3D Printing Materials Library
The complete 3D printing materials guide for everything Upsurge runs. UV-resistant outdoor parts: ASA. Flame-retardant enclosures: PC FR. Biocompatible skin-contact components and isotropic production parts: PA12 on HP Multi Jet Fusion. Compare materials in the table below, or talk to an engineer if you're deciding between two options.
MJF Material: PA12 Nylon
PA12 nylon printed on HP Multi Jet Fusion. Isotropy means the engineer doesn't have to plan cross-sections, wall thicknesses, or stress concentrators around build orientation — mechanical properties match within roughly 5% in each axis. PA12 holds form to 175 °C under light load and 95 °C under structural load, and absorbs less water than PA6, which matters for parts that move between dry and humid service. Material certifications cover USP Class I–VI biocompatibility for intact skin contact, CPSIA toy safety, RoHS, and REACH. Full process detail, build envelope, and certification list are on the HP Multi Jet Fusion service page (/mjf-3d-printing/).
| Property | Value | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength (XY) | 48 MPa | ASTM D638 |
| Tensile modulus (XY) | 1,700 MPa | ASTM D638 |
| Elongation at break (XY) | 20% | ASTM D638 |
| HDT @ 0.45 MPa (Z) | 175 °C | ASTM D648 |
| HDT @ 1.82 MPa (Z) | 95 °C | ASTM D648 |
| Density (printed) | 1.01 g/cm³ | — |
| Tolerance, XY, 0–30 mm | ±0.25 mm | Cpk 1.33 |
Typical applications: Functional prototypes, end-use enclosures, drill jigs and assembly fixtures, low-volume production runs of 10–2,000 parts, parts with internal channels or lattice structures, and wearables or orthotics in contact with intact skin.
18 Engineering Plastics on FDM
Where PA12 on MJF covers the broad middle, FDM widens the catalog to specific properties: up to 5× the tensile modulus of PA12 with CF-reinforced filaments, UV resistance on ASA, flame retardancy on PC FR, ESD safety, and rubber-like flex on TPU.
See FDM 3D Printing →FDM 3D Printing Materials by Category
21 engineering plastics on FDM across 6 material families. FDM properties run higher in plane (XY) than across layers (Z) — part orientation drives more of the strength outcome than on MJF.
PLA Family
3 materialsVisual prototypes, display models, signage, and low-stress functional parts. HDT capped at ~57 °C — not for heat, outdoor, or vehicle applications.
PETG / PET Family
6 materialsBalance of toughness and chemical resistance. PET-CF17 reaches HDT @ 1.8 MPa of 105 °C at 5,481 MPa modulus — moisture-insensitive in service.
Styrenics Family
3 materialsASA carries the best UV and weather resistance in the FDM catalog. ABS for impact-resistant prototypes needing higher heat than PETG.
Nylon Family
7 materialsHighest tensile strength and heat resistance in the FDM catalog. PA6-CF20: 109 MPa tensile, HDT @ 1.8 MPa 173 °C, 8,637 MPa modulus — stiffest FDM material. Glass-fiber grades hold more impact tolerance than CF at comparable HDT.
Polycarbonate Family
1 materialPC FR is the only FR-rated material in the FDM catalog. HDT @ 1.8 MPa 108 °C, lowest water absorption of any FDM material at 0.12%.
Flexible Family
1 materialTPU 68D: Shore 68D hardness, greater than 650% elongation at break in XY — the only FDM material that bends and recovers like rubber. Default for gaskets, bumpers, and anti-vibration mounts.
How Do I Choose a 3D Printing Material?
Real material decisions usually carry two or three requirements at once — heat under load and chemical resistance, stiffness and lightweight, ESD safety and mechanical performance. Lead with the property the part can't compromise on, and treat the rest as constraints. If a part needs two properties at once, you may be choosing between two materials — the full comparison table below has the data side by side.
| If the part needs… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Isotropic strength + complex geometry + low-to-mid volume | PA12 (MJF) |
| Highest tensile strength | PA6-CF20 (FDM) — 109 MPa, dry XY |
| Highest stiffness (modulus) | PA6-CF20 (FDM) — 8,637 MPa, dry XY |
| Heat under structural load | PA6-CF20 (FDM) — HDT @ 1.8 MPa 173 °C |
| Heat under light load | PA6-CF20 (FDM) — HDT @ 0.45 MPa 215 °C |
| Outdoor / UV exposure | ASA or ASA-CF08 (FDM) |
| Flame retardancy | PC FR (FDM) |
| ESD-safe (electronics) | PETG-ESD or PA612-ESD (FDM) |
| Rubber-like flexibility | TPU 68D (FDM) |
| Biocompatibility (intact skin) | PA12 (MJF) |
| Dimensional stability across humidity | PA12 (MJF) or PA12-CF10 (FDM) |
| Lowest-cost visual prototype | PLA Basic (FDM) |
| Tightest tolerances | PA12 (MJF) — see tolerance table above |
If your part needs multiple properties at once, talk to an engineer at upsurge3d.com/rfq/ before quoting.
Not sure which material fits?
Send the CAD file and tell us what the part has to do.
3D Printing Material Comparison
Every material Upsurge prints, with the four numbers that drive a yes or no on most parts: tensile strength, heat deflection under structural load, elongation at break, and typical use. Values are typical from printed specimens at supplier-recommended settings — real-part performance depends on geometry, orientation, and wall count.
| Material | Technology | Tensile XY (MPa) | HDT @ 1.8 MPa (°C) | Elongation XY (%) | Isotropy | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PA12 | MJF | 48 | 95 | 20 | Within ~5% (X, Y, Z) | Functional prototypes, enclosures, low-volume production |
| PLA Basic | FDM | 35 | 54 | 12.2 | XY > Z | Visual prototypes, display models |
| PLA-CF | FDM | 38 | 54 | 8.4 | XY > Z | Matte-finish prototypes |
| PLA Glow | FDM | 32 | 52 | 8.6 | XY > Z | Signage, safety markers, novelty |
| PETG Basic | FDM | 51 | 68 | 9.5 | XY > Z | Functional tools, structural prototypes |
| PETG-CF | FDM | 35 | 68 | 10.4 | XY > Z | Jigs, CF-look prototypes |
| PETG-rCF08 | FDM | 60 | 66 | 5.7 | XY > Z | Stiffer functional prototypes |
| PETG-ESD | FDM | 36 | 72 | 7.3 | XY > Z | ESD trays, electronics fixtures |
| PET-CF17 | FDM | 66 | 105 | 2.4 | XY > Z | High-stiffness jigs, heat tolerance |
| PET-GF15 (annealed) | FDM | 60 | 87 | 4.0 | XY > Z | Engineering parts, heat + stability |
| ABS | FDM | 33 | 84 | 10.5 | XY > Z | Automotive interior, enclosures |
| ASA | FDM | 37 | 92 | 9.2 | XY > Z | Outdoor parts, automotive exterior |
| ASA-CF08 | FDM | 44 | — | — | XY > Z | Outdoor rigid parts, drone frames |
| PAHT-CF | FDM | 92 | 170 | 8.4 | XY > Z | Machining fixtures, injection molds |
| PA6-GF | FDM | 75 | 158 | 3.9 | XY > Z | Heat-resistant structural nylon, GF-reinforced jigs |
| PA6-CF20 | FDM | 109 | 173 | 2.1 | XY > Z | Stiffest FDM material, brackets, jigs |
| PA6-GF25 | FDM | 80 | 157 | 2.4 | XY > Z | Structural prototypes, jigs |
| PA612-CF15 | FDM | 92 | 114 | 2.6 | XY > Z | Humidity-stable engineering parts |
| PA612-ESD | FDM | 84 | — | — | XY > Z | ESD housings for electronics |
| PA12-CF10 | FDM | 77 | 105 | 4.2 | XY > Z | Dimensionally stable nylon, outdoor |
| PC FR | FDM | 60 | 108 | 2.4 | XY > Z | Flame-retardant enclosures, casings |
| TPU 68D | FDM | 22 | — | >650 | XY > Z | Gaskets, bumpers, flexible parts |
HDT @ 1.8 MPa column uses structural-load values for direct cross-material comparison. "—" indicates the property is not applicable or not published by the material supplier. Ready to select a material? Get an instant quote at upsurge3d.com/quote/
Not sure which material is right?
Send the CAD file and a one-line description of what the part has to do. We'll match it to the right material — or flag it if nothing in the catalog fits.
Talk to an Engineer →FAQ
3D printing materials: common questions
Talk to an Engineer ↗PA6-CF20 on FDM has the highest tensile strength in the catalog at 109 MPa (dry, XY), with the highest Young's modulus at 8,637 MPa. Elongation is 2.1%, so it's brittle — not for impact loading. For strength balanced with toughness, PA12 on MJF at 48 MPa and 20% elongation usually fits better.
All FDM nylons. PA6 grades equilibrate around 3.3% moisture content, dropping tensile roughly 30% from dry values. Long-chain nylons absorb less — PA12-CF10 sits at 1.5%, PA612-CF15 at 2.2%. PA12 on MJF shifts only ~0.1–0.2% dimensionally across humidity, the most stable option in the catalog.
On MJF PA12 in Balanced mode, expect ±0.25 mm in XY and ±0.42 mm in Z on dimensions up to 30 mm at Cpk 1.33. Tolerances scale with size. FDM tolerances depend heavily on part orientation — features printed in the XY plane hold tighter than features bonded across Z layers. For tighter than ±0.05 mm, plan for secondary machining. See the tolerances and fits guide at /guides/tolerances-fits-3d-printing/ for the full breakdown.
Start with the property that has to be met — strength, heat, UV, ESD, flexibility, or biocompatibility — and use the selection matrix above to narrow to one or two candidates. If two materials look close, the comparison table has tensile, HDT, and elongation side by side. Still unsure? Send the CAD file with a one-line description and we'll match it to the right material.
Pick a Material, Get a Quote
Match a material to a part by sending the CAD file and a quick description of what the part has to do. We'll confirm the fit — or flag it if nothing in the catalog works.