Caring for Your 3D Printed Part
Find the material written on the card in your box. Each section covers cleaning, heat, sun, chemicals and load, in plain words.
Three things true for every part
Mild soap and lukewarm water is safe for every material we print. Rinse, then let it air dry.
We never describe a printed part as food safe, so no printed part goes in the dishwasher or holds food, in any material.
Heat is what ruins most printed parts, not wear. Each material below has a temperature to keep it under, set a little below the point where the maker's own test bar starts to bend.
Jump to your material. PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, Polycarbonate (PC), Nylon and carbon fiber nylon, Carbon fiber filled grades, TPU (flexible), Resin.
Care at a glance
| Material | Keep it under | Outdoors | Keep away from |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | About 50 C (120 F) | No | Acetone, thinners, hot cars |
| PETG | About 60 C (140 F) | Shade only | Solvents, strong cleaners |
| ABS | About 80 C (175 F) | Shade only | Acetone, solvents |
| ASA | About 90 C (195 F) | Yes, our outdoor pick | Acetone, lacquer thinner, brake cleaner |
| Polycarbonate (PC) | About 100 C (210 F) | With paint or a UV clear coat | Acetone, ammonia glass cleaner, strong alkaline cleaners |
| Nylon and carbon fiber nylon | About 150 C (300 F) | With paint or in shade | Strong acids and alkalis |
| Carbon fiber filled grades | Same as its base plastic | Same as its base plastic | Same as its base plastic |
| TPU (flexible) | About 60 C (140 F) | Yes | Solvents, strong cleaners |
| Resin | About 50 C (120 F) | No | Alcohol, acetone, long sun |
Limits sit about 10 C under each maker's published heat deflection temperature, rounded down. TPU has no published figure, so its limit is our own.
PLA
Covers PLA Basic, Matte, Silk, Translucent, Marble, Wood, Glow, Metal and Gradient.
PLA is the plastic behind most of our display pieces, gifts, figurines and fit check models. It is stiff and holds fine detail, and it is the least heat tolerant thing we print.
Cleaning. Wipe it or wash it by hand with mild soap and lukewarm water, never hot tap water. Dust textured, silk and marble finishes with a soft brush.
Heat. Keep it under about 50 C (120 F). That means indoors, never in a parked car in summer, on a sunny windowsill behind glass, or near a heater, lamp or stove.
Sun and outdoors. Indoors only. Sun fades the color over time, and the heat that comes with it is the bigger risk.
Chemicals to avoid. Skip acetone, nail polish remover, paint thinner, brake cleaner and strong acid or alkaline cleaners such as oven cleaner. Oils and grease do not hurt it.
Dishwasher and food. No dishwasher. A sanitizing cycle rinses hotter than PLA can take, and it warps.
Load and wear. Stiff but brittle. It cracks rather than bends, so do not use it as a clip that snaps on and off, and expect it to creep slowly under a constant load.
Good to know. Wood PLA takes on more moisture than plain PLA, so keep it dry. Glow PLA recharges in daylight or under a lamp.
PETG
Covers PETG and PETG HF.
PETG is our indoor workhorse for housings, brackets and clips. It is tougher than PLA and shrugs off water.
Cleaning. Soap and water, as warm as your hand is comfortable with. It does not mind getting wet.
Heat. Keep it under about 60 C (140 F). A car cabin out of direct sun is fine; the dashboard, rear deck and anything near a heater or engine are not.
Sun and outdoors. Fine in shade or the occasional sunny day. Years of direct sun cloud and weaken it, which is why outdoor parts get ASA.
Chemicals to avoid. Oils and grease are fine. Skip acetone and other solvents, and strong acid or alkaline cleaners.
Dishwasher and food. No dishwasher. The hot rinse comes close to the point where PETG softens.
Load and wear. Tough. It bends a little before it breaks, so it is a good material for clips and parts that take a knock.
ABS
Covers ABS.
ABS is the plastic most original appliance and car interior parts were molded from. It is tough and takes heat well.
Cleaning. Soap and water. Wipe off oil or grease rather than letting it sit.
Heat. Keep it under about 80 C (175 F). That covers a car interior and most appliance housings.
Sun and outdoors. Best indoors or in shade. Long sun makes ABS fade and go chalky, which is why parts that see sky are made in ASA.
Chemicals to avoid. Acetone dissolves ABS, so keep nail polish remover and acetone based cleaners away. Many solvents attack it too. Dilute acids and alkalis are fine.
Dishwasher and food. No dishwasher and no food contact.
Load and wear. Tough and impact resistant, and it handles clips and snap fits well.
ASA
Covers ASA and ASA-CF.
ASA is what we use for parts that live outdoors, on boats and RVs, and on hot dashboards. It is a close cousin of ABS made to stand up to sun.
Cleaning. Soap and water, or a car wash soap. Rinse off salt after time on the water.
Heat. Keep it under about 90 C (195 F). A dashboard in full summer sun is within that.
Sun and outdoors. UV stabilized, so it holds its color and strength outside far longer than ABS or PETG. No plastic is UV proof, and a dark color or a clear coat adds years.
Chemicals to avoid. Acetone dissolves ASA, so never clean it with acetone, nail polish remover or lacquer thinner. Brake and carb cleaner can attack it too. Wipe off oil and fuel spills.
Dishwasher and food. No dishwasher and no food contact.
Load and wear. Tough, good for clips. A part held under constant spring pressure near real heat can slowly relax over a summer, so we design for that.
Good to know. ASA-CF has carbon fiber in it. It is stiffer and has a matte finish, and the same care applies.
Polycarbonate (PC)
Covers Polycarbonate, including flame retardant PC FR.
Polycarbonate is the toughest and most heat resistant of our everyday plastics. We use it for guards, housings, lamp parts and parts near heat.
Cleaning. Soap and water with a soft cloth. Skip abrasive pads, which haze the surface.
Heat. Keep it under about 100 C (210 F). It handles hot interiors, lamp housings and engine bay surfaces away from the exhaust.
Sun and outdoors. Plain polycarbonate yellows and weakens in long sun, so outdoor PC parts get a UV resistant paint or clear coat, or live in shade.
Chemicals to avoid. This is the one to be careful with. Acetone, many solvents, ammonia glass cleaners and strong alkaline cleaners can craze or crack it, most of all where the part is under stress. Soap and water only.
Dishwasher and food. No dishwasher. Dishwasher detergent is strongly alkaline, which polycarbonate does not tolerate.
Load and wear. Very impact resistant. It takes a hit that would crack most plastics.
Nylon and carbon fiber nylon
Covers PA6-CF, PAHT-CF and PPA-CF.
Carbon fiber nylon is what we use for gears, structural brackets, fixtures and parts that see load, heat or oil. It is the strongest material we print.
Cleaning. Soap and water is fine. Degreasers made for automotive parts are fine too; rinse them off afterward.
Heat. Keep it under about 150 C (300 F), and higher still for PPA-CF. It handles engine bay heat away from the exhaust.
Sun and outdoors. Nylon is not UV stabilized, so parts that live in sun get a UV resistant paint or sit in shade.
Chemicals to avoid. Oil, grease and fuel do not bother it. Strong acids and alkalis do, so keep battery acid, drain cleaner and oven cleaner off it.
Dishwasher and food. No dishwasher and no food contact.
Load and wear. Excellent fatigue life, which is why we use it for gears, clips and hinges that move all day.
Good to know. Nylon takes on a little water from the air. A new part settles over the first week or two, getting slightly tougher and a touch larger, which is normal for nylon.
Carbon fiber filled grades
Covers PLA-CF, ASA-CF and the nylon CF grades.
Carbon fiber filled filaments are a base plastic with short chopped carbon fiber mixed in. The fiber adds stiffness and a matte finish, and the base plastic decides how you care for it.
Cleaning. Soap and water. The matte surface hides fingerprints but holds dirt in its texture, so use a soft brush.
Heat. Follow the base plastic. PLA-CF stays under about 50 C (120 F) like PLA. ASA-CF and the nylon grades follow the ASA and nylon notes on this page.
Sun and outdoors. Follow the base plastic. PLA-CF is for indoors.
Chemicals to avoid. Follow the base plastic. For PLA-CF that means no acetone, thinners or strong cleaners.
Dishwasher and food. No dishwasher and no food contact.
Load and wear. Stiffer than the plain version and a little less forgiving. It holds shape under load but cracks rather than bends if pushed too far.
Good to know. If you ever sand or drill a carbon fiber part, wear a dust mask and wash your hands afterward.
TPU (flexible)
Covers TPU 85A, 90A and 95A.
TPU is our rubber like material for gaskets, bumpers, feet, grommets and seals. The number after it is the hardness; 85A is soft, 95A is firm.
Cleaning. Soap and water. It is fine wet and outdoors.
Heat. Keep it under about 60 C (140 F). The maker publishes no heat rating for flexible TPU, so that is our own working limit, and anything hotter gets a different material.
Sun and outdoors. It handles weather well. Dark colors last longest in sun; light colors can yellow.
Chemicals to avoid. Oil and grease are fine. Skip solvents and strong acid or alkaline cleaners.
Dishwasher and food. No dishwasher and no food contact.
Load and wear. Flexible by design. Squeezed hard for a long time it can take a set, so a gasket may need replacing after years, like the rubber original did.
Resin
Covers Resin parts such as small figurines, fine detail pieces and clear parts.
For small figurines, very fine detail and clear parts we make the piece in resin, then finish and check it. Resin gives a smooth, crisp surface but needs gentler care than the plastics above.
Cleaning. A soft brush and a damp cloth, or a quick wash in mild soap and lukewarm water. Do not soak it in alcohol or solvents.
Heat. Keep it under about 50 C (120 F). Indoors, and never left in a parked car.
Sun and outdoors. Keep it out of long direct sun. Sunlight keeps curing resin, which yellows it and makes it brittle over time. A clear coat with UV protection helps a piece that sits by a window.
Chemicals to avoid. Skip alcohol, acetone and solvent cleaners, which can soften or cloud the surface.
Dishwasher and food. No dishwasher and no food contact.
Load and wear. Stiff and more brittle than our printed plastics, and more so in the cold. Handle thin parts like fingers and swords with care, and do not use it for clips or load.
Common questions
Ready to start?
Need a part that holds up better where it lives? One photo, two measurements, and we send you a quote.
Get a Free Quote