Materials FAQ

Materials at 3DSPRO

• I can’t find the material I’m looking for on your website, what should I do?+

  3DSPRO offers a wide range of material by managing a reliable and diverse supplier network. Our website sometimes can't keep up to the speed of our suppliers aquiring and developing new materials, so please check with your customer success manager or success@3dspro.com if you cant find the one you want on our website.

• What materials can be used for 3D printing?+

  3D printing utilizes a wide variety of materials, including plastics, resins, metals, composites, ceramics, and concrete, each selected for its unique properties that make it suitable for different applications.

   

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Metal Materials

• What 3D printing materials are suitable for automotive?+

  For automotive applications, suitable 3D printing metal materials include titanium, steel, aluminum, and precious metals such as gold and silver.

  
  

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• What 3D printing materials are food-safe?+

  3D printing food-safe metals include stainless steel 316L, stainless steel 304, stainless steel 403, aluminum, etc.

   

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• Can metal be used in 3D printing?+

  Yes, metal can indeed be used in 3D printing and it’s a rapidly growing area in the field of additive manufacturing.

  
  

  The most common metal 3D printing process is Selective Laser Melting (SLM). SLM uses metal powders with a single melting temperature and fully melts the particles.

  
  

  Common materials for metal 3D printing include stainless steel, tool steels, titanium, aluminum, and Inconel. These metals are chosen for their strength, lightweight properties, heat and chemical resistance, and other desirable characteristics.

• What is the easiest metal to 3D print?+

  Aluminum is often cited as one of the easiest metals to 3D print because it’s lightweight, has good thermal and electrical conductivity, and is less prone to warping compared to other metals. It’s also well-suited for printing complex designs and is commonly used in the automotive and aerospace industries for parts that benefit from weight reduction.

Plastic Materials

• What 3D printing materials are suitable for medical use?+

  Several 3D printing materials suitable for medical use include PLA, ABS, PEEK, PEKK, PC, PMMA, and BioMed resins, each with unique properties and applications.

  
  

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• What 3D printing materials are suitable for dentistry?+

  Dental 3D printing materials are designed specifically for biocompatibility, aesthetics, and safety in dental applications. Resins are the most common materials for dental 3D printing.

  
  

  Dental 3D printing resins are specifically formulated for the dental industry and can be used for a wide variety of applications, including modeling, surgical guides, investment molds, and occlusal splints. These resins are ideal for producing highly detailed models and accurate casting purposes.

• How many types of FDM 3D printing materials?+

  There are numerous types of FDM 3D printing materials, such as ABS, PET, PLA, PA, TPU, etc.

   

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• What are the differences between ABS and PLA 3D printer filament?+

  ABS and PLA are two common FDM 3D printing materials; PLA is easier to print and more environmentally friendly, while ABS has higher durability and heat resistance and is more suitable for functional parts.

  
  

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• What is fiberglass 3D printing material?+

  Fiberglass is a 3D printing material that consists of extremely fine strands of glass mixed into fibers.

  
  

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• What 3D printing materials are heat-resistant?+

  Heat-resistant 3D printing plastics include nylon, PC, CPE+, ABS, ASA, ePLA, etc.

  
  

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• How many types of 3D printing plastic materials?+

  3D printing plastic materials include thermoplastics like ABS and PLA, resins for SLA and DLP printers, plastic powders for SLS and Multi Jet Fusion printers, and filaments for FDM printers.

  
  

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Flexible Materials

• What 3D printing materials are flexible?+

  Flexible 3D printing materials are typically made from thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), including TPU, TPC, TPA, and soft PLA, each of which offers varying degrees of elasticity, durability, and heat resistance depending on its formulation.

   

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• What 3D printing materials are suitable for soft robotics?+

  Soft robots are characterized by robots that are soft and elastically deformable, using various 3D printing materials such as TPE, SMP, silicone, hydrogel, elastomer, self-healing materials, and shape memory polymers.

  
  

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Material Costs

• How much do 3D printing materials cost?+

  The cost of 3D printing materials varies widely depending on type and quality, with FDM filaments ranging from $15 to $400 per kilogram, resins from $20 to $200 per liter, and SLS powders from $100 to $250 per kilogram, plus additional costs for storage and accessories.

  
  

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Other Materials

• What 3D printing materials are suitable for construction?+

  Concrete, sand, mortar, and clay can be 3D printed and they are popular materials for 3D printing in construction.