3D Printing Services

Technology selection depends on part function, material requirements, tolerance, and build volume.

FDM is the default for functional prototypes, jigs, tooling, and aerospace-grade ULTEM parts. It produces strong parts with layer lines visible, and is the most cost-effective option for parts above 100 mm.

SLA and DLP are the correct choice for visual prototypes, dental and jewelry masters, and parts needing surface finish down to Ra 0.8 μm. Layer heights from 0.025 mm capture fine detail but photopolymer resins are weaker than thermoplastics.

SLS and MJF produce isotropic nylon parts with no support structures, enabling complex internal geometries and living hinges. MJF is faster than SLS for production batches of 50 to 500 parts.

Metal DMLS and SLM are specified when part performance requires aluminum, titanium, stainless, or Inconel. They are more expensive and slower than polymer processes, but they replace investment casting or CNC machining for complex geometries with internal channels.

Our engineering team can recommend the right technology during DFM review based on your application and tolerance requirements.

Seven process families cover nearly all production and prototype 3D printing.

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) extrudes molten thermoplastic through a heated nozzle. Stereolithography (SLA) and Digital Light Processing (DLP) cure liquid photopolymer resin with UV light. Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) fuses nylon powder with a CO₂ laser. Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) jets fusing agent onto nylon powder and fuses each layer with infrared energy.

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and Selective Laser Melting (SLM) fuse metal powder with fiber lasers. PolyJet deposits droplets of photopolymer and cures them with UV, enabling multi-material and multi-color builds. Binder Jetting bonds powder with a liquid binder and is used mainly for metal sand casting patterns and full-color sandstone parts.

We run FDM, SLA, SLS, MJF, and metal DMLS/SLM in-house and subcontract PolyJet and Binder Jetting where a project calls for them.

Dimensional accuracy depends on technology, part geometry, and whether the part is post-machined.

SLA delivers the tightest as-printed tolerances at ±0.05 mm on features under 25 mm and Ra 0.8 μm surface finish. MJF and SLS hold ±0.2 mm on most dimensions. FDM holds ±0.2 mm or ±0.2% of dimension, whichever is greater. Metal DMLS holds ±0.05 to ±0.1 mm depending on orientation.

Post-machining replaces as-printed tolerances with machined tolerances of ±0.025 mm. Features that need tight fits, sealing surfaces, or threaded holes should be machined after printing.

Flag critical dimensions on your drawing so they can be reviewed for achievable tolerance or machining allowance before the build starts. Over-specifying every dimension drives up cost without improving part performance.

Four material families cover nearly all commercial 3D printing.

Engineering thermoplastics (FDM) include ABS, ASA, polycarbonate, PC-ABS, and high-performance ULTEM 9085 and 1010 for aerospace and autoclavable medical parts. ULTEM 1010 has a heat deflection temperature of 213 °C.

Production nylons (SLS and MJF) include Nylon 12 at 48 MPa tensile strength, flame-retardant Nylon 12 certified to UL-94 V-0 and FAR 25.853, and glass-filled nylon for stiffer, more dimensionally stable parts.

Photopolymer resins (SLA and DLP) include Standard, Tough, Durable, and High-Temperature grades at 38 to 55 MPa tensile strength. Biocompatible Class I and Class IIa resins are available for medical prototypes.

Metal alloys (DMLS and SLM) include aluminum AlSi10Mg, titanium Ti6Al4V, stainless steel 316L, 17-4 PH, Maraging steel M300, and Inconel 718. Metal parts achieve 99.5%+ density and 460+ MPa ultimate tensile strength.

Material selection should match the part’s mechanical load, operating temperature, regulatory requirements, and surface finish needs. Our DFM review can recommend the right material before the build starts.

Maximum build envelope depends on technology.

FDM industrial printers handle parts up to 300 × 300 × 300 mm as a single build. Parts larger than this can be split, printed, and bonded using solvent welding or mechanical joints.

SLS covers 340 × 340 × 600 mm in a single build. This is the largest envelope available for production nylon parts with isotropic properties.

SLA is limited to around 145 × 145 × 175 mm on desktop systems and 750 × 750 × 550 mm on large-format industrial resin printers. MJF runs 380 × 284 × 380 mm per build.

Metal DMLS is the smallest envelope at 250 × 250 × 325 mm due to the physics of laser powder bed fusion and heat management during the build.

Oversized parts are typically split into printable sections, printed separately, and joined in post-processing. Flag part dimensions early so we can select the right technology.

3D printing wins on complex geometries, low volumes, and iteration speed. CNC wins on surface finish, tolerance, and material strength for certain metals and volumes.

Choose 3D printing when the part has internal channels, lattice structures, undercuts, or organic geometries that CNC cannot reach. Also choose 3D printing for single-piece prototypes or runs under around 100 units where tooling and setup dominate CNC cost.

Choose CNC machining when tolerance below ±0.025 mm is required across the whole part, surface finish below Ra 0.8 μm is needed on large areas, or material is a wrought grade (6061 aluminum, 304 stainless) whose mechanical properties differ from the 3D-printable version.

Many real programs use hybrid manufacturing: 3D print the complex base geometry, then CNC machine the critical mating features. Our engineering team can recommend the right split during DFM review.

Yes. 3D printed parts have moved well beyond prototyping.

SLS and MJF nylon parts are used in production for under-the-hood automotive brackets, ducting, and jigs. HP MJF delivers 1,200 MPa flexural modulus with isotropic properties, which supports production runs of 500 to 5,000 parts.

FDM ULTEM 9085 and 1010 parts are used as FAA-compliant aircraft interior components. ULTEM 1010 is autoclavable for medical instruments.

Metal DMLS parts are used in aerospace, medical implants, and industrial tooling. Parts achieve 99.5%+ density and mechanical properties comparable to wrought material after heat treatment.

End-use 3D printing is most cost-effective for volumes under around 1,000 units where injection molding or die casting tooling cannot be amortized. Above that volume, traditional processes usually win on per-part cost.

We accept STEP, STL, IGES, SLDPRT, X_T, and OBJ. STEP is the preferred format because it preserves geometry precision; STL is acceptable but represents the part as a mesh of triangles, which can introduce small geometry errors.

1. Upload: Drag your CAD file into the online quote tool. Compress multiple files into a ZIP or RAR if needed.

2. Instant Quote: Our system generates an instant price based on part volume, bounding box, material, and technology within seconds.

3. Engineering Review: For complex parts or production batches, an engineer reviews the file within 24 hours and responds with DFM notes and material recommendations.

4. Final Quote: Receive a PDF with unit price, lead time, material and finish options. Tooling cost applies only for hybrid programs that include injection molding or die casting.

5. Order Placement: Accept the quote online and your build enters the schedule immediately. Typical first-article prototypes ship within 1 to 5 business days.

6. Production and Inspection: Parts are printed, post-processed, and inspected against your drawing or CAD file before packing.

7. Shipment: Parts ship with dimensional inspection reports, material certificates, and photos on request. Express air freight is available for time-sensitive orders.

The full workflow from CAD upload to delivered parts takes 1 to 15 business days depending on technology, volume, and finish requirements.