There are tons of materials for 3D printing, and the best one depends on what you’re making or rather what technology do you use. Directly in my studio I use FDM/FFF 3d printing technology, however, I do use other 3D print tech in collaborations. Here’s a breakdown of the most common ones across different 3D printing technologies:

FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) Materials

These are thermoplastics that come as filaments or pellets.

  • PLA (Polylactic Acid) – Biodegradable, easy to print, not very heat-resistant.
  • rPLA – Recycled version of PLA featuring smaller range of colors.
  • ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) – Stronger than PLA, heat-resistant, but warps easily.
  • PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol) – Strong, impact-resistant, food-safe, slightly flexible.
  • rPETG – Recycled version of PETG - featuring small range of colors
  • TPU/TPE (Thermoplastic Polyurethane/Elastomer) – Flexible, rubber-like, great for gaskets or wearables.
  • Nylon (Polyamide) – Tough, abrasion-resistant, but absorbs moisture.
  • Polycarbonate (PC) – Extremely strong, heat-resistant, but tricky to print.
  • Carbon Fiber Infused (CF-PLA, CF-Nylon, etc.) – Stiff, lightweight, but abrasive to nozzles.

SLA/DLP (Resin-Based) Materials

These are liquid photopolymers cured by UV light.

  • Standard Resin – High detail but brittle.
  • Tough/Engineering Resin – More impact-resistant, mimics ABS-like properties.
  • Flexible Resin – Rubber-like properties.
  • High-Temperature Resin – Can withstand high heat, good for tooling.
  • Castable Resin – Burns away cleanly, used for jewelry or dental applications.
  • Biocompatible Resin – Safe for medical and dental applications.

SLS/MJF (Powder-Based) Materials

These use powdered materials fused by lasers or heat.

  • Nylon (PA11, PA12, PA6, etc.) – Durable, strong, great for functional parts.
  • TPU (Flexible powder) – Used for soft, flexible parts like shoe midsoles.
  • Alumide (Nylon + Aluminum powder) – Stiffer than pure nylon, slightly metallic.
  • Metal Powders (Stainless Steel, Titanium, Aluminum, etc.) – Used in metal 3D printing.

Metal 3D Printing Materials

For DMLS, SLM, and Binder Jetting.

  • Stainless Steel – Strong, corrosion-resistant.
  • Titanium – Lightweight, strong, biocompatible.
  • Aluminum – Lightweight, good thermal conductivity.
  • Inconel – High-temperature and corrosion-resistant, used in aerospace.
  • Copper – Excellent thermal and electrical conductivity.

Binder Jetting Materials

1. Metals (Used in combination with sintering or infiltration)

  • Stainless Steel (316L, 17-4PH, etc.) – Strong, corrosion-resistant, and commonly used in industrial applications.
  • Inconel – High heat and corrosion resistance, ideal for aerospace and high-temperature environments.
  • Titanium – Lightweight, strong, and biocompatible, used in aerospace and medical applications.
  • Copper & Bronze – High thermal and electrical conductivity, great for heat exchangers and electronics.
  • Tool Steels (M2, H13, etc.) – Used for making strong tooling and dies.

2. Sand & Silica-Based Materials (Used for molds and casting)

  • Silica Sand – Used to create molds and cores for metal casting, allowing for highly complex designs.
  • Ceramic-Based Sands – For high-temperature-resistant molds used in industrial casting.

3. Ceramics (For industrial and artistic applications)

  • Alumina (Al₂O₃) – High-temperature resistance, used for electronics and industrial components.
  • Silicon Carbide (SiC) – High hardness and thermal resistance, used in aerospace and automotive.
  • Zirconia (ZrO₂) – Tough and wear-resistant, often used in medical implants.

4. Polymers & Composites

  • Gypsum-Based Powders – Used in full-color 3D printing, common for architectural models and figurines.
  • PMMA (Polymethyl Methacrylate, aka Acrylic) – Used in lost-wax casting applications.