The importance of material selection for projects
May 10, 2018
Recently we shared a picture of a 3D printed Mantis claw on our social media.
The claw itself was printed and assembled by Jia from our support team. Jia was intrigued by the Mantis Claw for its fusion of functionality and aesthetics.
While the design was originally intended for assembly using metallic parts, this was a perfect opportunity to test out mechanical properties of different filaments.
The base of inner parts of the claws were printed out of Ultimaker Polycarbonate. PC was a great choice as it is known for being strong and tough and retaining dimensional stability. Being that the inner part of the claw would clamp on objects, a stronger mechanical property was desirable.
For the outer arms, Ultimaker Nylon was used for it's high strength and durability, and it's low friction. Those properties made it ideal since it would take on the the most forces from the pulling of the claws.
The project itself was overall really well done, and we can't wait to show you what Jia's working on next!
Also in News

Tariffs and Your Orders: What You Need to Know
March 11, 2025
See how the US tariffs and Canadian counter-tariffs affect you and your purchases from Shop3D.

Utilizing 3D Printing Technologies in Dentistry
March 07, 2025
Dental practices that integrate 3D printing have streamlined their processes, improved patient outcomes, and made high-quality dental restorations more accessible. These are our top recommended tools for dentistry.

Webinar: Simplifying 3D Printing Quoting and Management with AutoQuote3D
February 28, 2025
Join our exclusive webinar to learn about instant quoting with AutoQuote3D. Thursday, March 13, 2025. 11am EST