Materials & Technology
AZ 3D Prints — Materials & Technology
AZ 3D Prints is a personalised 3D printing studio in London, UK, founded by Zahabiya Ali in 2022. Here's an honest look at the materials — PLA, PETG, and resin — behind every piece we make, why we choose each material for each product, and what that means for you.
Our Materials
AZ 3D Prints Materials — PLA, PETG & Resin
PLA Filament
Derived from cornstarch or sugarcane
PLA (Polylactic Acid) is our most-used material — a plant-derived bioplastic that prints cleanly, holds detail well, and is safe for home use. It's the material behind our lamps, Islamic art plaques, namak dani, nameplates, bookmarks, and storage crates.
Properties
- Rigid and strong at room temperature
- Smooth matte or satin finish depending on print settings
- Available in 20+ colours — gold, white, black, red, ivory, and more
- Odourless during printing
- Softens above 60°C — not suited for dishwashers or outdoor heat
- Layer resolution: typically 0.1–0.2mm
Sustainability
PLA has a significantly lower carbon footprint during production than petroleum-derived plastics like ABS or nylon. It's industrially compostable, and its plant-based origin means it's not extracting fossil carbon. For objects made to last — lamps, art pieces, home décor — it's a responsible choice.
Used for: Lamps · Islamic art · Namak dani · Nameplates · Bookmarks · Storage crates
Resin (MSLA)
UV-cured photopolymer resin
Resin printing (MSLA — Masked Stereolithography) uses UV light to cure liquid resin layer by layer. The result is an extraordinarily smooth, high-detail finish that FDM filament printing simply can't match at small scales. We use it exclusively for fine-detail pieces.
Properties
- Surface resolution below 0.05mm — far finer than PLA's 0.2mm
- Smooth, polished finish with no visible layer lines
- Hard and impact-resistant once fully cured
- Excellent for Arabic script, miniatures, and intricate motifs
- More brittle than PLA under heavy impact
- Heavier and denser feel than equivalent PLA pieces
Why resin for keyrings?
At keyring scale, Arabic calligraphy requires crisp, clean letter edges that filament printing cannot reliably produce. Resin captures every curve of a script — Naskh, Thuluth, Diwani — with a precision that makes small text legible and beautiful. Each piece is cured, sanded smooth, and fitted with a steel split ring.
Used for: Keyrings · Fine-detail miniatures · High-resolution custom pieces
PETG Filament
Petroleum-derived, fully recyclable
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol) is a tougher, more temperature-resistant filament than standard PLA. We use it selectively for pieces that need to withstand more stress or heat — large structural builds, outdoor-adjacent items, or pieces that need extra strength.
Properties
- Higher impact resistance than PLA
- Temperature resistant up to ~80°C
- Slightly flexible — less prone to snapping under force
- Slightly glossier finish than PLA
- Food-safe grades available
- Fully recyclable (same family as PET plastic bottles)
Used for: Large storage crates · Heavy-use structural pieces · Items needing extra durability
Our Printers
Three machines, one standard.
Ender 3 S1 Pro
FDM · PLA / PETG
Our workhorse for precision detail work — lamps, calligraphy panels, namak dani, and bookmarks. The direct-drive extruder handles flexible and composite filaments cleanly, and the CR Touch auto-levelling ensures consistent first layers across every print.
- Build volume: 220 × 220 × 270mm
- Layer resolution: 0.05–0.35mm
- Max temperature: 300°C nozzle, 110°C bed
Creality (FDM)
FDM · PLA / PETG
Our large-format machine for bigger builds — oversized lamps, storage crates, large Islamic art panels, and batch runs where two printers working in parallel halve the lead time. Consistent results across long print jobs.
- Build volume: 300 × 300 × 340mm (larger format)
- Layer resolution: 0.1–0.4mm
- Ideal for: large panels, batch runs, structural builds
Elegoo Resin (MSLA)
MSLA Resin
Our high-resolution machine for anything requiring fine surface detail. Every keyring, miniature, and intricate decorative piece runs through the Elegoo. UV-cured layer by layer at sub-0.05mm resolution — then post-processed, sanded, and finished by hand.
- XY resolution: 0.051mm (4K monochrome LCD)
- Layer thickness: 0.01–0.2mm
- Ideal for: keyrings, Arabic script, fine-detail pieces
Quick Reference
Material matched to product.
| Product | Material | Printer | Why this combination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personalised Lamps | PLA | Ender 3 S1 Pro / Creality | Rigid enough to hold cylindrical form; fine enough for cutout designs; available in all colours |
| Islamic Art Plaques | PLA | Ender 3 S1 Pro | Clean raised lettering; excellent colour range for gold, black, white finishes |
| Namak Dani | PLA | Ender 3 S1 Pro | Detailed ornamental lids; food-safe grade available; colour-matched to events |
| Keyrings | Resin | Elegoo MSLA | Arabic script and fine motifs require sub-0.05mm resolution; smooth polished feel |
| Bookmarks | PLA | Ender 3 S1 Pro | Slim, lightweight, and smooth — won't damage pages; plant-derived safe material |
| Nameplates | PLA | Ender 3 S1 Pro / Creality | Rigid, matte finish; Arabic and English text at scale; durable for wall/door mounting |
| Lithophane Lamps | PLA | Ender 3 S1 Pro | Translucent white PLA allows light to pass through and reveal photo depth; arc form holds well |
| Storage Crates | PLA / PETG | Creality | Structural rigidity; large build volume needed; PETG for heavy-use versions |
Head-to-Head
Material Comparison — PLA vs PETG vs Resin
| Property | PLA | PETG | Resin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source | Plant-based (corn starch) | Petroleum-derived | Photopolymer |
| Eco-friendly | Biodegradable, low carbon | Recyclable | Not biodegradable |
| Finish | Matte to semi-gloss | Glossy, smooth | Ultra-smooth, no visible layers |
| Detail level | Good (0.1mm layers) | Good (0.1mm layers) | Excellent (0.05mm layers) |
| Heat resistance | Softens at 60°C | Softens at 80°C | Moderate (varies by type) |
| Durability | Rigid, can be brittle | Strong, impact-resistant | Hard, can be brittle |
| Best for | Lamps, art, bookmarks, namak dani | Storage crates, outdoor items | Keyrings, fine miniatures |
| Printer used | Ender 3 S1 Pro / Creality | Ender 3 S1 Pro | Elegoo (MSLA) |
| Price impact | Standard | Standard | Premium (+20-30%) |
Material Questions
What people ask most.
- Is PLA plastic safe for use in the home?
- Yes. PLA is plant-derived (cornstarch or sugarcane), contains no BPA or harmful additives, and produces minimal odour during printing. It's widely considered the safest and most food-safe 3D printing filament available.
- Is PLA environmentally friendly?
- PLA has a significantly lower carbon footprint than petroleum-derived plastics and is industrially compostable. It's derived from renewable plant sources, making it one of the most sustainable choices in FDM printing — especially for long-lasting home décor and keepsakes.
- Will my 3D printed item break or warp?
- PLA is rigid and strong for indoor use. It can soften above 60°C, so avoid dishwashers and direct outdoor sun. For home décor, lamps, and keepsakes used normally indoors, it's highly durable. Resin is similarly robust and handles impacts well once fully cured.
- Why does AZ 3D Prints use resin for keyrings and not PLA?
- At keyring scale, Arabic script requires crisp, clean edges that FDM filament can't reliably produce at 0.2mm layer height. Resin printing resolves detail below 0.05mm — keeping every curve of Naskh or Thuluth script sharp, smooth, and legible.
Still have questions?
Ask us directly.
Zahabiya is happy to talk through materials, finishes, and what's right for your specific piece before you order.
Get in Touch