B3D

What we stock, and what it is for.

Which material suits your part?

FDM melts a thermoplastic through a nozzle and builds the part layer by layer. The filament decides how strong the part is, how much heat it takes, whether it survives sunlight, and how much it moves on the plate.

Not sure which fits? That is usually a two-minute conversation — ask us.

PLA filament

PLA

Polylactic acid

The easy one. Made from organic material rather than petroleum, and the filament most parts start in.

Nozzle190–220 °C
Bed50–60 °C

Good at

  • Easiest material to print
  • Holds fine detail
  • Barely warps
  • Food safe

Watch for

  • Softens in a hot car
  • Poor UV resistance — not for outdoors
  • More brittle than most
PETG filament

PETG

Polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified

The middle ground. Tougher than PLA, far easier than ABS, and fine outdoors.

Nozzle230–250 °C
Bed70–85 °C

Good at

  • UV resistant
  • Tough and slightly flexible
  • Barely warps
  • Food safe

Watch for

  • Strings across gaps
  • Bonds poorly to itself
  • Scratches more easily than ABS
ABS filament

ABS

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene

The workshop standard. Tough, heat tolerant, and it sands, glues and paints better than anything else here.

Nozzle230–250 °C
Bed95–110 °C

Good at

  • Impact resistant
  • Good heat resistance
  • Sands, bonds and vapour-smooths well

Watch for

  • Warps without an enclosure
  • Shrinks as it cools
  • Needs ventilation
ASA filament

ASA

Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate

ABS with the UV weakness engineered out. The default for anything living outdoors.

Nozzle240–260 °C
Bed90–110 °C

Good at

  • Excellent UV and weather resistance
  • Holds its colour in sunlight
  • As tough as ABS

Watch for

  • Warps like ABS
  • Needs ventilation
ABS-GF filament

ABS-GF

Glass fibre filled ABS

ABS stiffened with chopped glass fibre. For parts that must hold their shape under load.

Nozzle240–260 °C
Bed100–110 °C

Good at

  • Much stiffer than plain ABS
  • Better dimensional stability
  • Warps less than ABS

Watch for

  • More brittle
  • Abrasive — needs a hardened nozzle
  • Matte, slightly rough finish
PC-ABS filament

PC-ABS

Polycarbonate ABS blend

Most of polycarbonate’s strength and heat tolerance, with ABS’s manners on the printer.

Nozzle250–275 °C
Bed100–110 °C

Good at

  • Very high impact strength
  • Handles more heat than ABS
  • Easier to print than pure PC

Watch for

  • Absorbs moisture — keep it dry
  • Warps
  • Needs a hot end that reaches 275 °C
PA Nylon filament

PA Nylon

Polyamide, easy-print grade

Tough, semi-flexible and wear resistant. The right answer for gears, hinges and anything that rubs.

Nozzle250–270 °C
Bed60–80 °C

Good at

  • Excellent wear resistance
  • Semi-flexible rather than brittle
  • High impact strength

Watch for

  • Absorbs moisture readily — dry before use
  • Warps without an enclosure
  • Expands slightly in humid air
PET-CF17 filament

PET-CF17

Carbon fibre filled PET, 17%

PET stiffened with carbon fibre. Dimensionally stable, matte black, and light for its rigidity.

Nozzle250–280 °C
Bed70–90 °C

Good at

  • Very stiff
  • Excellent dimensional stability
  • Barely warps
  • Matte finish hides layer lines

Watch for

  • Brittle under sharp impact
  • Abrasive — hardened nozzle required
  • Layer bonding weaker than plain PETG
TPU 90A filament

TPU 90A

Thermoplastic polyurethane

The flexible one. Rubber-like parts that bend, stretch and spring back.

Nozzle210–230 °C
Bed30–50 °C

Good at

  • Genuinely flexible
  • High abrasion resistance
  • Does not warp
  • Excellent layer adhesion

Watch for

  • Slow to print
  • Absorbs moisture — keep it dry
  • Hard to print on a Bowden setup
Ask for a price Resin or FDM? Ask which material