PLA is a biodegradable plastic made from renewable materials like corn starch. It has moderate rigidity but low impact and heat resistance, making it ideal for non-functional prototypes and visual models where appearance and precision are prioritized over strength and durability.
ABS
ABS is a strong, impact-resistant thermoplastic with good toughness and higher heat resistance than PLA, making it suitable for functional parts that need durability, and it is commonly used for mechanical components, enclosures, protective housings, and engineering prototypes that may experience stress, impact, or elevated temperatures.
PETG
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol-modified) is a strong, semi-flexible thermoplastic with good impact resistance and higher durability than PLA. It has moderate heat resistance, sitting between PLA and ABS, and offers a balance of strength and flexibility that makes it less brittle than PLA but not as rigid as ABS. PETG is commonly used for functional parts, mechanical components, protective enclosures, brackets, containers, and parts that need to withstand stress, moderate heat, or repeated use while still maintaining some flexibility.
TPU
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) is a flexible, rubber-like material with very high elasticity and excellent impact resistance, allowing it to bend, stretch, and absorb shock without breaking. It has low rigidity but strong durability against wear, abrasion, and repeated flexing, and it performs well in applications requiring flexibility rather than stiffness. TPU is commonly used for protective cases, vibration dampers, seals, gaskets, wheels, grips, and other parts that need to deform under force and return to their original shape.
