Quick3D How to compare materials across brands fairly
A practical method for comparing 3D-printing materials from different brands: match the standard, orientation and condition, then test.
Two spools of the same polymer from two brands rarely carry the same numbers. Sometimes that reflects a real difference in the material. Often it reflects a difference in how each brand tested it. This guide shows you how to tell the two apart and how to make a fair comparison.
Key takeaways
- Different numbers for the same polymer can reflect testing, not the material.
- Match test standard, specimen and orientation, condition and kind of value before comparing.
- Small gaps of a few percent are usually test scatter.
- Testing your own part in each material is the only comparison that truly settles it.
Why datasheets disagree
Take PLA. Our catalog lists 35 PLA materials from several brands, reporting tensile strengths of 18–56 MPa (中位数 42 MPa，共 34 种材料). Some of that spread comes from genuine differences in formulation: tougher blends, fillers, additives. Some comes from different test methods, specimen orientations and print settings. A higher number does not automatically mean a stronger material.
- Polymaker 1323.2–50.09
- Fiberlogy 1026–53
- 3DXTECH 448–56
- Formfutura 332–46
- Forward AM 334.7–48
色条 = 最低至最高，圆点 = 中位数。共 33 种材料，数据实时来自我们的数据库。
Watch out
These bars mix test methods, orientations and grades. A taller bar does not prove a stronger brand.
Match four things before you compare
1. The same test standard
ASTM D638 and ISO 527 both measure tensile properties, but with different specimens and speeds. Results are close but not interchangeable. Impact values are worse: Izod and Charpy cannot be compared at all. See ASTM vs ISO test methods.
2. The same specimen type and orientation
A value from a bar printed flat (XY) cannot be compared with one printed upright (Z). Neither can be compared with a value from an injection-moulded bar. See print orientation.
3. The same condition
- Moisture: nylons and some other polymers are often reported dry and conditioned. Dry values are higher for strength and stiffness.
- Cure: resin values depend on the UV and thermal post-cure schedule.
- Heat treatment: annealed and as-printed values differ.
- Load: HDT at 0.45 MPa and at 1.8 MPa are different tests. See HDT explained.
4. The same kind of value
Typical vs minimum. Yield vs break. Single value vs range. A typical value from one brand and a minimum value from another are not equivalent. See typical vs minimum values.
Weigh what is left
Once the conditions match, small gaps of a few percent are usually within normal test scatter. Do not choose a material on that alone. Larger, consistent gaps across several properties are more meaningful.
Tip
When conditions cannot be matched, which is common, use the numbers to group materials into rough tiers rather than to rank them precisely.
Look beyond the headline numbers
For most real projects, these matter as much as a few MPa:
- How easy the material is to print reliably on your machine.
- Consistency from batch to batch and colour to colour.
- Availability, lead time and price in your market.
- Relevant certifications for the specific grade, such as flame ratings. These apply to that grade and process and still need to be validated for your part.
- How complete and current the datasheet is.
A practical workflow
- Define the requirements. Loads, temperatures, environment, flexibility, finish and any certifications.
- Shortlist with the hub. Use the finder to filter by process, polymer and property limits.
- Compare side by side. Add your shortlist to the compare tool. Check the test method and condition shown beside each value, not just the number.
- Read the source sheets. Open the linked TDS for each finalist and check footnotes, orientation and post-processing.
- Test. Print the same part or test coupon in each material, with your settings, and test it the way it will be used. This is the only comparison that truly settles the question.
When numbers are all you have
Sometimes you cannot test before you choose. In that case:
- Favour the material whose datasheet states its test conditions clearly. A well-documented value is more useful than a higher, vaguer one.
- Prefer printed-specimen values over moulded ones, and Z values where your part is loaded across its layers.
- Compare several properties together. A material that leads on strength, stiffness and heat resistance under matched conditions is a safer bet than one that wins on a single number.
- Build in a generous margin, and plan to test as soon as parts exist.
Common mismatches to watch for
| You see | Why it may not be a fair comparison |
|---|---|
| One tensile value much higher than the rest | It may come from an injection-moulded specimen, or be quoted at yield rather than break. |
| Very different impact values | One may be Izod and one Charpy, or one notched and one unnotched. |
| Very different HDT values | One may be at 0.45 MPa and one at 1.8 MPa, or one annealed. |
| A nylon that looks much stiffer than another | One may be dry and the other conditioned. |
| A resin that looks weaker than its rival | The cure schedules may differ, or one may use a smaller specimen type. |
| A missing value | The test was probably not run. It says nothing about performance. |
How the hub helps
The Quick3D Materials Hub copies each value as printed from the official datasheet and shows its test method next to it. When a sheet gives several conditions, we note which one is shown. That makes it quicker to spot when two values are not like for like. The ranges and medians across a family help you see where a material sits, but the final call should always rest on matched conditions and your own testing.
If you would like help, we can print test parts in your shortlisted materials so you can compare them on your own bench.
Compare PLA materials across brands 35 种材料