Quick AnswerSLM metal parts achieve near-wrought mechanical properties. Tensile strength: 95-100% of wrought. Yield strength: 90-100%. Elongation: 60-100%. Fatigue strength: 70-90% (improved by surface finishing). SLM 316L: 530 MPa tensile (wrought: 515 MPa). SLM Ti64: 950 MPa (wrought: 950 MPa). SLM AlSi10Mg: 440 MPa (cast A360: 320 MPa). The main difference is surface finish (6-12 Ra as-built vs...

Quick AnswerFor plastic functional prototypes, SLS with Nylon 12 (PA12) produces the strongest parts with 48 MPa tensile strength, 10-20% elongation, and excellent fatigue resistance. For metal prototypes, SLM produces fully dense parts with properties matching or exceeding wrought materials (316L stainless: 530 MPa tensile, Ti64: 950 MPa). MJF (Multi Jet Fusion) nylon is comparable to SLS. FDM in...

Quick AnswerSLA cures liquid resin with UV light for the finest detail and smoothest surfaces (25-micron layers). SLS fuses nylon powder with laser for strong, functional parts without supports (100-micron layers). FDM melts plastic filament for economical, durable parts (100-300-micron layers). Choose SLA for detail and finish, SLS for function and complexity, and FDM for budget and strength.SLA ...

Quick AnswerUse 3D printing for: early concept models, design iterations requiring many revisions, complex geometries impossible to machine, and parts needed in 1-5 days. Use CNC machining for: functional prototypes in production materials (aluminum, steel, PEEK), parts needing production-representative tolerances (±0.001"), and prototypes that will undergo physical testing. Best practice: 3D prin...

Quick AnswerFive 3D printing technologies dominate professional prototyping: FDM for economical, strong parts; SLA for high-detail resin parts with smooth surfaces; SLS for durable nylon functional prototypes; MJF for fast, consistent production of nylon parts; and SLM for metal prototypes. The right choice depends on your requirements for strength, detail, material, and budget.FDM - Fused Deposit...

Quick AnswerSLA (Stereolithography) and SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) are two leading 3D printing technologies. SLA cures liquid photopolymer resin layer by layer using a UV laser, producing parts with exceptional surface finish and detail. SLS fuses nylon powder using a laser, creating durable, functional parts that require no support structures. Each technology serves different applications an...

Quick Answer3D printing is primarily used for rapid prototyping, design verification, custom manufacturing, and producing complex geometries impossible with traditional methods. It accelerates product development by allowing designers to iterate designs in hours instead of weeks, without the tooling costs of conventional manufacturing.Rapid PrototypingThe most common application of 3D printing is ...

Quick Answer3D printing, or additive manufacturing, creates physical objects by building up material layer by layer from a digital 3D model. Unlike traditional subtractive manufacturing, 3D printing adds material only where needed, enabling complex internal geometries, rapid design iteration, and cost-effective low-volume production.How 3D Printing WorksThe process starts with a 3D CAD model, whic...