Choosing an FDM material

PLA prints easily and holds detail for concept models. It can soften in a car or near hot equipment. Use it for shape, not as a default “strong” prototype.

PETG is tougher than PLA and happier in humidity. Layer lines can stay obvious in clear colours. It is a fair start for covers and handles. We do not repeat a food-contact claim without the filament maker’s document.

ABS can take more heat. Acetone vapour smoothing is not inside the automatic price. Warp on wide bases is real. ASA is often described as a more outdoor-friendly cousin of ABS. We still do not write a five-year outdoor life; only a material datasheet can.

TPU is flexible. It can trial a bumper or a gasket. It does not replace a rigid bearing or a cut metal thread. Slice time is usually longer.

Write down indoor or outdoor, impact, and whether it must flex. Then pick draft, standard or high separately. The material does not set the layer height by itself. See how the price is built and FDM service.