Carbon fibre 3D printing, posted UK-wide
Chopped-fibre PETG-CF and PA-CF for selected functional parts, printed on enclosed machines with hardened steel nozzles. Upload your file for a live price, then tell us the duty so the exact grade can be checked before production. Orders start at £40.
Two material families, selected from the duty
Chopped fibre can add stiffness and produce a clean matte finish, but the base polymer and exact manufacturer grade still govern the useful behaviour. PETG-CF and PA-CF are category names, not universal specifications.
PETG-CF
A filled PETG family considered when a stiffer feel, matte finish and dimensional stability justify the price step.
- Stiffness reviewed against the exact grade datasheet
- Smooth matte surface, looks professional off the bed
- Can improve dimensional stability for suitable geometry
- Modest price step: +60% on the per-gram rate
- Dark colours only: black, grey, dark green, brick red, indigo, violet
- Order-in, adds about one working day
PA-CF (carbon-fibre nylon)
A filled nylon family considered for selected wear, stiffness and temperature duties after grade review.
- Exact strength and temperature limits are grade-specific
- Conditioning, orientation and geometry affect the finished part
- Considered for suitable wear parts and moving mechanisms
- Filament is dried in the machine before printing
- Black only, and our priciest material at +140%
- Order-in, adds about one working day
Compare the job, then check the grade
Generic material names are not specifications. We use the selected manufacturer's datasheet as an input, then account for geometry, orientation, conditioning and the real operating environment.
| Material | Useful starting point | Review before use | Price vs PLA |
|---|---|---|---|
| PETG | Tough everyday functional parts | Load, heat, UV and creep | +20% |
| PETG-CF | Stiff, matte functional parts | Exact grade, load, heat and orientation | +60% |
| PC (polycarbonate) | Selected impact and temperature duties | Exact grade, heat and environment | +90% |
| Nylon (PA) | Selected wear and moving parts | Moisture, dimensions, load and grade | +110% |
| PA-CF | Filled nylon for selected functional duties | Exact grade, conditioning, heat and orientation | +140% |
This is selection guidance, not design allowables or certification. Hark Tech supplies chopped-fibre FDM parts, not continuous-fibre reinforcement, and does not make a blanket aluminium-replacement claim. The customer validates the finished part in service. Carbon-fibre materials are ordered per job, add about one working day to dispatch, and start at £40 for the print. UK delivery is free at that price.
Where carbon fibre earns its price
If the part just sits there, PETG is cheaper and fine. Carbon fibre earns its keep when weight, stiffness or heat are on the line.
Drone & RC parts
Camera mounts, covers and crash-replaceable non-critical parts where a reviewed filled grade can justify its price. Primary load paths need explicit engineering validation.
Gears & moving parts
Selected bushes, cams, gears and hinges can benefit from a nylon base. Load, moisture, wear rate and mating surfaces still need review.
Brackets & mounts
Sensor brackets, antenna mounts and camera rigs where the geometry, load and environment suit chopped-fibre FDM. Metal remains the right process for many highly loaded duties.
Jigs, fixtures & tooling
Workshop tooling that gets clamped, knocked and used daily. The matte CF surface also shrugs off the scuffs that make glossy plastic tooling look tired in a week.
Automotive clips & trim
Interior brackets and cable guides can be candidates. Under-bonnet heat, chemicals, vibration and safety consequences need the exact location and duty reviewed first.
Functional prototypes
A filled grade can make a prototype more representative of a target material class, while still requiring validation before any production-duty decision.
Upload now, Standard dispatch in 2–4 working days
1. Price it now
Upload your STL, STEP or 3MF to the instant quote tool and switch to PETG-CF or PA-CF to see the live price. Nothing is committed until you order.
2. We order the reel in
Carbon fibre filament is ordered fresh per job and dried in the machine before printing, which is most of why nylon parts from a proper service beat home-printed ones. This adds about one working day.
3. Printed, checked, posted
Printed on enclosed machines with hardened steel nozzles, checked over the bench, and posted tracked anywhere in the UK.
Carbon fibre, answered
Is carbon fibre 3D printing as strong as metal?
There is no honest blanket equivalence. Chopped-fibre prints can suit selected brackets, mounts, jigs and functional parts, but the result depends on the exact grade, conditioning, geometry, orientation, load and environment. Safety-critical, highly loaded and high-temperature work needs an appropriate process and engineering validation.
What is the difference between PETG-CF and PA-CF?
PETG-CF is a filled PETG family considered for selected stiff, matte functional parts. PA-CF is a filled nylon family considered for selected wear, heat and functional duties. Neither name identifies one universal specification, so we review the exact grade and datasheet against the job.
What colours does it come in?
PA-CF comes in black only, that is the material, not us being difficult. PETG-CF comes in black plus a small range of dark colours: grey, dark green, brick red, indigo and violet. The quote tool only offers colours we can genuinely source.
Why the £40 minimum order?
Carbon fibre filament costs three to four times what PLA does, and we buy a fresh reel in for your job, which also adds about one working day to dispatch. So the print starts at £40, which covers the reel. There is no setup fee on top, a batch of parts can share it, and UK delivery is free at that price.
Do the fibres make the surface rough?
The opposite. Chopped-fibre filaments print with a smooth matte surface that hides layer lines better than any glossy plastic. It is why CF parts look as professional as they perform.
Can you print carbon fibre on a budget printer at home?
Not for long: the fibres chew through brass nozzles, and nylon that has not been properly dried prints foamy and weak. Our machines run hardened steel nozzles and dry the filament in the machine as it prints, which is exactly the boring infrastructure that makes these materials behave.
Price your part in carbon fibre now
Upload a file and switch between PETG-CF and PA-CF to see the live price, or describe the job and we will recommend a material honestly, the same working day.