent tensile strength, impact resistance, and flexibility.
• Chemical and Abrasion resistance: Nylon is resistant to chemicals and abrasion, making it a popular choice for creating functional parts that require strength and durability.
• Versatile: Nylon is a versatile material that can be used in a range of applications, including automotive and aerospace industries.
• Moisture Absorption: Nylon can absorb moisture from the air, which can affect its mechanical properties and make it challenging to print with.
• High Melting Point: Nylon has a high melting point, which can make it challenging to print with and requires a printer with a heated bed and high-temperature extruder.

TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)

TPU, or thermoplastic polyurethane, is a flexible and rubber-like material used in 3D printing. It is known for its excellent elasticity, shock absorption, and resistance to wear and tear. TPU is a popular choice for creating objects that require flexibility, such as phone cases, watch bands, and shoe soles. It can also be used for creating objects that require impact resistance, such as protective gear and machine parts. TPU is a relatively easy material to print with and does not require a heated bed, which makes it accessible to beginners. Overall, TPU is a versatile and reliable material that offers a range of benefits for 3D printing applications that require flexibility, shock absorption, and impact resistance.

TPU Characteristics:

• Flexible and Rubber-Like: TPU is a flexible and rubber-like material that is known for its excellent elasticity and shock absorption.
• Wear and Rear Resistance: TPU is resistant to wear and tear, making it a popular choice for creating objects that require durability.
• Impact Resistance: TPU is also impact resistant, making it a suitable material for creating protective gear and machine parts.
• Easy to Print: TPU is a relatively easy material to print with and does not require a heated bed, which makes it accessible to beginners.
• Versatile: TPU is a versatile material that can be used in a range of applications, including phone cases, watch bands, and shoe soles.

Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate is a strong and durable thermoplastic material used in 3D printing. It is known for its excellent impact resistance, transparency, and heat resistance. Polycarbonate is a popular choice for creating objects that require strength and durability, such as automotive parts and machine components. It is also used for creating objects that require clarity, such as lenses and light covers. Polycarbonate can be challenging to print with due to its high melting point and tendency to warp, which makes it necessary to use a heated bed and enclosure during printing. Overall, polycarbonate is a reliable and versatile material that offers a range of benefits for 3D printing applications that require strength, durability, and transparency.

Polycarbonate Characteristics:

• High-Strength and Durability: Polycarbonate is a strong and durable material that can withstand impact and resist breakage.
• Transparency: Polycarbonate is transparent, making it a popular choice for creating objects that require clarity, such as lenses and light covers.
• Heat Resistance:: Polycarbonate has a high melting point and is resistant to high temperatures, making it suitable for creating objects that require heat resistance, such as automotive parts and machine components.
• Challenging to Print: Polycarbonate can be challenging to print with due to its high melting point and tendency to warp, which makes it necessary to use a heated bed and enclosure during printing.
• Versatile: Polycarbonate is a versatile material that can be used in a range of applications, including automotive, aerospace, and industrial industries.

Resin

Resin is a popular material used by 3D printing services, particularly for creating highly detailed and intricate objects. Resin is a liquid material that solidifies when exposed to light, typically UV light, in a process called curing. Resin offers a high level of detail and precision, making it a popular choice for creating small and delicate objects such as jewelry, figurines, and dental implants. Resin is available in a range of colors and finishes, including opaque, transparent, and translucent. However, it is worth noting that resin can be more expensive than other materials and requires additional safety precautions due to its toxic nature. Overall, resin is a versatile and popular material for 3D printing applications that require high levels of detail and precision.

Resin Characteristics:

• High Level of Detail: Resin is known for its ability to produce highly detailed and intricate objects, making it a popular choice for creating small and delicate parts, such as jewelry and figurines.
• Range of Colours and finishes: Resin is available in a wide range of colors and finishes, including opaque, transparent, and translucent.
• Fast Curing Time: Resin has a relatively fast curing time, which can allow for quicker production times compared to other materials.
• Brittle: Resin can be more brittle than other materials, which can make it more susceptible to breakage or damage.
• Toxicity: Resin can be toxic to handle and requires additional safety precautions during use, such as proper ventilation and protective equipment.

Ceramic

Ceramic is a popular material for 3D printing, particularly for creating objects that require high levels of heat resistance and durability. Ceramic is a hard and dense material that offers excellent wear resistance and dimensional stability, making it ideal for applications such as industrial parts, dental implants, and even home decor items. Although ceramic can be brittle, its high hardness and dimensional stability make it a popular choice for creating functional objects. However, it is worth noting that ceramic can be more challenging to print with than other materials and may require specialized equipment and expertise. Overall, ceramic is a versatile and durable material that offers unique properties for 3D printing applications.

Ceramic Characteristics:

• High Heat resistance: Ceramic is known for its high heat resistance, which makes it ideal for creating objects that require resistance to high temperatures.
• High Hardness: Ceramic is a hard and dense material that offers high levels of wear resistance and durability.
• Brittle: Ceramic can be brittle, which makes it more susceptible to cracking or breaking if exposed to impact or stress.
• High Dimensional Stability: Ceramic offers high dimensional stability, which means that objects printed with ceramic tend to maintain their shape and size even under exposure to heat or other environmental factors.
• Limited Colour Options: Ceramic materials are often available in a limited range of colors, as the material itself is naturally light in color. However, ceramic can be glazed or painted after printing to add color and texture.

3D Printing Metal

Metal is a popular material for 3D printing, particularly for creating objects that require high strength, durability, and heat resistance. Metal 3D printing technologies such as powder bed fusion and binder jetting allow for the production of complex geometries and high-performance parts that would be difficult or impossible to create using traditional manufacturing methods. Metal 3D printing also offers a wide range of material options, including steel, titanium, aluminum, and more exotic metals such as cobalt-chrome and inconel. However, metal 3D printing can be more expensive than other materials and requires specialized equipment and expertise. Despite these challenges, metal 3D printing continues to grow in popularity and has numerous applications in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and medical.

Metal for 3D Printing Characteristics:

• High-Strength: Metals are known for their high strength and durability, making them ideal for creating parts that require high load-bearing capabilities.
• Thermal Conductivity: Metals have high thermal conductivity, which means that they can quickly transfer heat, making them ideal for creating parts that require efficient heat dissipation.
• Corrosion Resistance: Some metals offer excellent corrosion resistance, making them ideal for creating parts that will be exposed to harsh environmental conditions.
• High Density: Metals are dense materials that offer high levels of mass and stability, making them ideal for creating parts that require weight and balance.
• Material Cost: The cost of metal 3D printing can be high, especially for materials such as titanium and aluminum, which are more expensive than traditional manufacturing methods.