Materials and Colors
All parts are printed by fused deposition modeling (FDM): a thermoplastic filament is melted and laid down layer by layer. Pick the material by how the part will be used.
| Material | Colors in stock | Stiffness | Toughness | Heat resistance | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | … | High | Low | Low | Lowest |
| PETG | … | Medium | Medium | Medium | Low |
| OPM | … | Medium | High | Medium | Medium |
Colors shown are what's in stock right now. Your exact price for each material appears as soon as you upload a file.
PLA
The default choice for most parts. PLA is stiff, holds fine detail, and costs the least. It's brittle compared with PETG and softens at fairly low temperatures, so keep it out of hot cars, direct summer sun and anything near a motor or heat source.
Good for: prototypes and fit checks, jigs and fixtures, enclosures, display models, organizers.
PETG
Tougher and more forgiving than PLA. PETG bends a little before it breaks, handles more heat, and resists many common chemicals and moisture. Surface detail is slightly softer than PLA.
Good for: snap fits and clips, brackets under load, outdoor parts, parts that see impact.
OPM (Outdoor Performance Material)
A modified PCTG, a close relative of PETG that's tougher and more impact-resistant. OPM is made for parts that live outside: it holds up to weather and rough handling better than PLA or PETG.
Good for: outdoor mounts and brackets, enclosures, garden and vehicle parts, anything that gets knocked around.
Need something else?
For metal, tight tolerances or high-temperature plastics, machining is usually the better process. Our sister company Subtract Manufacturing routes that work to vetted American machine shops.