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MATERIALS & MANUFACTURING

The right material for your plastic part

From molded production and low-volume casting to CNC and 3D printing. Compare plastic materials by application, appearance and manufacturing process.

Clear circular guard with mounting ears, an ivory connector and a blue end cap
04Processes · Prototype to production
General, engineering & high-performance plasticsRigid, clear & flexible optionsMaterial and process, selected together

3D Printing Materials

Choose photopolymer resin, nylon, PLA or castable wax to match detail, functional testing and downstream manufacturing needs.

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
4 Materials
White scroll-shaped prototype with curved internal ribs, a central opening, tangential outlet and mounting tabs

Photopolymer Resin

3D Printing Materials

Light-cured photopolymers produce detailed prototypes and smooth visual models through SLA or DLP. Standard, tough, transparent and heat-oriented formulations serve different appearance and functional targets.

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Typical Applications

Visual models, detailed prototypes, transparent displays and reviewed functional-evaluation parts.

Selection Notes

Specify resin grade, SLA or DLP, post-curing, clarity, loads and finish.

Available Options

  • Standard Resin — White

    White photopolymer for visual models and fine-feature prototypes.

  • Standard Resin — Black

    Black photopolymer for presentation parts and models with a dark cosmetic finish.

  • Tough Resin — Tea Green

    Toughened photopolymer for handling and mechanical-behavior prototypes; an ABS-style performance alternative with its own resin chemistry.

  • Transparent Resin

    Clear photopolymer for viewing models and transparent covers; polishing or clear coating determines the intended clarity.

  • Translucent Resin

    Light-diffusing photopolymer for lampshade models and components with a deliberately hazy appearance.

  • High-Temperature Resin — Gray

    Heat-oriented photopolymer for prototypes and tooling concepts with specified thermal exposure.

  • High-Temperature Resin — Beige

    Beige photopolymer for short-duration thermal applications and prototype tooling concepts.

Gray right-angle bracket with connected triangular openings, three mounting holes and a fine granular surface

Nylon (PA12 / Nylon Composites)

PA family: CNC · Molding

Powder-bed nylon forms complex functional housings, clips and ducts. The range includes PA12 and glass-reinforced nylon, with SLS and MJF routes and distinct material formulations.

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Typical Applications

Functional housings, clips, ducts and complex assembly components.

Selection Notes

Specify PA species, SLS or MJF, filler form, conditioning, color and surface finish.

Available Options

  • SLS PA12 — White

    White PA12 for functional prototypes, complex housings and assembly components with a matte surface.

  • SLS PA12 — Dyed Black

    Dyed-black SLS PA12 for functional parts and prototypes with a dark matte appearance.

  • MJF Glass-Reinforced Nylon — Dyed Black

    Glass-reinforced MJF nylon for components with stiffness requirements and a dyed-black finish.

  • MJF Glass-Reinforced Nylon — Gray

    Glass-reinforced MJF nylon for structural forms and functional parts with a gray matte appearance.

  • MJF PA12 — Gray

    MJF PA12 for complex functional parts, finished in gray.

  • MJF PA12 — Dyed Black

    MJF PA12 for functional components and assembled products with a dyed-black finish.

Ivory locating jig with two cradle heights, mounting slots, locating stops and visible print layers

PLA

3D Printing Materials

PLA serves concept models, display pieces and lightly loaded fit-check prototypes where high heat resistance or high strength is not central to the application.

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Typical Applications

Concept models, display pieces and lightly loaded fit-review prototypes.

Selection Notes

Provide geometry, loads, service temperature, print orientation, color and finish.

Blue casting-pattern tree with three ring patterns connected by runners to a central sprue

Wax (Casting Patterns)

3D Printing Materials

Printed wax patterns capture intricate jewelry and metal-casting forms for subsequent casting. They are manufacturing intermediates rather than engineering-plastic components intended to remain in service.

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Typical Applications

Jewelry patterns, metal-casting patterns and complex pattern evaluation.

Selection Notes

Specify pattern grade, casting workflow, geometry, surface detail and finishing requirements.

Select photopolymers separately from engineering thermoplastics. Wax is a casting-pattern option, not a final engineering-plastic material.

CROSS-PROCESS SELECTION

One material name. Different manufacturing routes.

Separate actual polymer families from performance-like resins, then compare feedstock, grade and application for each process.

Identical Material Across FourThis catalog does not establish one identical material and grade across all four processes.

Polymer Family Across ThreePA/Nylon: CNC, molding and printing; confirm species such as PA6, PA66 and PA12 separately.

Polymer Families Across TwoCNC and molding: ABS, PC, PMMA, POM and PEEK. PVC also requires rigid/flexible formulation checks.

Material / FamilyCNCInjection MoldingVacuum Casting3D Printing
ABSABSABS——
PA / NylonNylon StockPA6 / PA66—PA12 / Composites
PCPCPC——
PMMAPMMAPMMA——
POMPOMPOM——
PEEKPEEKPEEK——
PVC FamilyPVC StockFlexible PVC——
PP—PP——

Actual Polymer

Same Family; Confirm Species and Formulation

PA/Nylon spans CNC, molding and printing, but PA6/PA66 and PA12 are different species. ABS, PC, PMMA, POM and PEEK span CNC and molding at family level. Confirm PVC formulations. This catalog does not establish an identical material and grade across all four processes.

ENGINEERING & QUALITY

Turn a material name into clear part requirements

Grades, reinforcement and processing affect finished-part behavior. Share the operating conditions so selection and acceptance follow the same requirements.

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01

Start with the application

Loads, operating temperature, chemical exposure and dimensions define the material properties to check.

02

Define appearance and processing needs

Specify color, clarity, finish, assembly and quantity so material and process can be reviewed together.

03

Confirm samples and inspection

Share a specified grade or performance target, then agree samples, critical dimensions and material documentation.

Why PlasticHubs

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Review material and process together

Review use, geometry and quantity to choose a plastic manufacturing route for the project stage.

Connect prototypes to production

Validate with CNC, printing or casting, then plan the transition to molded production.

Coordinate around part requirements

Keep engineering feedback, appearance, assembly and quality requirements in one project conversation.

MATERIAL QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

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Which materials are shared across these four processes?

Within this catalog, the PA/Nylon family appears in CNC, molding and printing, but the species differ: CNC nylon stock with a specified species, PA6/PA66, and PA12 or nylon composites. ABS, PC, PMMA, POM and PEEK appear in CNC and molding. PVC also has two routes; confirm each formulation rather than assuming equivalence. Casting like-resins are separate performance alternatives; no identical material and grade is established across all four processes.

Are ABS-like and PC-like casting resins the named plastics?

No. These names describe appearance or selected performance targets. These casting options are resin systems and do not identify actual ABS, PC, PMMA, POM or PA. Obtain the actual resin grade and review strength, heat exposure, aging and service conditions. A successful fit-check prototype does not automatically establish equivalent long-term performance.

Can PA6, PA66 and printed PA12 be exchanged directly?

They are not direct substitutes. They share the polyamide family, but polymer species, formulations, reinforcement and manufacturing routes differ. Specify grade, loads, temperature, humidity and fits, and agree on dry or conditioned inspection states. Identify fillers explicitly; glass fiber and glass beads must not be merged under an unspecified reinforced-nylon label.

Can clear 3D print resin be treated as PC or PMMA?

Transparency does not establish polymer identity. The clear and translucent Resin options are photopolymers, while PC and PMMA are thermoplastics with their own grades. For a viewing window or cover, compare appearance, thickness, finishing, loads and environment across the routes, using each material’s own data.

How do flexible PVC, CNC PVC and TPE/TPU differ?

Flexible molding PVC and CNC PVC can be compared at family level. Specify rigid or flexible formulation and stock grade for CNC rather than assuming identical formulations. TPE is a thermoplastic-elastomer family that includes TPU. For flexible parts, define chemistry, hardness, rebound, contact conditions and any overmolding substrate. Cured casting PU is also distinct from thermoplastic TPU.

What information should accompany a material-selection request?

Provide CAD or drawings, quantity, critical dimensions and fits, plus loads, peak and continuous temperatures, chemical contact, color, clarity and finish. If a material is specified, include its full grade, filler, hardness and required records; add conditioning requirements where relevant. Separate visual, functional-validation and long-term service objectives so material, process and finishing can be reviewed together.

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Black vented instrument housing and lid with internal mounting bosses and a threaded opening

Injection Molding Plastics

ABS

Tough, impact-tolerant ABS molds into detailed housings, instrument panels and everyday product covers. Its balance of appearance and structural performance suits many general-purpose molded parts.

Typical Applications

Equipment housings, instrument panels and consumer-product covers.

Selection Notes

Provide the molding grade, loads, operating temperature, color and surface finish.

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