MATERIAL DECISION PATH
CHOOSE BY BEHAVIOR AND USE.
Start with the part requirement, then choose a material your printer can safely handle. Do not select material only by the highest advertised strength.
USE
CASE
FIRST
CASE
FIRST
| Material | Best use | Common problem | First checks | Next path |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA / PLA+ | Display pieces, prototypes, easy detail | Heat creep, poor first layer, brittle old spool | Clean bed, Z offset, cooling, 195–220°C range | PLA guide |
| PETG | Tough functional parts and moderate outdoor use | Stringing, blobs, plate damage if too close | Dry filament, reduce squish, stable travel | PETG guide |
| TPU | Flexible parts, bumpers and vibration control | Buckling, under-extrusion and stringing | Slow speed, low retraction, constrained feed path | TPU guide |
| ABS / ASA | Heat resistance and stronger outdoor use | Warping, cracking and fumes | Enclosure, ventilation, bed heat, draft control | ABS / ASA guide |