Engineering 3D Printing Materials
Tough, dimensionally stable polymers for production-grade brackets, fixtures, jigs and structural parts.
Engineering parts work for a living — they take load, they cycle through temperatures, they survive shop floors. The materials below cover the working range. PETG is the default workhorse: tough, chemical-resistant, dimensionally stable, prints at low cost. ABS adds heat tolerance and an acetone-smoothable finish. ASA brings permanent outdoor capability. Polycarbonate doubles down on stiffness and impact at 2x cost. For fine-detail engineering parts below FDM's resolution, Formlabs Tough, Durable and Rigid engineering resins are quotable on the Form 4. Most jobs start with PETG and step up only when a specific requirement justifies it.
ENGINEERING 3D PRINTING MATERIALS FAQ
Polycarbonate has the highest tensile strength (65–72 MPa) and impact resistance in our FDM catalogue — roughly 5x ABS impact strength and 110°C+ heat tolerance. PETG follows at 50 MPa with better ductility. ABS at 38 MPa offers heat resistance and acetone smoothing. For maximum mechanical envelope, polycarbonate.
Yes — short-run production of 10–500 parts is a standard service. PETG and ABS handle most production duty (jigs, fixtures, brackets, line tooling); polycarbonate for high-load parts; ASA for outdoor production. We issue dimensional records and material data sheets on request. Trade pricing applies on volume.
PETG is the default engineering workhorse — tough, chemical-resistant, dimensionally stable, prints on a standard machine at low cost. ABS adds heat tolerance to 95°C. ASA adds permanent UV resistance for outdoor engineering. Polycarbonate adds maximum stiffness and impact. The choice usually starts with PETG and steps up only when a specific requirement justifies the cost.