PETG
Why we print in PETG
Our golf ball dispensers live outside, so we print them in PETG. We left parts in a hot car at 114F and they kept their shape. Indoor pieces like our clickers are printed in PLA, the right material for desks and keychains.
The short version
PLA is the filament most 3D printed products are made from. It is easier to print and it costs less, but it softens in heat and it does not hold up well outdoors over time.
Our golf ball dispensers live outside, so we print them in PETG instead. It takes more tuning to print well, but it is built for where a dispenser actually lives: golf simulator bays, backyards, cars, and driveways in the sun.
Our golf ball dispensers are printed in UV resistant PETG. Two full dispenser sets have lived outdoors under Utah desert sun and daily sprinklers since testing began, and they are still dispensing. Indoor pieces like our clickers are printed in PLA instead, the right material for desks and keychains.
Same sun. Different material.
Desert sun and UV exposure
Our PETG keeps its strength in direct sun. PLA turns brittle over time.
Rain and sprinklers
Our PETG resists water. PLA absorbs moisture.
Summer heat, tested at 114F
Our PETG holds its shape. PLA can warp and soften.
Left outside for seasons
Our PETG is built for it. PLA is an indoor material.
See it for yourself
Golf ball dispensers and fidget clickers, printed in our workshop.