Alumide vs Formlabs ESD
Polymer · grade comparison
Alumide and ESD are both polymer grades, both specialty plastic. On the shop floor, Alumide sits in a lower cost tier (standard, $$) than ESD (premium, $$$).
AlumideChoose it when cost is the deciding factor.
Alumide vs ESD: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all polymer grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all polymer grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Properties
Yield strength
Tensile strength
Elongation at break
Elastic modulus (Young's)
Density
Max service temp
Thermal conductivity
Machinability
Weldability
Formability
Same in both: Electrical conductivity 0 % IACS
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Alumide | ESD |
|---|---|---|
| Injection molding | — | Yes |
| Default condition | Standard | — |
| Relative cost | $$ Standard | $$$ Premium |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
| Chrome Plating (Plastic) | — | Yes |
| Spray Painting | — | Yes |
Both are offered for 3D printing. They share 10 finishes: Conductive Coating, Dyeing (Nylon), EMI Shielding Coating, Painting, Primer Coating, Soft Touch Coating, Tinted Coating, UV Coating, Vacuum Metallization, Waterproof Coating.
Alumide vs ESD — frequently asked
What is the difference between Alumide and ESD?
Alumide and ESD are both polymer grades, both specialty plastic. On the shop floor, Alumide sits in a lower cost tier (standard, $$) than ESD (premium, $$$).
Which is cheaper, Alumide or ESD?
Alumide is the lower-cost material: it sits in the standard tier ($$) while ESD is premium ($$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
When should I choose Alumide over ESD?
Pick Alumide when cost is the deciding factor.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Alumide and ESD side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.