PETG vs ABS: Which one for your next prototype?

PETG and ABS are the two materials we reach for most often when a customer needs a functional prototype that has to actually do something — not just look the part.

PETG prints more reliably, has better layer adhesion, and is more forgiving of imperfect cooling. We default to it for enclosures, brackets, and any part that does not need to live inside a hot car or chemical environment.

ABS gets the call when heat resistance matters, when post-processing with acetone vapor smoothing is in play, or when the customer wants a finish closer to injection-molded plastic.

A practical rule: start with PETG. Move to ABS only when you have a specific reason that PETG cannot serve.