3D Printing
3D printing leverages innovative production methods allowing businesses to achieve reduced lead times, ensuring products reach customers faster. This efficiency translates to cost savings, as streamlined processes minimize waste and optimize resources. Additionally, design flexibility empowers creators to iterate quickly, adapting to market demands with ease. Coupled with material versatility, companies can experiment with different components to enhance durability and aesthetics. Ultimately, these advantages help businesses get faster to market, securing a competitive edge and maximizing opportunities for growth.
FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) is a 3D printing process in which a spooled filament of material is fed into a printer, melted and extruded through a nozzle. While molten and being extruded, the head of the printer traces the profile of the layer being printed on the build plate. The extruded layer solidifies and the printer indexes upward and deposits the next layer on top of the previous layer; Layer by layer until the part is built.
Some part geometry requires support material to be printed in order to support the core geometry when there are overhanging features such as a hole or bore that is perpendicular to the build axis. At the end of printing, the supports are removed, however, some cosmetic blemishes can occur where the core material meets the support material. In addition, FDM printing may have visible layer lines that can affect the overall aesthetic quality of the part. Both the layer lines and support material blemishes can be post processed with sanding and painting if a higher aesthetic quality is required.
An additional note about FDM printing; printing thick geometry has limited return on the overall strength of the part and has a negative effect on the print time and material usage. For this reason, variable infill density can be used to infill with lattice structures to achieve excellent structural strength while reducing print time and material consumption.
Build volumes:
10.07” (256mm) x 10.07” (256mm) x 10.07” (256mm); PLA, PET, PETG, ASA, PC, PA, PPS, ABS, TPU.
31.49” (800mm) X 31.49” (800mm) X 39.36” (1000mm); PLA, PET, PETG, TPU ONLY.
We offer a variety of FDM materials:
| TYPE | NAME | USES | FINISH | COLORS | REINFORCEMENT OPTIONS | SPECIAL OPTIONS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA* | POLYACTIC ACID | PROTOTYPING, PRODUCT DESIGN, DECORATIVE ITEMS | GLOSS, MATTE | MANY COLORS | CARBON FIBER | – |
| PET* | POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE | PROTOTYPING, PRODUCT DESIGN | MATTE | BLACK | CARBON FIBER | – |
| PETG* | POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE GLYCOL MODIFIED | PROTOTYPING, PRODUCT DESIGN | MATTE, TRANSLUCENT | LIMITED COLORS | CARBON FIBER | ESD – ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE |
| ASA* | ACRYLONITRATE STYRENE ACRYLATE | PROTOTYPING, PRODUCT DESIGN, DECORATIVE ITEMS | MATTE | MANY COLORS | – | – |
| PC* | POLYCARBONATE | PROTOTYPING, PRODUCT DESIGN, DECORATIVE ITEMS | MATTE, GLOSS, | BLACK, GREY, TRANSLUCENT WHITE | – | V0 performance in the UL94 flame retardancy |
| PA* | POLYMIDE (NYLON) | PROTOTYPING, PRODUCT DESIGN, DECORATIVE ITEMS | TRANSLUCENT | BLACK, GREY | CARBON FIBER, FIBERGLASS | – |
| PPS* | POLYPHENYLENE SULFIDE | PROTOTYPING, PRODUCT DESIGN, DECORATIVE ITEMS | MATTE | BLACK | CARBON FIBER | – |
| ABS* | ACRYLONITRILE BUTADIENE STYRENE | PROTOTYPING, PRODUCT DESIGN | MATTE | LIMITED COLORS | – | – |
| TPU* | THERMOPLASTIC POLYURETHANE | PROTOTYPING, PRODUCT DESIGN | MATTE | WHITE, BLUE, BLACK | – | – |
We also offer FDM with embedded continuous fiber reinforcement with the following materials: fiberglass, HSHT fiberglass, Aramid™ (Kevlar™) or carbon fiber.
Build volume: 12.59” (320mm) X 5.98” (152mm) X 6.06” (154mm) with continuous fiber reinforcement.
| PA w/micro carbon fiber* | ONYX™* | PROTOTYPING, PRODUCT DESIGN | MATTE | BLACK | CONTINUOUS FIBER REINFORMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PA* | POLYMIDE (NYLON) | PROTOTYPING, PRODUCT DESIGN | MATTE | BLACK | CONTINUOUS FIBER REINFORMENT |
*Material datasheets available upon request.
MSLA (Masked Stereolithography Apparatus) is a 3D printing process in which a liquid photopolymer resin is exposed to ultraviolet light causing the resin to cure in a thin layer, then the print head moves and the process repeats until the part is generated.
Some part geometry requires support material to be printed in order to support the core geometry when there are overhanging features such as a hole or bore that is perpendicular to the build axis. At the end of printing, the supports are removed, however, some cosmetic blemishes can occur where the core material meets the support material.
MSLA is very accurate and creates isotropic parts that have excellent resolution and aesthetics.
Build volume: 8.333” (211.68mm) X 4.660” (118.37mm) X 8.66” (220mm)
| TYPE | DESCRIPTION | USES | FINISH | COLORS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHOTOPOLYMER RESIN* | SIMILAR PROPERTIES AS ABS | PROTOTYPING, PRODUCT DESIGN, DECORATIVE ITEMS | GLOSS, MATTE, TRANSLUCENT | MANY COLORS |
Material Specifications:
Max. force (KGF)
165.96±10%
Tensile strength (MPA)
39.12±10%
Deformation at the point of maximum force (mm)
8.88±10%
Yield point elongation (%)
6.32±10%
Elongation at break (%)
15.67±10%
Flexural strength (MPa)
38.03±10%
Flexural modulus (MPa)
1165.13±10%
Shore hardness (D)
82-85
Impact strength (j/m)
38.96±10%
Tensile modulus (MPa)
513.05±10%