3DOrder
Material selection for 3D printing
The right 3D-printing material follows from the actual application, not from a universal ranking. Temperature, loads, environment, geometry and the required surface need to be considered together. This guide explains which information supports a sound selection and why technical values must always match the actual material and manufacturing profile.
Which requirements determine material selection?
For a technical project, the following questions are particularly important:
- Mechanical loading: Is the part exposed to tension, compression, bending, impacts or repeated movement?
- Temperature: What normal and short-term maximum temperatures will it reach?
- Environment: Will it be exposed to moisture, UV light, cleaning agents or other substances?
- Fits and tolerances: Which dimensions, holes and interfaces are function-critical?
- Surface and detail: Is function, appearance or a combination of both most important?
- Quantity and finishing: Is one part, a test sample or a small batch required?
For an enquiry, intended use, dimensions, photographs and known loads are therefore more useful than choosing a material name in advance.
PETG in 3DOrder products
Many standard products in the 3DOrder range are expressly identified as PETG on their individual product page. That information applies only to the specific item. Care, temperature limits, supplied contents and excluded uses are stated with the product details.
General material profiles deliberately avoid universal promises about strength, UV, chemicals or temperature. The finished part is also influenced by print orientation, wall thickness, layer structure, geometry and the actual filament used.
FDM/FFF and SLA are manufacturing processes
FDM or FFF processes filament layer by layer through material extrusion. Depending on design, it suits many functional components, enclosures, replacement parts, prototypes and larger objects. Visible layer lines and direction-dependent part behaviour need to be considered in design and use.
SLA works with liquid resin and light-based curing. It is considered particularly when fine detail or an even surface is required. Washing, post-curing and selecting a resin suited to the intended use are part of the process.
The manufacturing process does not replace a material assessment: filaments and resins are available in different formulations with their own data sheets and limits.
Why technical values are not universal
A value in a material data sheet describes a tested material under defined conditions. It is not automatically a commitment for every printed part. Different filament formulations, part orientation, wall thickness, infill, moisture and finishing can change the result.
For technical applications, the data sheet of the material actually used, the part design and the real load case are assessed together. A binding suitability or safety statement is only made in the individual quotation or on the specific product page.
Checklist for material guidance
- Describe the function and installation situation.
- State normal and maximum temperature.
- Identify load direction, frequency and possible impacts.
- Mention contact with water, UV, cleaning agents or chemicals.
- Mark functional dimensions, mating components and required fits.
- Add preferred colour, surface, quantity and target date.
Photos, dimensioned sketches, CAD data or an original component support the initial assessment.
Special and safety-relevant applications
Food contact, medical devices, structural or pressure-bearing parts, vehicle applications, electrical functions, open flames and permanently high temperatures require separate assessment. A similar outer shape alone does not make a printed component equivalent to the original.
If the requirements, testing or necessary certification cannot be met reliably, suitability will not be promised.
Coordinate material and manufacturing together
The 3D-printing services page explains the process for modelling, FDM/FFF and SLA projects. Additional short answers are available in the frequently asked questions.
Request material guidance for your project
Coordinate material, process and file
Material selection always belongs to the actual geometry and manufacturing process. These pages explain the next steps: