The material you select for a 3D printing project directly affects part performance, production costs, and lead time. Different applications call for different properties: some parts need heat resistance, others need to handle static discharge, and others need realistic flexibility for design validation. This guide covers seven materials available through CADimensions' 3D printing services, with real application examples from companies using them in production.
| Material | Technology | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|
| ABS-M30 | FDM | General-purpose functional prototypes, jigs and fixtures |
| ABS-ESD7 | FDM | ESD-sensitive electronics tooling and housings |
| ULTEM 1010 | FDM | High-heat applications, demanding industrial tooling |
| Nylon 12 GF | SLS | Rigid functional parts, sustained loads, small-batch production |
| Loctite 3D 3843 | DLP/P3 | Impact-resistant small parts with excellent surface finish |
| Agilus30 | PolyJet | Flexible, realistic, soft-touch prototypes |
| ToughONE | PolyJet | Durable, detailed functional prototypes |
Not every 3D printing application requires specialized material properties. Sometimes you need a strong, reliable material that gets the job done without driving up costs. ABS-M30 is an engineering-grade thermoplastic used in Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing. Offering 25–75% greater strength than standard ABS depending on the mechanical property, it is a durable, cost-effective option within the Stratasys material portfolio. It is commonly used for fit-and-function prototypes, proof-of-concept models, alignment jigs, and inspection fixtures across a wide range of industries.
Christopher Tool & Manufacturing Co. needed a faster, more consistent way to position components for laser marking. Traditional setups using vises, blocks, and magnets took 10–15 minutes and introduced opportunities for inconsistent markings.
Using a Stratasys F370 printer and ABS-M30, the company created custom holding fixtures tailored to individual components. The results were significant:
When manufacturing components that come into contact with sensitive electronics, preventing electrostatic discharge (ESD) is critical to maintaining product quality and reliability. ABS-ESD7 offers the strength and durability of traditional ABS with added static-dissipative properties to help protect electronic components from damage.
Used in FDM 3D printing, ABS-ESD7 is ideal for manufacturing jigs, fixtures, component housings, and transportation tooling. It is especially valuable in electronics manufacturing, automotive, and aerospace applications where static-sensitive equipment requires additional protection.
Global automotive technology manufacturer Continental needed a reliable way to produce custom tooling for its electronics manufacturing operations. With sensitive electronic components moving through production, preventing static discharge was essential.
Using a Stratasys Fortus 450mc and ABS-ESD7, Continental developed ESD-compliant fixtures, including a custom gluing jig for automotive display assembly. This allowed the team to produce specialized tooling in-house while meeting its requirements for durability, stability, and static protection.
The benefits included:
When applications demand exceptional heat resistance and durability, ULTEM 1010 is the right material. This high-performance PEI thermoplastic, used in Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing, offers excellent thermal stability and resistance to a wide range of chemicals.
Commonly used in aerospace and automotive applications, ULTEM 1010 is ideal for functional prototypes, air ducts, and components exposed to elevated temperatures. Its high heat resistance also supports sterilization processes, while specially certified grades offer biocompatibility and food-contact capabilities for qualifying medical and food production applications.
Boom Supersonic needed custom bleed air ducts for engine backpressure testing on its XB-1 supersonic demonstrator. Traditionally, these ducts would be machined from aluminum, requiring seven weeks of production time and generating significant material waste.
Instead, Boom used FDM 3D printing with heat-resistant ULTEM 1010 to produce the ducts, eliminating lengthy machining setups and enabling greater design freedom.
The results were significant:
When strength, stiffness, and dimensional accuracy are essential, Nylon 12 GF is a reliable choice. This glass-filled nylon composite is used in Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printing to produce rigid, durable parts that can withstand sustained loads.
Ideal for functional prototypes and end-use industrial components, Nylon 12 GF is commonly used for pulleys, pedals, threaded parts, and mechanical assemblies. SLS builds allow parts to be nested closely together in all directions, with excess powder serving as the support material. That powder can be sifted, mixed with fresh material, and reused, which reduces waste and lowers cost per part at higher volumes. This makes it a practical option for small-batch production without traditional tooling.
Dixon Valve & Coupling Company needed a more efficient way to produce custom manufacturing tools and components for its automated production systems. Traditional manufacturing methods required significant time and labor, limiting how quickly the team could develop and replace tooling.
By adopting Stratasys 3D printing technologies and industrial nylon materials, Dixon expanded from functional prototyping into manufacturing tooling and permanent parts.
The results included:
When parts need both durability and a professional finish, Loctite 3D 3843 is worth considering. This high-toughness thermoset resin, used in Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing, offers excellent impact resistance, strength, and a smooth surface finish comparable to injection-molded parts.
With nearly isotropic mechanical properties and high green strength to minimize deformation during post-processing, Loctite 3843 is ideal for producing sturdy, detailed components. Common applications include protective casings, adapters, robotics components, and end-use production parts where appearance and performance both matter.
Omnicorp needed a cost-effective way to manufacture durable, high-quality phone accessories without the upfront tooling costs and design limitations of traditional injection molding.
Working with Stratasys Direct, the company selected P3 DLP technology and Loctite 3843 to manufacture its Phone Ring accessories, combining impact resistance with a consumer-ready surface finish.
The results included:
When product development requires realistic flexibility, texture, and feel, Agilus30 brings designs closer to the finished product. This soft, rubber-like photopolymer, used in PolyJet 3D printing, allows engineers to create flexible prototypes that closely replicate real-world materials.
Agilus30 can be combined with rigid materials to achieve varying levels of firmness, making it ideal for looks-like, feels-like prototypes. Common applications include footwear, wearable devices, grips, and flexible components where realistic tactile feedback is essential for design validation.
BiologIC Technologies needed to develop a complex, compact bio-processing unit capable of automating laboratory processes. Traditional manufacturing could not easily achieve the intricate geometries and combination of rigid and flexible materials required.
Using a Stratasys J826 Prime PolyJet printer, BiologIC combined Agilus30 with other photopolymers to create a multi-material device with flexible features essential to controlling fluid movement.
The benefits included:
ToughONE is designed for functional prototypes that need to look production-ready and hold up to testing. This advanced PolyJet 3D printing material builds on traditional Vero Rigid materials, offering improved impact resistance, flexibility, and heat performance without sacrificing surface quality or detail.
Ideal for functional prototypes of consumer products like earbud cases, eyewear frames, and snap-fit components, ToughONE offers excellent elongation. It can also be combined with a reinforcing material (RGD531S) to enhance stiffness and heat resistance for more demanding applications.
Jones Plastic & Engineering needed to help customers validate product designs before investing in expensive production tooling. While traditional PolyJet materials provided realistic visual prototypes, some applications required greater durability and flexibility for functional testing.
Using a Stratasys J826 PolyJet printer and ToughONE, Jones Plastic produced a functional prototype for a sporting goods customer after initial prints with Vero and Digital ABS failed to meet performance requirements.
The benefits included:
Material selection affects more than just part performance. It influences lead time, production cost, and how closely a prototype represents the final product. The right choice depends on what the part needs to do and how it will be made. CADimensions works with engineering and manufacturing teams to match materials and technologies to their specific application requirements.
Take our quick 3D printing quiz to find which technology best fits your project.