We offer a range of high-quality 3D printing (additive manufacturing) services, including SLA, SLS, FDM, and SLM, covering both plastics and metals. These process support rapid prototyping as well as low-volume production. 3D printing is ideal for creating one-off parts or small batches, especially when complex geometries are required that traditional manufacturing can’t easily achieve.
Stereolithography (SLA) is an additive manufacturing process that operates differently from FDM. In SLA 3D printing, a laser selectively cures a photosensitive liquid resin, solidifying it layer by layer to form a 3D object.
The process takes place in a tank filled with liquid resin, where a build platform moves vertically after each layer is cured. The laser is precisely directed by a system of mirrors (galvanometers) to target specific areas of the resin surface.
This layer-by-layer curing method allows for exceptional accuracy, intricate details, and smooth surface finishes. While SLA is limited to photopolymer materials, it’s ideal for producing highly detailed prototypes and small, functional parts.
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is a powder bed additive manufacturing process used to produce parts from thermoplastic polymer powders. It is widely favored for creating functional components due to the excellent mechanical properties of SLS-printed parts.
An SLS 3D printer operates by selectively sintering areas of the plastic powder using a high-powered laser. During printing, a thin layer of powder is evenly spread across the build platform. The laser then fuses specific areas of this layer according to the digital design. Once a layer is finished, the build platform lowers, a new layer of powder is applied, and the process repeats until the entire part is formed.
After printing, the finished part is left to cool within the powder bed to prevent warping. Any unused powder remains in the chamber and can be recycled for future prints. Finally, the part is removed and cleaned to eliminate any residual powder.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is the most widely used additive manufacturing technology for desktop 3D printing. This process builds parts layer by layer by extruding melted thermoplastic through a computer-controlled nozzle.
FDM 3D printers use spools of filament as the raw material. The filament is fed into the heated print head, where it is melted and precisely deposited onto the build platform. Guided by computer instructions, the print head moves along three axes to lay down material exactly where needed.
As each layer cools and solidifies, additional layers can be built on top, allowing complex three-dimensional shapes to take form. FDM is also commonly referred to as Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF).
Selective laser melting is able to process a variety of alloys, allowing prototypes to be functional hardware made out of the same material as production components. Since the components are built layer by layer, it is possible to design complex freeform geometries, internal features and challenging internal passages that could not be produced using conventional manufacturing techniques such as casting or otherwise machined. SLM produces fully dense durable metal parts that work well as both functional prototypes or end-use production parts.
| Looking to boost the strength, clarity, or appearance of your 3D-printed parts? Choose from microfluidic and micro-resolution materials, metal plating, secondary machining, and custom finishes like painting, clear coating, and decaling. | |||||||||||||
| Clear Coat | Clear cosmetic finish that can be applied to ABS-Like Translucent/Clear and PC-Like Translucent/Clear materials. | ||||||||||||
| Painting | After smoothing the part with sanding and polishing,parts can be painted with automotive-grade paint. Provide a pantone color with your quote request.We also offer soft-touch painting. | ||||||||||||
| Plating | Electroless nickel plating can be used to achieve parts that are similar to cast aluminum or magnesium. | ||||||||||||
| Dyeing | Dyeing is another method for adding color to 3D prints. This is faster option with alimited color selection, so is a more cost-effective choice than painting. | ||||||||||||
| Decaling | Decaling can be used to add a logo or other graphics to boost cosmetics or function. | ||||||||||||
| Polishing | We can polish parts to a miror-like finish.If this is a requirement,we ask that you provide either a drawing or image that indicates your finish expectations. | ||||||||||||
| Heat Treatment | Harden and strengthen metal 3Dprints with multiple heat treatment options: NADCAP heat treatment, hot isostatic pressing (HIP), solution annealing,and aging. | ||||||||||||
| Machining | Machine metal 3D prints to achieve exceptional surface finish quality or meet tight tolerances. | ||||||||||||
Tolerance is often used interchangeably with accuracy, and describes the acceptable deviation from a part’s intended dimensions. Factors such as printer quality and part geometry can affect the final tolerance achieved.
| Printing Process | Minimum Feature Size | Minimum Wall Thickness | Recommended Design Tolerance | Suitable Applications |
SLA | ~0.2 mm | 0.4-0.6 mm | ±0.05~±0.1 mm | Precision models,display |
| SLS | ~0.5 mm | 0.8-1.0 mm | ±0.2 mm(<100 mm), ±0.3%(>100 mm) | Functional parts,small- batch plastic parts,and assemblies |
| SLM | ~0.3 mm | 0.8-1.5 mm | ±0.05~±0.1 mm | High-performance metal |
FDM | ~0.4 mm | 0.8-1.2 mm | ±0.2~±0.5 mm | Concept models,large shell parts,rapid prototyping |
3D printing works by building objects layer by layer from a digital 3D model—this process is known as additive manufacturing. Instead of removing material like traditional methods, it only adds material (such as plastic, resin, or metal) where needed, creating complex shapes with high precision.
3D printing costs can range from a few dollars to several thousand, depending on factors like printing technology, material, part size, complexity, and post-processing requirements.Our experts evaluate your design and recommend the most cost-effective solution tailored to your needs.
3D printing is cost-effective for low-volume production, custom parts without molds or tooling, making it ideal for low-volume, high-mix production and accelerating product iteration. Compared to traditional manufacturing, 3D printing offers greater design flexibility, faster prototyping, and reduced material waste. It is a more environmentally friendly option.