Engineering Filament

Engineering filament for parts that must survive heat, load, wear or chemicals: nylon, polycarbonate, PC-ABS and fibre reinforced PET, PPA and PPS. Use the heat deflection ladder below the products to match a material to your part and your printer.
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How to choose an engineering filament

Engineering filament earns its place when PLA, PETG or ABS would soften, creep, wear through or crack. Start with the requirement most likely to end your part's life, whether that is heat, a chemical, sliding wear, flex under load or impact. Shortlist the materials that handle it, then check them against what your printer can actually run. These grades ask more of the machine than everyday filament, and the printer check is often the one that decides.

Heat deflection temperature ladder

Every product in this collection with a heat deflection temperature (HDT) in our product data is listed below, sorted from low to high. HDT is the temperature at which a test bar deflects under a set load, so read it as an upper limit and leave a margin for parts under stress. Where the data sheet states the method, the load is 0.455 MPa to ISO 75.

ProductHDTNozzle / bedDrying
PA6 Nylon85°C240-280°C / 80-110°C80°C, 12+ hours (24 recommended)
PA12-CF90°C260-280°C / 60-90°C80°C, 12+ hours
PolyCarbonate (PC)123°C240-260°C / 100-120°C80°C, 12 hours
PC-ABS123°C250-280°C / 90-110°C80°C, 12+ hours
PC-ABS Sparkling123°C250-280°C / 90-110°C80°C, 12+ hours
PC-CF125°C260-300°C / 100-120°C80°C, 12+ hours
PA6-CF200°C270-290°C / 60-90°C80°C, 12+ hours
PET-CF205°C260-290°C / 70-100°C100°C, 5+ hours
PPA-CF220°C255-275°C / 80-100°C120°C, 8 hours
PPS-CF245°C300-350°C / 90-110°CSee product page

PA12 Nylon, PA12-GF, PPA-GF and PET-GF are left off the ladder because no HDT is stated in our product data, so check their product pages for current specifications. Several grades also list annealing after printing: 3 hours at 80-100°C for PA6-CF, PA12-CF, PET-CF and PPA-CF, and 1 to 3 hours at 100°C for PC-ABS Sparkling. For the rest of our range, see the OzFDM Heat Deflection Temperature Chart.

Match the requirement to the material

  • Heat above 200°C: PPS-CF tops the ladder at 245°C, followed by PPA-CF (220°C), PET-CF (205°C) and PA6-CF (200°C).
  • Moderate heat with toughness: PC (123°C) for impact durability, or PC-CF (125°C) when the part needs more rigidity. PC-ABS matches PC's 123°C HDT while combining polycarbonate's heat resistance with the printability of ABS, and the Sparkling version comes in eight colours. Compare them on our polycarbonate filament page.
  • Chemicals, oils and fuels: PPS-CF is designed for demanding chemical environments, PPA-CF resists many oils and chemicals, and PA12 Nylon offers good resistance to oils, fuels and greases. Always confirm compatibility with your specific chemical before relying on a part.
  • Sliding wear and friction: PA6 Nylon and PA12 Nylon for gears, bushings, clips and hinges. Our nylon filament guide compares every PA grade.
  • Strength and rigidity under load: of the grades with published figures, PPA-CF lists the highest tensile strength at 108-112 MPa and PPS-CF follows at 95-105 MPa. PPA-GF is described as ultra rigid, a glass fibre alternative to carbon fibre composites.
  • Humid conditions: PET-CF lists moisture absorption under 0.3%, and PA12 absorbs less moisture than PA6. The PET filament page covers PET-CF and PET-GF side by side.

Printer capability checklist

Before ordering, check your machine against the grade on your shortlist.

  • Nozzle temperature: a hotend that holds 280°C reaches the recommended temperature for every grade on the ladder except PPS-CF, which needs 300-350°C (320°C recommended). Sustained printing at these temperatures calls for an all-metal hotend.
  • Bed temperature: PC and PC-CF call for 100-120°C and PA6 Nylon for 80-110°C, while the CF nylons and PPA-CF sit between 60°C and 100°C.
  • Enclosure or heated chamber: print polycarbonate, PC-ABS and nylon in an enclosed printer to control warping, in a well ventilated room. PPS-CF needs a printer that can safely reach its nozzle, bed and chamber temperatures.
  • Hardened nozzle: essential for every carbon and glass fibre grade, because the fibres are abrasive and wear brass nozzles.
  • Filament dryer: most grades dry at 80°C for 12 hours or more, but PET-CF needs 100°C and PPA-CF 120°C, so confirm your dryer's maximum temperature. Feed nylon from a dry box on long prints.

For a deeper look at setup, read Engineering Grade Filaments: Nylon, PC, and PA-CF.

Buying engineering filament from OzFDM

Every roll here is 1.75mm filament on a 1kg spool, and most product pages carry a downloadable technical data sheet you can check before committing a design. Businesses, schools and print farms buying regularly can apply for a trade account. Volume pricing mixes any materials across 1kg rolls: 5% off 3 or more, 10% off 6 or more, 15% off 12 or more, and 20% off a full carton of 12 in one colour and material.

Engineering filament FAQs

What is the most heat resistant filament you sell?

Of the filaments with an HDT in our product data, PPS-CF is the highest at 245°C, followed by PPA-CF at 220°C, PET-CF at 205°C and PA6-CF at 200°C. Remember that HDT is measured under a set load, not a promise that a part will perform at that temperature. PPS-CF also needs a 300-350°C nozzle, so if your hotend cannot get there, PPA-CF and PET-CF are the next steps down.

Do I need an enclosed printer for engineering filament?

For most of this collection, yes. Polycarbonate, PC-ABS and the nylon grades print best in an enclosed printer that keeps the chamber warm and free of draughts, which limits warping and cracking between layers. PPS-CF needs an enclosure that can safely reach its chamber temperature. Whatever the material, run the printer somewhere well ventilated, because these plastics release fumes at printing temperature.

Which engineering filament is easiest to print?

PC-ABS is a sensible first step. It pairs polycarbonate's heat resistance (a 123°C HDT) with the printability of ABS, prints at 250-280°C on a 90-110°C bed and does not contain abrasive fibre. PET-GF is also described as easier to print than many advanced engineering materials, although its glass fibre needs a hardened nozzle. Check each product page for drying and enclosure advice before the first print.

Why do engineering filaments need such long drying times?

Most engineering polymers absorb moisture from the air, nylon especially, and damp filament prints with bubbling, stringing, rough surfaces and weaker layers. That is why the nylon and polycarbonate grades list 12 hours at 80°C, and 24 hours is recommended for PA6 Nylon. Even PET-CF, with its low moisture absorption, lists 100°C for 5 hours. Dry just before printing and store rolls sealed with desiccant.

Should I anneal engineering filament parts after printing?

For the grades that list it, yes. Annealing is a controlled bake after printing that relieves stress in the part. Our data recommends 3 hours at 80-100°C for PA6-CF, PA12-CF, PET-CF and PPA-CF, and 1 to 3 hours at 100°C for PC-ABS Sparkling to increase strength. Parts can shift slightly as they anneal, so trial the process on a test piece first. Our article Annealing 3D Printed Parts, why? explains more.

What is the difference between PC-ABS and PC-ABS Sparkling?

Colour is the main difference. Both list the same print settings (250-280°C nozzle, 90-110°C bed), the same 123°C HDT and the same 43.5-45.5 MPa tensile strength. PC-ABS comes in Black, White and Natural for technical parts, while PC-ABS Sparkling comes in eight colours, including Beige, Lime and Orange, for parts that need to stand out or be colour coded.

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