Best for
- Fit-check prototypes that replace machined aluminum trial parts
- Sand and investment casting patterns
- Short-run press-brake and forming dies
- Assembly jigs
- Check gauges
- Mold masters
Not the right choice for
- Parts left in a parked car in summer
- Long-term outdoor use
- Snap-fits, living hinges, or anything that flexes repeatedly
- Parts that hold a steady load, such as a clamp left tight or a loaded hook
- Contact with acetone, or with acids and alkalis
- Food contact
PLA as a printed part
A printed PLA part is stiff, stiffer than ABS or PETG.
Key properties
| Tensile strength | 35 to 59 MPa |
|---|---|
| Heat deflection | 50 to 60 C at 0.45 MPa, 51 to 58 C at 1.80 MPa |
| Water uptake | 0.43 to 0.51 percent in humid air |
What to use instead
The FDM material selector narrows the whole range by operating temperature, load, chemical exposure, and budget.