Select Print Material

---
name: select-print-material
description: >
  Choose 3D printing materials based on mechanical, thermal, and chemical
  requirements. Covers PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, Nylon, and resin variants
  with property comparisons. Use when selecting material for parts with
  specific mechanical or thermal requirements, choosing for outdoor or chemical
  exposure, evaluating food-safe or biocompatible applications, balancing
  printability vs. performance, or troubleshooting material-related print
  failures.
license: MIT
allowed-tools: Read Write Edit Bash Grep Glob WebFetch
metadata:
  author: Philipp Thoss
  version: "1.0"
  domain: 3d-printing
  complexity: intermediate
  language: multi
  tags: 3d-printing, materials, fdm, sla, material-selection, properties
  locale: es
  source_locale: en
  source_commit: 902f69ec
  translator: claude
  translation_date: "2026-03-17"
---

# Select Print Material

Choose appropriate 3D printing materials by matching material properties to functional requirements. This skill covers FDM filaments (PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, Nylon) and SLA resins (standard, tough, flexible, castable) with detailed property comparisons for mechanical strength, temperature resistance, chemical resistance, flexibility, and post-processing options.

## Cuándo Usar

- Selecting material for a part with specific mechanical requirements (tensile strength, impact resistance, flexibility)
- Choosing material for temperature-sensitive applications (hot environment, cold environment)
- Parts exposed to chemicals, UV light, or outdoor weathering
- Food-safe or biocompatible applications
- Balancing printability vs. performance for prototypes vs. production parts
- Troubleshooting material-related print failures or part performance issues
- Optimizing cost vs. properties for production runs

## Entradas

- **functional_requirements**: Load type (tensile, compressive, bending, torsion), magnitude, duty cycle
- **environmental_conditions**: Operating temperature range, UV exposure, chemical contact, moisture
- **mechanical_properties_needed**: Strength, flexibility, impact resistance, fatigue resistance
- **surface_finish**: Appearance requirements, post-processing planned
- **printability_constraints**: Printer capabilities (heated bed, enclosure), user experience level
- **special_requirements**: Food safety, biocompatibility, electrical insulation, transparency

## Procedimiento

### 1. Identify Primary Requirement Category

Determine the dominant requirement that drives material selection:

**Mechanical Performance**:
- High strength under load
- Impact/shock absorption
- Flexibility or elastic behavior
- Fatigue resistance (repeated loading)

**Environmental Durability**:
- High/low temperature exposure
- UV/outdoor weathering
- Chemical resistance (solvents, oils, acids)
- Moisture/water exposure

**Special Applications**:
- Food contact safety
- Biocompatibility (medical)
- Electrical properties (insulation, conductivity)
- Optical properties (transparency, color)

**Printability/Cost**:
- Ease of printing for prototypes
- Minimal warping/support requirements
- Low material cost for large parts
- Wide availability

**Esperado:** Primary requirement identified (e.g., "outdoor UV resistance" or "high impact strength").

**En caso de fallo:** If multiple requirements are equally critical, use decision matrix to score materials across requirements (see step 6).

### 2. Apply Material Selection Filters

Use requirement to filter material candidates:

**Filter 1: Process Type**
- FDM available: All thermoplastics (PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, TPU, Nylon)
- SLA available: All resins (standard, tough, flexible, castable, high-temp)
- Printer constraints: Heated bed (60-110°C) required for ABS/ASA/Nylon; enclosure required for ABS/ASA

**Filter 2: Temperature Range**
```
Operating Temperature → Minimum Material Glass Transition (Tg):

< 45°C:  PLA, PLA+, Standard Resin, Tough Resin
< 60°C:  PETG, Flexible Resin
< 80°C:  ABS, ASA, CPE
< 100°C: Nylon, Polycarbonate, High-Temp Resin
> 100°C: PEEK, PEI (Ultem) - specialty printers only
```

**Filter 3: Mechanical Requirements**
```
High tensile strength:     Nylon > ABS/ASA > PETG > PLA > TPU
High impact resistance:    Nylon > PETG > ABS > ASA > PLA
Flexibility:              TPU > Flexible Resin > PLA (brittle)
Fatigue resistance:       Nylon > PETG > ABS > PLA
```

**Filter 4: Environmental**
```
UV resistance:            ASA > PETG > ABS > PLA (poor)
Chemical resistance:      Nylon > PETG > ABS/ASA > PLA
Outdoor durability:       ASA > Nylon > PETG > PLA (degrades)
Moisture resistance:      ABS/ASA > PETG > PLA > Nylon (hygroscopic)
```

**Esperado:** 2-5 candidate materials remain after filtering.

**En caso de fallo:** If no materials pass all filters, relax least-critical requirement or consider post-processing (e.g., UV coating for PLA).

### 3. Compare Material Properties

Consult material property table for detailed comparison:

## FDM Filament Properties

| Material | Print Temp | Bed Temp | Tensile Strength | Elongation | Tg/HDT | UV Resist | Ease | Hygroscopic |
|----------|------------|----------|------------------|------------|--------|-----------|------|-------------|
| **PLA** | 190-220°C | 50-60°C | 50-70 MPa | 5-7% | 55-60°C | Poor | Easy | Low |
| **PLA+** | 200-230°C | 50-60°C | 60-75 MPa | 10-15% | 60-65°C | Poor | Easy | Low |
| **PETG** | 220-250°C | 70-85°C | 50-60 MPa | 15-20% | 75-80°C | Good | Medium | Medium |
| **ABS** | 230-260°C | 95-110°C | 40-50 MPa | 20-40% | 95-105°C | Fair | Hard | Low |
| **ASA** | 240-260°C | 95-110°C | 45-55 MPa | 15-30% | 95-105°C | Excellent | Hard | Low |
| **TPU** | 210-230°C | 40-60°C | 30-50 MPa | 400-600% | 60-80°C | Good | Medium | Low |
| **Nylon** | 240-270°C | 70-90°C | 70-80 MPa | 50-150% | 75-90°C | Excellent | Hard | Very High |

**Notes**:
- **Tensile Strength**: Higher = stronger under pulling load
- **Elongation**: Higher = more flexible before breaking
- **Tg/HDT**: Glass transition / heat deflection temperature (max operating temp)
- **Ease**: Printing difficulty (warping, adhesion, stringing, supports)
- **Hygroscopic**: Water absorption from air (requires dry box storage)

## SLA Resin Properties

| Resin Type | Cure Time | Tensile Strength | Elongation | HDT | Hardness | Best For |
|------------|-----------|------------------|------------|-----|----------|----------|
| **Standard** | 2-4s | 45-55 MPa | 6-8% | 60-70°C | 82-85 Shore D | Miniatures, prototypes |
| **Tough** | 4-6s | 55-65 MPa | 15-25% | 70-80°C | 80-85 Shore D | Functional parts, snaps |
| **Flexible** | 6-8s | 5-10 MPa | 80-120% | 50-60°C | 60-70 Shore A | Gaskets, grips |
| **High-Temp** | 8-12s | 60-70 MPa | 6-10% | 120-150°C | 85-88 Shore D | Heat-resistant parts |
| **Castable** | 3-5s | 35-45 MPa | 8-12% | 60°C | 80 Shore D | Jewelry (lost-wax) |

**Esperado:** Material properties compared, 1-3 top candidates identified based on requirements.

**En caso de fallo:** If properties unclear, consult manufacturer technical datasheets via WebFetch tool.

### 4. Evaluate Printability Tradeoffs

Assess printing difficulty vs. performance for candidates:

**Printability factors**:

**Easy (PLA, PLA+)**:
- Minimal warping, good bed adhesion
- Wide temperature tolerance
- Low stringing, supports remove easily
- Ideal for beginners and prototypes
- **Tradeoff**: Lower temperature resistance, UV degradation, brittle

**Medium (PETG, TPU)**:
- Moderate warping (PETG needs 70°C+ bed)
- Some stringing (tune retraction)
- TPU requires direct drive extruder, slow speeds
- Good strength-to-ease ratio
- **Tradeoff**: PETG strings easily, TPU challenging for overhangs

**Hard (ABS, ASA, Nylon)**:
- Severe warping without enclosure
- Strong fumes (ABS/ASA need ventilation)
- Nylon extremely hygroscopic (dry box required)
- High bed temps (95-110°C) and chamber heat
- **Tradeoff**: Excellent mechanical and environmental properties

**Cost considerations**:
```
Material cost per kg (typical):
PLA:    $15-25
PETG:   $20-30
ABS:    $18-28
ASA:    $25-35
TPU:    $30-45
Nylon:  $35-55
Standard Resin: $30-50/L
Specialty Resin: $60-150/L
```

**Esperado:** Printability assessed relative to printer capabilities and user experience. Decision balances performance needs vs. practical constraints.

**En caso de fallo:** If material too difficult for current setup, choose easier alternative and compensate with design changes (thicker walls, fillets, etc.).

### 5. Check Special Requirements

Verify material compatibility with special use cases:

**Food Safety**:
- **Safe when printed correctly**: PLA, PETG (with food-safe additives)
- **Never food safe**: ABS, ASA (toxic additives), Nylon (porous, absorbs bacteria)
- **Requirements**: Use food-safe nozzles (stainless steel, not brass), seal surface with food-safe epoxy
- **Note**: FDM layer lines trap bacteria—SLA smooth resin better for food contact

**Biocompatibility** (medical/dental):
- **FDM**: Nylon (some grades), PLA (limited)
- **SLA**: Medical-grade resins (certified for skin/tissue contact)
- **Warning**: Home 3D printing not sterile; consult regulations for medical devices

**Electrical Properties**:
- **Insulation**: PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA all good insulators (>10^14 Ω·m)
- **Conductivity**: Use conductive filaments (carbon black, metal-filled)
- **Considerations**: Moisture absorption (Nylon) reduces insulation

**Transparency**:
- **FDM**: Nearly impossible (layer lines scatter light); use very thin walls or polish extensively
- **SLA**: Clear resins can achieve transparency with post-processing (sand/polish/coat)

**UV Resistance**:
- **Excellent**: ASA (designed for outdoor), Nylon
- **Good**: PETG, TPU
- **Poor**: PLA (yellows and degrades), ABS (yellows)

**Esperado:** Special requirements verified against material capabilities.

**En caso de fallo:** If material doesn't meet special requirement, apply post-processing (e.g., UV-resistant coating on PLA) or choose different material.

### 6. Make Final Selection with Decision Matrix

Score candidates across weighted criteria:

**Example for outdoor functional part**:

| Criterion | Weight | PLA | PETG | ABS | ASA | Nylon |
|-----------|--------|-----|------|-----|-----|-------|
| UV Resistance | 30% | 1 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 9 |
| Strength | 25% | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 9 |
| Printability | 20% | 10 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Temperature | 15% | 2 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
| Cost | 10% | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| **Weighted Total** | | **5.35** | **6.80** | **5.90** | **7.25** | **7.45** |

**Scoring**: 1 (poor) to 10 (excellent)

**Decision**: Nylon scores highest (7.45) but ASA (7.25) nearly tied with better printability. **Select ASA** if printer has enclosure, or **PETG** (6.80) if printability important.

**Esperado:** Final material selected with documented rationale based on weighted priorities.

**En caso de fallo:** If decision unclear, default to PETG for FDM or Tough Resin for SLA (best all-around compromises).

### 7. Document Material Settings

Record material-specific print settings for future use:

**FDM settings template**:
```yaml
material: PETG
brand: "PolyMaker PolyLite"
color: "Blue"
nozzle_temp: 245°C
bed_temp: 80°C
chamber_temp: ambient
print_speed: 50mm/s
retraction_distance: 4.5mm
retraction_speed: 40mm/s
cooling: 50% (after layer 3)
notes: "Strings moderately, Z-hop helps. Dried 6h at 65°C."
```

**SLA settings template**:
```yaml
resin: "Anycubic Tough Resin"
color: "Clear"
layer_height: 0.05mm
exposure_time: 6s
bottom_exposure: 40s
lift_distance: 6mm
lift_speed: 65mm/min
notes: "Post-cure 15min at 60°C for full strength. Brittle without cure."
```

**Esperado:** Settings documented in project notes or slicer profile library.

**En caso de fallo:** Start with manufacturer recommended settings, then iterate and document successful changes.

## Validación

- [ ] Primary functional requirement identified (mechanical, environmental, special)
- [ ] Material candidates filtered by process, temperature, and requirements
- [ ] Material properties compared via reference table or manufacturer datasheets
- [ ] Printability assessed relative to printer capabilities (bed temp, enclosure, ventilation)
- [ ] Special requirements checked (food safety, UV resistance, transparency, etc.)
- [ ] Final selection made using decision matrix with weighted priorities
- [ ] Material-specific print settings documented for reproducibility
- [ ] Cost and availability verified for planned quantity

## Errores Comunes

1. **Choosing PLA for everything**: PLA is easy but unsuitable for temperature >50°C, outdoor use, or long-term durability
2. **Ignoring hygroscopy**: Nylon and TPU absorb moisture from air, causing bubbling, poor adhesion, and brittleness—must use dry box
3. **ABS without enclosure**: ABS warps severely without heated chamber; ASA slightly better but still needs enclosure
4. **Assuming food safety**: FDM parts are porous and trap bacteria; true food safety requires sealing or using SLA smooth resin
5. **Over-designing for strength**: Using expensive Nylon when PETG sufficient; overkill wastes money and adds printing difficulty
6. **Underestimating temperature**: Parts near motors, heated beds, or in cars reach 60°C+ where PLA softens
7. **UV exposure neglect**: PLA and ABS yellow and degrade in sunlight within months; use ASA or coat with UV-resistant finish
8. **Wet filament printing**: Moisture causes steam bubbles in extruder, weak layer adhesion, stringing—always dry hygroscopic materials
9. **Ignoring fumes**: ABS and ASA emit styrene fumes; requires active ventilation (not just open window)
10. **Resin handling**: Uncured resin is skin sensitizer and toxic; always wear gloves and work in ventilated area

## Habilidades Relacionadas

- **[prepare-print-model](../prepare-print-model/SKILL.md)**: Configure slicer settings for chosen material
- **[troubleshoot-print-issues](../troubleshoot-print-issues/SKILL.md)**: Fix material-related print failures (stringing, warping, adhesion)
- **Dry Filament** (future skill): Proper drying procedures for hygroscopic materials
- **Post-Process 3D Prints** (future skill): Sanding, vapor smoothing, painting, annealing for improved properties