Material guidance

How to Choose the Right 3D Printer Filament

Q: What if I am still unsure?

Email support@3dma.au with your printer model and what you are making. Material recommendations are free and we enjoy giving them.

The right filament depends on three things: what the part is for, what finish you want, and what your printer can do. Answer those and the choice makes itself — this guide walks you through it.

What Our Filament Is Made From

Every 3DMA PLA is produced from NatureWorks pellets made in the United States — no recycled regrind and no cheap fillers. That includes the Core PLA range, not just the premium lines.

The same standard applies across the catalogue: premium imported raw materials in every material we sell, from Core PLA through to the engineering and composite range.

Start here

Start With What You Are Printing

Everyday Prints

Models, prototypes, classroom projects, general making. Start with Core PLA; step up to Ultra PLA+ High Flow if parts get handled or you print fast.

Shop Core PLA →

Prints That Need to Look Amazing

Gifts, display pieces, décor. Choose a finish: Matte for sophistication, Silk for shine, Marble or Wood for natural looks, Dual/Tri/Rainbow-Silk for colour drama, Luminous, Nebula or Glitter for effects.

Browse the PLA Range →

Parts With a Job to Do

Brackets, housings, fixtures, outdoor fittings, flexible parts. Compare PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU and the composite range below.

Shop Engineering →

Compare at a glance

Quick Material Comparison

Everyday PLA

The default choice for most prints. Easy, detailed, and the widest colour range in the catalogue.

Core PLA

Best at: Everyday prints, fine detail, the widest colour choice.
Watch for: Softens at 57 °C; brittle under sharp impact.
Numbers: 38 MPa tensile · 66.2 kJ/m² impact
Printer needs: Any FDM printer, brass nozzle, no enclosure.

Shop Core PLA →

Ultra PLA+ High Flow

Best at: PLA ease at high speed — rated to 600 mm/s — with tougher parts.
Watch for: Runs slightly hotter than Core PLA.
Numbers: 39 MPa tensile · 50.4 kJ/m² impact
Printer needs: Any FDM printer, brass nozzle.

Shop Ultra PLA+ →

PLA+ Translucent

Best at: Light-transmitting prints: lamp shades, LED diffusers, stained-glass effects.
Watch for: The stiffest, least forgiving PLA here — and the slowest.
Numbers: 55.4 MPa tensile, the strongest PLA in the range · 18.5 kJ/m² impact
Printer needs: Any FDM printer. Keep speed under 150 mm/s.

Shop Translucent PLA+ →

Engineering & functional

When the part has a job to do — load, heat, weather or flex.

Matte PETG

Best at: PETG durability with a glare-free matte surface that hides layer lines and resists fingerprints.
Watch for: Heat resistance is well below standard PETG, and it needs a 12 hour dry before printing.
Numbers: 49.8 MPa tensile · 33.2 kJ/m² impact · softens at 51 °C
Printer needs: 230–250 °C nozzle, 45–60 °C bed, cooling fan on.

Shop Matte PETG →

Ultra PETG High Flow

Best at: Tough functional parts and moisture resistance, at up to 600 mm/s.
Watch for: Strings if wet; dry it and tune retraction.
Numbers: 42 MPa tensile · 67.6 kJ/m² impact · softens at 72 °C
Printer needs: Any printer with a 240–270 °C nozzle.

Shop Ultra PETG →

Ultra ABS High Flow

Best at: Heat resistance, acetone smoothing and parts you can drill and tap.
Watch for: Warps without an enclosure; needs ventilation.
Numbers: 38 MPa tensile · softens at 85 °C
Printer needs: Enclosure plus ventilation, 230–270 °C nozzle.

Shop Ultra ABS →

Ultra TPU-95A High Flow

Best at: Genuinely flexible parts that bounce back: seals, grips, bumpers, phone cases.
Watch for: Must be dry. Slow on Bowden printers.
Numbers: Over 500% elongation · does not fracture on impact
Printer needs: Direct-drive extruder preferred. Under 200 mm/s.

Shop Ultra TPU-95A →

Core ASA

Best at: Outdoor parts. UV-stable, and the most heat-resistant material in the range.
Watch for: Same enclosure and ventilation demands as ABS.
Numbers: 35 MPa tensile · 65.5 kJ/m² impact · softens at 99 °C
Printer needs: Enclosure plus ventilation, 240–270 °C nozzle.

Shop Core ASA →

Filled & composite

Fibre and filler added to a base resin — for stiffness, stability or the look of another material.

Wood-Filled PLA

Best at: Real wood fibre for warm colour and grain. Sands and stains like timber.
Watch for: Filled, so use a 0.4 mm or larger nozzle.
Numbers: 41 MPa tensile · 32 kJ/m² impact
Printer needs: Any FDM printer, 190–230 °C nozzle.

Shop Wood-Filled PLA →

PLA-CF

Best at: Stiff, dimensionally stable technical parts in a matte technical finish.
Watch for: Stiffer is not tougher — impact drops well below Core PLA.
Numbers: 3341 MPa bending modulus, the stiffest PLA here · 24.7 kJ/m² impact
Printer needs: Hardened nozzle required.

Shop PLA-CF →

PETG-CF

Best at: Stiff and tough at once — the most practical all-round composite for brackets and mounts.
Watch for: Abrasive, and it must be dried before printing.
Numbers: 51 MPa tensile · 70.7 kJ/m² impact · softens at 74 °C
Printer needs: Hardened nozzle required.

Shop PETG-CF →

PETG-GF

Best at: Glass fibre instead of carbon, at a friendlier price, with the same working envelope.
Watch for: Abrasive, and it must be dried before printing.
Numbers: 51 MPa tensile · 70.7 kJ/m² impact · softens at 74 °C
Printer needs: Hardened nozzle required.

Shop PETG-GF →

ABS-CF

Best at: Stiffness that survives heat. A skin-core filament structure limits nozzle wear and protects layer bonding.
Watch for: Markedly weaker along the Z axis — orient load-bearing parts accordingly.
Numbers: 47.9 MPa tensile across layers, 28.2 MPa in Z · 4365 MPa bending modulus
Printer needs: Enclosure plus a hardened nozzle.

Shop ABS-CF →

Performance at a Glance

Manufacturer test figures for every material in the range. Values come from standard test specimens — a printed part's real strength also depends on wall count, infill, layer height and orientation.

Material	Tensile strength	Impact strength	Bending modulus	Elongation at break	Heat deflection	Density
Core PLA	38 ± 3 MPa	66.2 ± 3.9 kJ/m²	2993 ± 182 MPa	10.5% ± 2.1%	57 °C	1.26 g/cm³
Ultra PLA+ High Flow	39 ± 2 MPa	50.4 ± 2.8 kJ/m²	2846 ± 175 MPa	8.5% ± 1.2%	57 °C	1.23 g/cm³
PLA+ Translucent	55.4 ± 5 MPa	18.5 ± 3.7 kJ/m²	3000 ± 120 MPa	11% ± 3.1%	55 °C	1.22 g/cm³
Wood-Filled PLA	41 ± 2 MPa	32 ± 1.4 kJ/m²	3164 ± 134 MPa	7.5% ± 1.1%	55 °C	1.26 g/cm³
PLA-CF	39 ± 3 MPa	24.7 ± 1.5 kJ/m²	3341 ± 172 MPa	7.5% ± 1.3%	56 °C	1.24 g/cm³
Matte PETG	49.79 MPa	33.15 kJ/m²	1119.41 MPa	56.1%	51 °C	1.35 g/cm³
Ultra PETG High Flow	42 ± 2 MPa	67.6 ± 4.2 kJ/m²	2097 ± 173 MPa	8.9% ± 1.5%	72 °C	1.29 g/cm³
PETG-CF	51 ± 8 MPa	70.7 ± 6.2 kJ/m²	3040 ± 21 MPa	9.6% ± 1.0%	74 °C	1.29 g/cm³
PETG-GF	51 ± 8 MPa	70.7 ± 6.2 kJ/m²	3040 ± 21 MPa	9.6% ± 1.0%	74 °C	1.29 g/cm³
Ultra ABS High Flow	38 ± 1.5 MPa	14.9 ± 3.2 kJ/m²	2284 ± 115 MPa	7.2% ± 0.2%	85 °C	1.06 g/cm³
ABS-CF	47.9 ± 2.3 MPa (X–Y) 28.2 ± 0.4 MPa (Z)	8.1 ± 0.8 kJ/m²	4365 ± 154 MPa	1.5% ± 0.1%	90 °C @0.45 MPa 83 °C @1.80 MPa	1.09 g/cm³
Core ASA	35 ± 2 MPa	65.5 ± 3.7 kJ/m²	2349 ± 102 MPa	10.6% ± 0.9 %	99 °C	1.09 g/cm³
Ultra TPU-95A High Flow	13 ± 2 MPa	Does not fracture	—	> 500%	N/A	1.27 g/cm³

For beginners

Best Filaments for Beginners

Core PLA, no contest — forgiving, low-odour and cheap to learn on. When your prints start succeeding on the first try, add Ultra PLA+ for parts that get used and one effect filament (silk is the crowd favourite) for gifts. That trio covers a beginner's first year.

Start with Core PLA →

For function

Materials for Functional Parts

Match the material to the enemy. Impact and everyday load: PETG. Heat: ABS or ABS-CF. Sunlight and weather: ASA. Bending and vibration: TPU. Flex you want gone: any CF/GF composite. If a part faces several enemies at once, email support@3dma.au and we'll talk it through.

Shop Engineering & Composites →

For looks

Creative Finish Materials

The effect PLAs are all easy printers — the differences are mainly cosmetic, with print behaviour close to standard PLA. Rule of thumb: curved models flatter silks; sculptural models flatter marble and wood; anything flat and modern flatters matte. Every category page shows the finish and the models it suits best.

Browse the effect PLAs →

Aesthetic PLA: Characteristics and Uses

Every finish below prints with the same ease as standard PLA — the differences are cosmetic, not mechanical. Rule of thumb: curved models flatter the silks, sculptural models flatter marble and wood, and anything flat and modern flatters matte.

Finish	Looks like	Best for	Print note	Numbers
Matte PLA	Soft, velvety, non-reflective	Product models, architectural pieces, anything flat and modern	Hides layer lines better than any other finish	30 MPa tensile · softens 55 °C
Silk PLA	High-gloss pearlescent sheen	Vases, figures, gifts — curved models that catch light	Lowest strength in the PLA range; keep speed under 220 mm/s	26 MPa tensile · softens 54 °C
Dual-Silk PLA	Two silk colours blended through one strand	Curved single-colour models that should look multi-colour	Colour shift follows geometry, not layer height	Shares the PLA Silk profile
Tri-Silk PLA	Three silk colours in one strand	Maximalist display pieces	Most dramatic on tall, twisting shapes	Shares the PLA Silk profile
Rainbow-Silk PLA	Gloss that shifts gradually along the spool	Tall prints that climb through a spectrum	Gradient is per-spool length, so small prints show little shift	Shares the PLA Silk profile
Marble PLA	Dark speckle through a stone-white base	Busts, statues, planters — carved rather than printed	Speckle helps hide imperfect layers	40 MPa tensile · softens 57 °C
Wood-Filled PLA	Warm timber colour with visible grain	Rustic and sculptural models you can sand and stain	Use a 0.4 mm or larger nozzle	41 MPa tensile · softens 55 °C
Alloy PLA	Cast-metal sheen — gunmetal, steel, bronze	Props, hardware replicas, industrial display pieces	Prints as easily as standard PLA	42 MPa tensile · softens 55 °C
Glitter PLA	Visible light-catching sparkle	Ornaments, decorations, gifts	Keep speed under 200 mm/s for even sparkle	43 MPa tensile · softens 57 °C
Luminous PLA	Charges under light, glows in the dark	Switch surrounds, markers, kids’ prints, props	Brightest glow from thin walls that charge fully	42 MPa tensile · softens 56 °C
Nebula PLA	Fine sparkle in deep saturated colour	Planets, space scenes, anything that should shimmer	Colour reads deeper on curved surfaces	38 MPa tensile · softens 56 °C

Full Specification Table

Every 3DMA filament is 1.75 mm on 1 kg spools. These are typical working figures across the range — the label on each spool is authoritative for that product.

Material	Nozzle	Bed	Softens from (approx.)	Enclosure	Nozzle type	Moisture	Outdoor / UV
PLA	190–220°C	50–60°C	55–60°C	No	Brass	Low	Poor
PLA+	205–230°C	55–65°C	55–60°C	No	Brass	Low–moderate	Poor
PETG	230–250°C	70–85°C	~80°C	No	Brass	High	Fair
Matte PETG	230–250°C	45–60°C	~51°C	No	Brass	Very high	Fair
TPU 95A	210–230°C	30–50°C	~70°C	No	Brass	Very high	Fair
ABS	230–260°C	90–110°C	~100°C	Yes	Brass	Moderate	Poor — yellows and embrittles in UV
ASA	240–260°C	90–110°C	~100°C	Yes	Brass	Moderate	Best in range — UV stable
PLA-CF	200–230°C	50–60°C	55–60°C	No	Hardened	High	Poor
PETG-CF / PETG-GF	240–260°C	70–85°C	~80°C	Helpful	Hardened 0.6 mm+	High	Fair
ABS-CF	240–265°C	90–110°C	~100°C	Yes	Hardened 0.6 mm+	High	Poor

Two properties in that table are worth separating, because they are routinely confused. Stiffness is resistance to bending — the carbon- and glass-filled composites lead on it, and gain dimensional stability with it. Toughness is resistance to breaking — PETG and TPU lead, and the composites are actually worse than their unfilled base material. A part that must not flex wants a composite; a part that must not snap does not.

We do not currently stock nylon or polycarbonate. If your part genuinely needs one of those, email support@3dma.au and we will tell you straight rather than sell you the nearest thing on the shelf.

Choosing for Australian Conditions

Most filament advice is written for temperate northern-hemisphere workshops. Three local conditions change the answer.

Heat: the parked car rules out PLA entirely

RACV testing has found vehicle interiors can exceed 70°C within minutes when the outside temperature is only 30°C, and Kidsafe NSW puts a parked car’s cabin at 30 to 40 degrees hotter than the air outside. PLA and PLA+ soften from around 55–60°C, so phone mounts, vent clips, cup-holder inserts and sunglasses holders printed in PLA will sag. Use PETG at minimum; use ASA if the part also sits in direct sun through the windscreen.

Sunlight: ASA is the only genuinely UV-stable choice

For anything that lives outdoors long term — letterbox parts, garden irrigation fittings, shed and trailer hardware, pool and boat fittings — ultraviolet exposure, not heat, is what kills the part. PLA degrades quickly, ABS yellows and goes brittle, PETG holds up moderately. ASA is specifically formulated for UV stability and is the correct answer.

Humidity: sealed storage is not optional here

Summers on the east coast and in the tropical north are humid, and a garage or unairconditioned spare room tracks the outside air. TPU and the fibre-filled composites absorb moisture fastest, PETG next, PLA slowest. Wet filament strings, prints rough and delaminates. Keep spools sealed with desiccant — our filament storage guide covers containers, drying temperatures and recharging silica gel.

Three Questions That Decide Almost Every Choice

If you want the short path, answer these in order and stop at the first one that constrains you.

Question	If yes
Will the part get hot — a car, a window sill, an engine bay, direct sun?	PETG at minimum. ABS or ASA above about 80°C. Never PLA.
Does it live outdoors for months or years?	ASA. PETG for shorter exposure.
Does it need to bend and spring back?	TPU 95A, on a direct-drive extruder.
Does it need to be stiff and dimensionally precise?	A carbon- or glass-filled composite, with a hardened nozzle.
Does it get dropped, clipped, loaded or handled?	PLA+ for light duty, PETG for real loads.
None of the above — it sits on a shelf and looks good?	PLA, and pick the finish you like.

If a part faces more than one of these at once, that is exactly the case worth an email. Send the part, the environment and your printer model to support@3dma.au.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best filament for beginners?

Core PLA. Learn on the material that forgives mistakes, then branch out once first-try success is routine.

What filament should schools use?

PLA, almost universally — low temperature, low odour and reliable across a fleet of printers. See Business & Education for classroom-specific guidance and ordering.

Which materials need special hardware?

ABS and ASA want an enclosure and ventilation; TPU wants a direct-drive extruder; every CF/GF composite requires a hardened nozzle. Everything else prints on a stock modern printer.

What if I am still unsure?

Email support@3dma.au with your printer model and what you're making. Material recommendations are free and we enjoy giving them.

Go Deeper: The Guides

This page is the map. Each guide below is the detail on one part of it.

Ready to print?

Every Material, Every Colour, Shipped from Sydney

You know what your part needs — now pick the spool. Browse by range, filter by colour, and every order ships with plain-English printing guidance.