Recommendation: Impact & Toughness (Indoor)

Based on your need for durability and impact resistance in a controlled environment, we recommend the following materials:

1. ABS (Economy): The industry standard for tough prototyping. A reliable, ductile thermoplastic that handles drops and snap-fits well without shattering. Ideally suited for proof-of-concept models and basic housings. (Note: Can be prone to warping on very large, flat geometries)
2. PC-ABS (Performance): The best of both worlds. An engineering blend that combines the detailed finish of ABS with the superior impact strength and heat resistance of Polycarbonate. Commonly used for power tool casings and automotive interiors.
3. Nylon 12 (Ultimate): Unbreakable durability for end-use parts. Nylon (PA12) offers exceptional fatigue resistance—it will flex rather than snap under stress. It provides near-isotropic strength (strong in all directions) and excellent chemical resistance for functional production parts.

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Recommendation: High Stiffness & Structural

Based on your requirement for rigid, load-bearing parts that maintain their shape under stress, we recommend: 

1. ABS-Carbon or Glass (Economy): Rigid and dimensionally stable. By reinforcing standard ABS with chopped carbon fiber (or glass), we significantly reduce flexibility and warping. An excellent choice for drone frames, stiff housings, and large structural prototypes that need to stay flat.
2. Nylon 12 CF / Onyz (Performance): The industrial workhorse for jigs and fixtures. Nylon reinforced with micro-carbon fibers offers a high strength-to-weight ratio and a beautiful matte black surface finish. It is stiff enough for soft jaws, robotic end-effectors, and manufacturing tooling.
3. Continuous Carbon Fiber (Ultimate): Metal-replacement strength. For parts that absolutely cannot bend. By inlaying continuous strands of Carbon Fiber into the print, we achieve stiffness comparable to 6061 Aluminium at a fraction of the weight. ideal for heavy-load brackets and suspension components.

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Recommendation: Outdoor & UV Resistant

Based on your need for parts that must withstand sunlight (UV), moisture, and temperature fluctuations without degrading, we recommend:

1. ASA (Economy): The gold standard for outdoor housings. Imagine ABS, but immune to sunlight. ASA is formulated specifically to resist UV radiation and weathering. It will not yellow or become brittle over time, making it the default choice for drone shells, camera housings, and automotive exterior trim.
2. Carbon Fiber Nylon (Performance): Structural strength with element protection. While standard white nylon degrades in the sun, our Black Carbon Fiber Nylon (Onyx) uses its carbon fill and pigment to block UV damage. It offers significantly higher stiffness and heat resistance (145°C) than ASA, perfect for load-bearing brackets on vehicles or machinery.
3. PPS-CF (Ultimate): Impervious to the environment. Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) absorbs zero moisture and is unaffected by UV, fuels, acids, or solvents. Ideally suited for "fit and forget" components in mining, marine, or chemical processing environments where failure is not an option.

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Recommendation: Temperature Resistance

Based on your requirement for parts that must operate in high-heat environments (>100°C) without softening or deforming, we recommend:

1. Polycarbonate (Economy): Tough, transparent, and heat-stable. Significantly more heat resistant than ABS or PLA, Polycarbonate maintains structural integrity up to 110°C. It is widely used for electrical enclosures, light pipes, and medical device housings that require sterilization.
2. Carbon Fiber Nylon (Performance): Automotive "Under-the-Hood" ready. By reinforcing Nylon with micro-carbon fibers, we push the Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) up to 145°C. This material is ideal for engine bay components, radiator brackets, and composite curing tooling that sees moderate oven cycles.
3. PEEK / PEI/Ultem (Ultimate): The top of the polymer pyramid. For extreme thermal environments. These super-polymers handle continuous temperatures exceeding 200°C and offer V-0 flammability ratings (self-extinguishing). Used when plastic needs to perform like metal in aerospace and mining applications.

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Recommendation: High Detail & Visual Models

Based on your need for smooth surfaces and intricate details, we recommend SLA/DLP Resin printing:

1. Standard Grey Resin (8K): Injection-mould quality surface finish. Ideal for master patterns, gaming miniatures, and highly detailed visual prototypes. The layers are almost invisible to the naked eye, making it perfect for painting.
2. Tough Resin (Functional): Detail with durability. Standard resin is brittle. Tough Resin mimics the mechanical properties of ABS while maintaining high resolution. Choose this if the part needs to be snapped together or handled frequently
3. Clear Resin: Translucent & Optical. For light-pipes, fluid visualization, or artistic components. Can be polished to high optical clarity.

✨ Premium Upgrade: Electroplating Turn plastic into metal. We can electroplate your resin print in Copper, Nickel, or Chrome. This adds a real metal skin, cold-touch feel, and weight. Perfect for film props and high-end cosmetic prototypes.

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Recommendation: Rapid Concept (Draft)

Based on your need for a cost-effective "Form and Fit" check or rapid iteration, we recommend PLA Pro:

1. PLA Pro (Economy): Fast, cheap, and accurate. The most affordable material for initial validation. It is rigid and dimensionally accurate, perfect for checking if your design fits together before moving to expensive engineering materials. (Note: Not recommended for high heat or outdoor use).
2. PETG (Functional Check): The durable middle-ground. PETG offers higher impact strength and chemical resistance than PLA. It is slightly flexible, meaning it will bend rather than snap, making it excellent for testing living hinges, snap-fits, or liquid containers
3. Draft ABS (Finishing): Post-processing ready. If you need to sand, paint, or glue the part for a visual model, ABS is much easier to process than PETG or PLA. It simulates production plastics well but requires a controlled environment to print.

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Recommendation: Flexible Materials

Based on your need for elasticity, impact absorption, or sealing properties, we recommend:

1. TPU 95A (Standard): Industrial toughness & abrasion resistance. Shore 95A hardness is similar to a shopping cart wheel or hard rubber heel. It is extremely tough, almost impossible to tear, and excellent for protective boots, drone bumpers, and vibration dampeners.
2. TPU 85A (Soft): Higher grip and compression. Shore 85A hardness is similar to a sneaker sole. It compresses more easily under load than 95A, making it the better choice for suction cups, gaskets, and seals that need to conform to irregular surfaces.
3. Flexible Resin (High Detail): Rubber-like look and feel. Filament (TPU) prints can have a rough surface texture. Flexible Resin offers a smooth, injection-mould quality finish. Ideal for prototyping ergonomic grips, wearable straps, and buttons where surface aesthetics are critical.

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