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ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

Additive manufacturing or 3D printing is a Generative digital manufacturing technique, where a CAD design is sliced into multiple 2D sections. The width of the sections (or “layer height”) can be as low as 25 microns. The sections are then compiled together to form the G- code. The 3D printer receives instructions from the G-code to build the product.

Here's how we work;

It starts off with CAD design.
You select the material and quantity or give us the required material specification and we will select the material for you.
We process the design for 3D printing compatibility.
(OPTIONAL) Our team of post-processing experts transforms the part to your desired end finish.

AM technology evolved by leaps and bounds in recent years, which gives your prototype the ability to be rigid, flexible, durable, heat resistant, and more. Contact us to know which processes and materials are right for you!

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING GALLERY

AM TECHNOLOGIES

There are various additive manufacturing capable of creating parts in a variety of materials. Learn more about each process below;

SLA master used to cast this short run u

SPECIFICATION

Layer thickness is typically .006 to .004 of an inch
The build platform sizes range from 10×10” to 20×20”. Larger parts can be built in sections and joined together
Variety of resins available with a range of properties: ABS-like, Polypropylene-like, clear and high-temperature resistant
Parts can be easily finished and painted

The first and oldest additive manufacturing process, stereolithography uses a UV laser reflecting off an X/Y mirror to draw into a vat of liquid UV curable resin. The resin quickly hardens wherever the laser draws.

The same build resin is used to construct support structures for unsupported features. When the drawing process completes, the part emerges from the liquid and is placed in a UV oven for final curing.

SLA

SPECIFICATION

Layer thickness is typically 0.005 of an inch
Platform size is 12×12”
Larger parts can be built in sections and joined together.
Variety of available resins — DuraForm PA (nylon), DuraForm FR (fire retardant), DuraForm GF (glass-filled), CastForm (for investment casting masters), LaserForm A6 Metal
Parts can be easily finished and painted

SLS

SLS is a process that creates layered parts by using a laser to fuses the particles of a powder together. This is the second oldest rapid prototyping system.

The powder that is not fused acts as a support material while the part is building and is brushed/blown off when the part is finished. SLS materials have improved significantly in recent years.

SPECIFICATIONS

Layer thickness is typically 0.010, 0.013, 0.007 of an inch (0.005 are also available)
Platform size is typically 10×10” and 14×16”
Material available is ABS Plus (an ABS with some Polycarbonate content). Also available are a Medical grade of ABS, an ABS/Polycarbonate blend, Ultem 985 (a high temp material) and Polyphenylsufone
FDM materials are versions of plastics that would be used for injection moulding or machining parts (production intent materials)
Parts can be easily finished and painted

FDM

FDM models are built by extruding a bead of partially melted plastic – layer after layer – to build the model.

The system can deposit a soluble material to use as support. This material is dissolved in a chemical bath after the build is finished. Non-dissolving supports would typically be difficult to remove, but this process allows more complex parts to be built.

SPECIFICATIONS

Layer thickness is 0.0006 of an inch
Platform size is 13.25×12.5” or 19.7×15.7”
Rigid resins Vero) available in transparent, black, white, blue and light gray
Flexible resins (Tango) available in Black (Shore A61), Grey (Shore A75, and Plus (Shore A 27) which has amazing elongation and tear strength for an RP resin
Polypropylene like resin
Most parts require no finishing because of the fine layer thickness
Parts can be easily finished and painted

POLYJET

Polyjet technology is similar to an ink jet printer. Droplets of a photo curable resin are deposited layer by layer. UV lamps on either side of the print heads cure the resin as it is deposited.

A separate support material is also deposited. It is gel like and is removed with a water jet leaving no marks on the parts. Parts are fully cured at the completion of the build.

SPECIFICATIONS

Layer thickness at highest resolution is 0.0008 of an inch
Platform size is 9.85×9.85x8.5” or 11×11x13.8”
Various powdered metals to choose
Parts can be CNC machined in the final stage.
Tolerance of +/- 0.005" +0.002" per inch is typical for DMLS.

DMLS

Direct metal laser sintering as the name suggests enables to create 3D computer models straight out of metal. DMLS technology uses a laser to heat and weld metal powder to the required shape and size. DMLS technology has the capability to print in various metals and alloys.