Start with failure mode
Heat, impact, UV, friction, fatigue, chemicals and dimensional stability usually matter more than headline tensile strength.
WORKPIECE MATERIALS GUIDE
Choose what the part needs to survive.
Start from the application, compare the trade-offs, then open any material for practical design notes, processing guidance, example parts and source-backed properties.
Guide ≠ current availability.A material appearing in this guide does not mean it is currently orderable. Manufacturer/TDS, Workpiece-stock and representative guidance are labeled separately. PLANNED · MSLA · FINE DETAIL — Resin production is post-V1 and is not currently orderable. The quote configurator and human review determine what Workpiece can actually produce today.
Compare the real process
Printed polymers are anisotropic; laser edges and router toolpaths create different constraints from the bulk material datasheet.
Verify the exact grade
Critical dimensions and loads must be checked against the actual supplier grade, stock form, orientation and production profile.
MATERIAL EXPLORER
Filter by process or requirement
Relative ratings are intentionally simple. Open a card for exact values and source context; add two or three materials to compare their trade-offs side by side.
Showing materials
QUICK DECISIONS
Common material choices
These are practical starting points—not automatic production approvals.
Use PETG for a balanced general-purpose part; move toward PCTG when ductility and impact tolerance matter more.
Better weather and UV resistance than ABS while retaining useful heat performance. Requires controlled printing.
Good for feet, bumpers, grips, cable guides and compliant interfaces where a rigid plastic would crack or rattle.
Crisp cut edges, colour options and light transmission make acrylic a strong choice for signs, covers and lighting parts.
Plywood adds structural character; MDF gives a flat, economical surface for templates, models and interior panels.
Choose acetal for wear and dimensional stability, HDPE for chemical/water resistance, and PC for impact toughness and transparency.
PROCESS MATTERS
Same polymer, different manufacturing rules.
A material can be suitable for one process and a poor or unsafe choice for another.
Polycarbonate sheet is a useful CNC-routed material, but it cuts poorly on common CO₂ lasers and should not be treated like acrylic.
Chlorinated plastics are excluded from the Workpiece laser guide. Material identity must be verified before laser processing.
Routing cured composite panels requires appropriate tooling, capture of conductive abrasive dust and deliberate workshop controls.
SOURCE DISCIPLINE
Where the guide gets its data
Supplier TDS values are preferred for named grades. Broader comparisons are clearly labelled as representative guidance.
FILAMENT / TDSPolymaker
Named grades, print requirements and printed-specimen property data.
COMPARISON MODELProtolabs Network / HubsRelative FDM material comparisons and application-oriented trade-offs.
CNC SELECTIONProtolabsFunctional-requirement approach to choosing machined plastics and metals.
SHEET PROCESS REFERENCESendCutSendUseful examples of material/process compatibility and stock-form presentation.
MATERIAL GALLERYXometryLarge process-grouped material catalogue and application references.
LASER MATERIAL CATALOGUEPonokoApplication, stock thickness and laser-safe material browsing patterns.
Engineering note: values shown for named Polymaker grades are typical printed-specimen or supplier TDS results, not design allowables. Generic sheet and machining values vary by alloy, grade, stock supplier and condition. Critical parts require exact-grade verification and human manufacturing review.