← 3D Printing Services

Micro, nano and industrial materials

Choose the right 3D printing material for the job

QTEC Studio helps Australian product teams match geometry, load, temperature, finish and production intent to a practical material and printing process, across industrial, micro and nano-scale printing.

2-25 µmmicro and nano printing capability for suitable parts
2-3 daystypical production after approval
8 familiesfrom engineering resin to metal
Australia-wideproject support and delivery

Available capabilities

Material families

Availability, colour, certification and achievable tolerances vary by part geometry and production route. We confirm the recommended grade before quoting.

01 / RESINPrecision

Rigid engineering resin

Sharp detail and smooth surfaces for concept models, housings, jigs, fixtures and dimensionally controlled prototypes.

Choose when: appearance, fine features and dimensional clarity matter.
02 / TOUGHFunctional

High-strength and nylon-like resin

Improved toughness and impact resistance for clips, brackets, enclosures and functional validation parts.

Choose when: the prototype must survive handling, assembly or moderate load.
03 / FLEXIBLESoft touch

Flexible and rubber-like polymers

Compliant materials for seals, grips, bellows, soft-touch components and fit testing, with hardness selected to the application.

Choose when: bend, compression or tactile response is essential.
04 / OPTICALClear

Transparent resin

Clear or translucent parts for visual flow checks, light guides, display models and internal-feature inspection. Polishing options can improve clarity.

Choose when: users need to see through or into the component.
05 / CASTINGLow ash

Castable wax resin

High-detail patterns designed for investment casting workflows in jewellery, small metal components and intricate prototypes.

Choose when: the printed part is a clean-burnout casting pattern.
06 / CERAMICSintered

Ceramic-filled resin

Printed green parts that are debound and sintered for heat-resistant, electrically insulating or wear-focused ceramic applications.

Choose when: final ceramic properties justify additional process steps.
07 / SPECIALTYResearch

Hydrogel and biomedical research materials

Water-rich printable systems for research models, microfluidic exploration and specialist biomedical development.

Important: clinical use requires separate certification and application-specific validation.
08 / ADVANCEDProduction

Metal and full-colour processes

Metal routes support high-strength end-use components; full-colour routes support presentation models, visual prototypes and realistic replicas.

Choose when: final strength or visual communication outweighs prototype simplicity.

Fast comparison

Start with the requirement, not the material name

The best choice is usually a balance of performance, surface finish, accuracy, lead time and budget.

Primary need Likely starting point Strong fit Review carefully
Fine detail and smooth finish Rigid precision resin Presentation models, small features, master patterns Brittleness, UV exposure, long-term load
Functional handling Tough or nylon-like resin Clips, brackets, housings, assembly trials Impact direction, wall thickness, fatigue
Flexibility or sealing Flexible polymer Grips, gaskets, bellows, soft components Shore hardness, tear points, compression set
Heat exposure High-temperature resin or ceramic Tooling aids, fixtures, controlled thermal use Test method, post-cure, sustained temperature
Direct metal part Metal additive process Complex high-value components and low volumes Supports, machining allowance, certification
Realistic visual model Full-colour process Architecture, medical communication, displays Structural load and outdoor durability

Engineering note: Published material values are not a substitute for part-level validation. Geometry, orientation, wall thickness, cure cycle and operating environment can materially change performance.

Precision nano printing capability

High-temperature rigid resin for ultra-fine work

is part of QTEC Studio’s solution set for micro and nano-scale printing. A representative high-temperature rigid resin is specified for high dimensional stability, surface hardness and low viscosity, supporting ultra-fine features, detailed models and efficient cleaning.

156°Csupplier-listed heat deformation temperature
160 mPa·ssupplier-listed viscosity
1.17 g/cm³supplier-listed density
2%supplier-listed elongation at break

Representative high-temperature material data. Final material selection and achievable detail are confirmed per project.

What to send us

A useful material brief

Along with your CAD file, tell us what the part must do. This lets us recommend a material based on engineering intent instead of appearance alone.

Include: load direction, temperature range, chemical contact, flexibility, colour or transparency, surface finish, target quantity, critical dimensions and whether the part is a prototype or end-use component.

Accepted files include STL, OBJ, STEP, STP and X-T.

Request a material recommendation

Our review process

From CAD file to a defensible choice

We review manufacturability before production so material, process and finishing decisions support the intended use.

STEP 01

Share the design

Upload the CAD file, quantity and application requirements.

STEP 02

Review constraints

We assess features, walls, tolerances, supports and finish expectations.

STEP 03

Confirm the route

You receive a recommended material, process, lead time and quote.

STEP 04

Produce and deliver

Production starts after approval, with Australia-wide delivery available.

Common questions

Material selection FAQ

Can you match a specific commercial plastic?

We can recommend a printable analogue based on stiffness, toughness, flexibility, temperature and finish. A printed resin may behave differently from injection-moulded ABS, polypropylene or nylon, so we describe it as “ABS-like” or “PP-like” unless equivalence has been validated.

Which material is best for functional prototypes?

Tough or nylon-like resin is a common starting point, but the right answer depends on impact, fatigue, heat, chemicals and load direction. Share the operating conditions and we will narrow the options.

Can transparent prints be optically clear?

Transparent resin can achieve good visual clarity, especially after suitable finishing, but printed parts are not automatically optical-grade. Geometry, layer orientation and polishing affect the result.

Do you offer certified medical or food-contact materials?

Certification is grade- and application-specific. Tell us the regulatory requirement at the start of the project so documentation and production controls can be reviewed before quoting.

Can you print one prototype before a larger run?

Yes. A pilot part is often the most reliable way to verify fit, finish and performance before committing to a larger quantity.

Not sure which material fits your part?

Send the CAD file and operating requirements. QTEC Studio will review the design and recommend a practical production route.

Get a material and process review