PET

Stiff and dimensionally stable, for everything that stays cool.

PET-CF, PET-GF and PETG printed to order. The family for parts that must not deflect and do not get hot.

Plenty of technical parts need no heat resistance and no chemical resistance. They just have to be stiff and hold their size: a bracket, a frame, a holder, a fixture on a bench. That is what this family is for.

The three are related but behave differently. Fibre makes PET noticeably stiffer. As printed, PET-CF holds about 75 C without load and about 65 C under load (PET-GF: 65 and 60), which is the heat deflection temperature from the manufacturer minus a 10 C margin. Annealing on request raises that to about 165 C and 105 C for PET-CF, and 120 C and 95 C for PET-GF. PETG is the unfilled member: it is less stiff, stretches further before it breaks and also comes in transparent.

Three grades

Carbon, glass or unfilled.

PET-CF

The stiffest of the three. Choose this when deflection is the problem and the part takes no knocks.

PET-GF

Slightly less stiff, slightly tougher and with no conductive fibre (glass instead of carbon). Choose this when the part has to take the odd knock.

PETG

Without fibre: the least stiff of the three, good for about 65 C without load and under load, and available in transparent. If it has to take more impact, there is PCTG: tougher and also transparent, but less heat resistant under load, to about 50 C. Both are the choice for housings, covers and models where stiffness does not matter.

Typical work: fixtures and assembly aids, brackets and holders, frame parts, housings, and prototypes of components that later go to metal.

Above about 65 C under load this is the wrong family; go to a fibre-reinforced nylon, or to PPA-GF or PPA-CF with annealing on request. Ask us. If an aggressive fluid is involved, PPS is the right choice, and for outdoor work ASA, where UV resistance counts for more than stiffness. If it stays cool and dry, this is usually enough.

Need a stiff part?

With a 3D file, the quote tool shows your price straight away. Just a photo with dimensions? Email it to info@nworks3d.be and you will hear which of the three is enough.