Material Type FAQ

Tree Dee Designs Inc. is dedicated to providing customers with as many customization options as possible. Besides choosing your material colour and adding custom text & logos, there are now options available for material type. We can certainly accept requests for additional material types not listed, and we will be adding new materials all the time.

Different materials have pros and cons. When selecting your Material Type for your product, the drop-down menu will list a "Recommended" material type. This is the material type recommended by Tree Dee Designs and has proven to be the best material for the specific product shown.

Here is the breakdown of all material types:

1. PLA+: 
- Although there are "stronger" materials available, products have been designed in a way to use this material type effectively, and (when recommended) is proven very resistant to forces. It's main weakness is temperature resistance.
✔ Impact Resistance: Moderate – can handle light drops but may crack under force.
✔ Flexibility: Low – rigid and brittle, will snap if bent too far.
✔ Bending Strength: Low – does not return to shape once bent.
✔ Temperature Resistance: Poor – softens at 60°C/140°F, not suitable for hot environments (e.g., inside a car).

2. PETG:
✔ Impact Resistance: High – absorbs shocks better than PLA, making it more durable.
✔ Flexibility: Moderate – slightly flexible but holds its shape well.
✔ Bending Strength: Good – can bend slightly without permanent deformation.
✔ Temperature Resistance: Moderate – holds up to ~70-80°C before softening.

3. ABS/ASA:
✔ Impact Resistance: High – durable and shatter-resistant.
✔ Flexibility: Moderate – more flexible than PLA, but not soft.
✔ Bending Strength: Good – bends slightly and can return to shape.
✔ Temperature Resistance: Good – withstands up to ~85-100°C (ASA is also UV-resistant for outdoor use).

4. Other Material Types:

- PLA-CF: Carbon Fiber Reinforced PLA: Similar statistics to PLA+ but slightly more impact resistant with a slightly higher temperature resistance, while adding aesthetic features of a super matte finish with a slight texture.
✔ Impact Resistance: Moderate – stronger than PLA+ but still prone to cracking under stress.
✔ Flexibility: Low – stiff and rigid, will snap rather than bend.
✔ Bending Strength: Low – does not return to shape once deformed.
✔ Temperature Resistance: Moderate – slightly better than PLA (~70°C/158°F) but still sensitive to heat.

- PLA Sparkle: Same statistics as PLA+, but is an aesthetic type material, providing a matte finish which is speckled to give a marble-like appearance.

- Rainbow PLA: Same statistics as PLA+, but is an aesthetic type material, providing a transitional colour changing effect. This effect is only captured on products that are of a large size (like cases) but the effect is lost on smaller objects (like syringe holders) due to the small amount of material used. However, we can manually create a "rainbow" effect by switching the filament multiple times during manufacturing. For more information on this effect, please email us.

- PLA Glow: Same statistics as PLA+, but is an aesthetic type material, providing a glow in the dark effect.

- Nylon PA6-CF (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Nylon): This is an extreme material with industrial strength capabilities. This material is very expensive and thus is difficult to add to product pages as a simple add-on. We're very excited to offer this material, but a custom order would need to occur for products made in this material (please email us - darrell@treedeedesigns.com)
✔ Impact Resistance: Very High – extremely durable and resistant to breaking.
✔ Flexibility: Low – very rigid, but absorbs force without shattering.
✔ Bending Strength: Moderate – stronger than PLA but not designed to flex significantly.
✔ Temperature Resistance: Very High – can withstand 100-120°C before softening.

- Flexible Materials (TPU): This material is often used as an add-on in various products to help provide shock absorption and other flexibility enhancements. If you wanted to inquire about using this type material for an entire product, please reach out to us - darrell@treedeedesigns.com