SANSIL 3D
Choosing a material
Material comparison
20 materials available, with their real limits. The temperature shown is heat deflection — the point where the part starts to move, not where it melts.
| Material | Price | Temperature | Toughness | Flexibility | Outdoor | Colours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA Polylactic acid | € | 55 °C | no | 101 | ||
| PETG Glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate | € | 70 °C | no | 17 | ||
| ABS Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene | € | 90 °C | no | 11 | ||
| ASA Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate | €€ | 90 °C | yes | 6 | ||
| TPU Thermoplastic polyurethane | €€ | 80 °C | no | 13 | ||
| PA6-CF Carbon-fibre-filled polyamide 6 | €€€€ | 120 °C continuous | no | 1 | ||
| PC Polycarbonate | €€€€ | 110 to 120 °C | no | 4 | ||
| PC-FR Flame-retardant polycarbonate, UL94 V-0 rated | €€€€€ | 110 to 120 °C | no | 3 | ||
| PPS-CF Carbon-filled polyphenylene sulphide | €€€€€ | up to 200 °C | no | 1 | ||
| PLA-CF Carbon-fibre reinforced polylactic acid | € | 60 °C | no | 7 | ||
| PETG-CF Carbon-fibre reinforced PETG | €€ | 80 °C | no | 6 | ||
| PP Polypropylene | €€ | 95 °C | no | 2 | ||
| ABS-GF Glass-fibre reinforced ABS | €€€ | 95 °C | no | 6 | ||
| ASA-CF Carbon-fibre reinforced ASA | €€€ | 95 °C | yes | 1 | ||
| ASA-Aero Low-density foaming ASA | €€€ | 90 °C | yes | 1 | ||
| PA6-GF Glass-fibre reinforced polyamide 6 | €€€€ | 120 °C | no | 5 | ||
| PAHT-CF High-temperature carbon-fibre polyamide | €€€€€ | 130 °C | no | 1 | ||
| PET-CF Carbon-fibre reinforced PET | €€€€ | 130 °C | no | 1 | ||
| PPA-CF Carbon-fibre reinforced polyphthalamide | €€€€€ | 180 °C | no | 1 | ||
| PVA Polyvinyl alcohol, water-soluble support | €€€ | 50 °C | no | 1 |
The stars compare our materials against each other, not 3D printing against machining. A printed part is still anisotropic: it is stronger in the plane of the layers than across them. What 3D printing will never do.
Five questions settle it
- Will the part live outdoors? Then ASA, and the discussion ends there.
- Does it get hot? Above 55 °C, PLA is out. Above 70, PETG is out. Above 90, it has to be PC.
- Does it take load? PETG for everyday use, PA6-CF under constant load.
- Is appearance the priority? PLA, and it is also the cheapest.
- Does it need to flex? TPU, nothing else does that job.
If two answers contradict each other — a part that sits outdoors, gets hot and takes load — get in touch. That is exactly the kind of trade-off where advice is worth something, and it is included in the quote.