Three filaments, three personalities
In FDM printing (Fused Deposition Modeling) the printer melts a plastic filament and lays it down layer by layer. Makernaut prints FDM in-house in three materials: PLA, PETG and ABS. They all use the same process and so show the same visible layer lines, but they behave very differently when things get warm, when they take a knock or when the part lives outdoors.
PLA, PETG and ABS comparison table
| Property | PLA | PETG | ABS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat resistance | Low | Medium | High |
| Impact strength | Low, rather brittle | Good, tough | Good |
| Stiffness | High | Medium, slightly flexible | Medium |
| Outdoors and UV | Not recommended | Reasonable | Moderate, may yellow |
| Chemical resistance | Limited | Good | Medium |
| Finishing | Sandable, softens with heat | Harder to sand | Easy to sand, glue and paint |
| From | €0.15/cm³ | €0.35/cm³ | €0.32/cm³ |
The qualitative ratings compare these three filaments with each other. All prices are starting prices per cm³, excl. VAT and excl. finishing.
PLA: affordable and dimensionally stable
PLA is the standard filament and, from €0.15/cm³, the most affordable material we offer. It prints cleanly, hardly shrinks and gives sharp corners. That makes PLA ideal for concept models, scale models and early prototypes that check shape and size.
The downside: PLA softens at temperatures you quickly reach in a car in the sun or next to a machine; according to common datasheets it typically softens at around 55-60 °C. PLA is also stiff and rather brittle, and doesn't belong in parts that stay outdoors for long.
Choose PLA when the part stays indoors, sees little load and mainly needs to show an idea at low cost.
PETG: the strong all-rounder
PETG belongs to the same family as the material used for drinks bottles. It is tougher than PLA: it bends rather than snaps. It tolerates more heat (typically around 75-80 °C according to common datasheets), resists many chemicals well and holds up reasonably outdoors. The starting price is €0.35/cm³.
PETG has a slightly glossy surface and is a little less stiff than PLA. Sanding is harder work because the material is tough. For jigs, holders, brackets and mechanical parts that need to take some punishment, PETG is often the logical choice.
ABS: when heat and impacts matter
ABS is the classic engineering plastic, familiar from injection-moulded housings. It is impact resistant and keeps its shape at higher temperatures than PLA and PETG (typically around 95-105 °C according to common datasheets). The starting price is €0.32/cm³.
ABS sands, glues and paints well, which helps when the part needs to look tidy. It does shrink more during printing, so large flat parts can warp. Under prolonged sunlight ABS can yellow and become more brittle.
Worked example: 80 cm³ in three materials
Take a bracket with a volume of 80 cm³. In PLA it costs from €12.00, in ABS from €25.60 and in PETG from €28.00, per part and excl. VAT.
Volume times material price is a starting point. FDM isn't in Quotebase yet: you request a custom quote and within one working day get a price that takes infill, print orientation and any finishing into account.
Which filament should you choose?
- Choose PLA for concept models, scale models and early prototypes that stay indoors.
- Choose PETG for functional parts, jigs and fixtures, or when the part goes outdoors or meets chemicals.
- Choose ABS when the part gets warm, has to absorb impacts or needs sanding and painting.
- If you need a smooth surface, fine detail or transparency, resin SLA is a better choice than FDM.
Design tips for FDM
- Run the load along the layers: FDM parts are weakest at right angles to them.
- Avoid large, thin flat plates in ABS; add ribs to prevent warping.
- Allow for layer lines on sloped faces when appearance matters.
- Mention in your request where the part will be used: indoors, outdoors, hot or under load.