Engineering & ManufacturingCNC · Rapid Prototyping
Additive manufacturing
3D printed parts for design reviews, testing and short runs
3D printing builds parts layer by layer from the CAD file, with no tooling. It is the quickest way to get a part in your hand for a design review or a fit check, and it can make internal channels and lattice shapes that no cutter can reach.
The process is chosen from what the part has to do: look right, snap together, carry load or take heat. Support removal, sanding, painting and machining of critical holes are planned together with the print.
3D printing technologies
- FDM: thermoplastic filament, low-cost large models and fixtures
- SLA and DLP: photopolymer resin, smooth detailed models and vacuum casting masters
- SLS and MJF: nylon powder, tough functional parts with no support structures
- PolyJet: rigid, rubber-like and clear resins, multi-material models
- SLM / DMLS: metal parts in stainless steel, aluminum or titanium alloys
- Binder jetting: metal parts sintered after printing
3D printing at a glance (typical)
| Technologies | FDM, SLA/DLP, SLS/MJF, PolyJet, SLM/DMLS metal printing, binder jetting |
|---|---|
| Materials | Photopolymer resins, nylon (PA12, PA11), thermoplastic filaments, metal powders |
| Layer thickness | SLA about 0.05–0.1 mm; SLS and MJF about 0.08–0.12 mm; FDM 0.1–0.3 mm; metal 0.02–0.06 mm |
| Accuracy | SLA, SLS and MJF about ±0.1–0.2 mm or ±0.2% on larger parts; FDM coarser |
| Best for | Concept models, fit and function prototypes, complex geometry, short runs |
| Post-processing | Support removal, sanding, painting, machining of critical holes and faces |
3D printing FAQ
Which 3D printing technology should I choose?
SLA for smooth, detailed appearance models and vacuum casting masters; SLS or MJF nylon for snap fits, ducts and other functional parts; FDM for large, low-cost models and fixtures; metal printing for metal parts with internal channels or shapes that cannot be machined.
Are 3D printed parts as strong as molded parts?
Usually not. Printed parts are weaker between layers, FDM parts most of all, and printing resins are not the same as molding grades. For production-like properties, consider CNC machining, vacuum casting or rapid tooling.