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Which material should you use?
Start from what the part has to survive: load, heat, chemicals, wear, looks. Then check it against the process and the budget. 48 materials principals run every day, each rendered in our studio from the builder's own geometry.
Alloy steel1
Spring steel1
Titanium1
Commodity plastics3
High-performance plastics1
Every property, side by side
48 materials
| ABSCommodity plastics | 1.05 | 43 | — | 80 | $$$$$ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acetal (POM)Engineering plastics | 1.41 | 62 | — | 100 | $$$$$ |
| Acrylic (PMMA)Engineering plastics | 1.19 | 70 | — | 80 | $$$$$ |
| Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum | 2.68 | 228 | 193 | 150 | $$$$$ |
| Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum | 2.70 | 310 | 276 | 150 | $$$$$ |
| Aluminum 6063-T5Aluminum | 2.70 | 186 | 145 | 150 | $$$$$ |
| Aluminum 7075-T6Aluminum | 2.81 | 572 | 503 | 120 | $$$$$ |
| Aluminum A380 (die cast)Aluminum | 2.71 | 324 | 159 | 150 | $$$$$ |
| Brass C360 (free-cutting)Copper alloys | 8.49 | 400 | 310 | — | $$$$$ |
| Cast urethane (polyurethane)Engineering plastics | 1.15 | 50 | — | — | $$$$$ |
| Copper C110 (ETP)Copper alloys | 8.89 | 290 | 250 | — | $$$$$ |
| Cordura nylon 1000DTextiles | 1.14 | — | — | — | $$$$$ |
| EPDM rubberElastomers | 1.15 | 12 | — | 150 | $$$$$ |
| FKM fluoroelastomer (Viton)Elastomers | 1.85 | 12 | — | 204 | $$$$$ |
| High-density polyethylene (HDPE)Commodity plastics | 0.95 | 26 | — | 80 | $$$$$ |
| Music wire (ASTM A228)Spring steel | 7.85 | 2070 | — | 120 | $$$$$ |
| Neoprene (CR)Elastomers | 1.35 | 14 | — | 100 | $$$$$ |
| Nitrile rubber (NBR)Elastomers | 1.20 | 14 | — | 100 | $$$$$ |
| Nylon 12 (PA12) for 3D printingEngineering plastics | 1.01 | 48 | — | — | $$$$$ |
| Nylon 66 (PA66)Engineering plastics | 1.14 | 83 | — | 100 | $$$$$ |
| Nylon 66, 30% glass-filled (PA66-GF30)Engineering plastics | 1.37 | 190 | — | 120 | $$$$$ |
| PBT (polybutylene terephthalate)Engineering plastics | 1.31 | 55 | — | 120 | $$$$$ |
| PC/ABS blendEngineering plastics | 1.14 | 55 | — | — | $$$$$ |
| PEEK (polyether ether ketone)High-performance plastics | 1.30 | 98 | — | 250 | $$$$$ |
| Phosphor bronze C510 (spring temper)Copper alloys | 8.86 | 720 | — | — | $$$$$ |
| Polycarbonate (PC)Engineering plastics | 1.20 | 65 | — | 115 | $$$$$ |
| Polyester 600DTextiles | 1.38 | — | — | — | $$$$$ |
| Polypropylene (PP)Commodity plastics | 0.91 | 33 | — | 100 | $$$$$ |
| Powder metal FC-0208 (copper steel)Powder metal | 6.70 | 410 | — | — | $$$$$ |
| Powder metal FN-0205 (nickel steel)Powder metal | 6.90 | 340 | — | — | $$$$$ |
| Powder metal SS-316L (stainless)Powder metal | 6.70 | 330 | — | — | $$$$$ |
| Silicone rubber (VMQ)Elastomers | 1.15 | 8 | — | 200 | $$$$$ |
| Stainless steel 17-4 PH (H900)Stainless steel | 7.78 | 1379 | 1275 | 315 | $$$$$ |
| Stainless steel 302 (spring temper)Stainless steel | 7.92 | 1720 | — | 288 | $$$$$ |
| Stainless steel 303Stainless steel | 8.00 | 620 | 240 | — | $$$$$ |
| Stainless steel 304Stainless steel | 8.00 | 505 | 215 | 925 | $$$$$ |
| Stainless steel 316Stainless steel | 8.00 | 580 | 290 | 925 | $$$$$ |
| Stainless steel 430Stainless steel | 7.75 | 483 | 310 | 815 | $$$$$ |
| Steel 1008 cold-rolled (CRS)Carbon steel | 7.87 | 330 | 205 | — | $$$$$ |
| Steel 1018 (cold drawn)Carbon steel | 7.87 | 440 | 370 | — | $$$$$ |
| Steel 1045 (cold drawn)Carbon steel | 7.87 | 625 | 530 | — | $$$$$ |
| Steel 12L14 (leaded free-machining)Carbon steel | 7.87 | 540 | 415 | — | $$$$$ |
| Steel 4140 (annealed)Alloy steel | 7.85 | 655 | 415 | — | $$$$$ |
| Steel A36 (structural)Carbon steel | 7.85 | 450 | 250 | — | $$$$$ |
| Titanium Grade 5 (Ti-6Al-4V)Titanium | 4.43 | 950 | 880 | 400 | $$$$$ |
| TPE (thermoplastic elastomer)Elastomers | 1.00 | 7 | — | 100 | $$$$$ |
| Zinc Zamak 3Zinc | 6.60 | 283 | 221 | 100 | $$$$$ |
| Zinc Zamak 5Zinc | 6.60 | 331 | 269 | 100 | $$$$$ |
Typical published values at room temperature for the named temper or grade. Properties vary by supplier, form and heat treatment; specify the standard and condition on your drawing.
Try it in your part.
Swap materials in the builder and watch price, weight and DFM change as you go.