Selective Laser Sintering

Perfect for functional testing, rapid prototyping, high-heat and chemically resistant applications.

SLS uses a high-powered C02 laser to fuse small particles of powdered material to create 3-dimensional parts.  The laser selectively fuses powdered material by scanning X&Y cross-sections on the surface of a powder bed.  The model is built one layer at a time from supplied 3D CAD data. SLS is capable of producing highly durable parts for real-world testing.

• Produce highly complex geometries
• Durable, high-heat and chemically resistant applications
• Impact-resistant parts for rigorous use
• Ideal for snap fits and living hinges
• Low-volume production solutions
• Major time and cost benefits
• Large build platforms available

Tolerances for standard resolution:

• X/Y planes: +/- .005” for the first inch, plus +/- .005” for every inch thereafter
• Z plane: +/- .010” for the first inch, plus +/- .005” for every inch thereafter

SLS produces parts from impact-resistant engineering plastic, great for low- to mid-volume end-use parts, enclosures, snap-fit parts, automotive components and thin-walled ducting.

SLS produces complex geometries, for low-volume parts that would typically require assembly using traditional manufacturing methods.

Applications

Rapid Manufacturing

• Aerospace Hardware
• UAS – Unmanned Air Systems Hardware
• UAV – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Hardware
• UUV – Unmanned Underground Vehicle Hardware
• UGV – Unmanned Ground Vehicle Hardware
• Medical and Healthcare
• Electronics: Packaging, Connectors
• Military Hardware

Rapid Prototypes

• Functional Proof of Concept Prototypes
• Design Evaluation Models (Form, Fit & Function)
• Product Performance & Testing
• Engineering Design Verification
• Wind-Tunnel Test Models

Tooling and Patterns

• Tooling and Manufacturing Estimating Visual Aid
• Investment Casting Patterns
• Jigs and Fixtures

Direct Metal Printing

Quickly and accurately manufacture complex metal parts.

Direct Metal Printing (DMP), also commonly known as Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), is an additive manufacturing technology that builds high-quality complex metal parts from 3D CAD data. In the machine, a high precision laser is directed to metal powder particles to selectively build up thin horizontal metal layers one after the other. This cutting-edge technology allows for the production of metal parts with challenging geometries, not possible using traditional subtractive or casting technologies. A variety of functional metals are available to print designs, from prototypes to production series of up to 20,000 units.

• Production of small and extremely complex shapes with no need for tooling
• High-quality parts ideal for R&D and serial part manufacturing at the tightest tolerances
• Industry’s best surface finished parts with exceptional accuracy
• Accommodate innovative part design versus conventional processes
• Topology optimised parts and mass customisation
• Complex and thin-walled structures allow significant part weight reduction

Application

• Machine construction
• Tool and die making
• Food and pharmaceutics
• Chemistry and petrochemistry
• Aerospace engines
• Automotive parts
• Veterinary and medical devices
• Heat Exchangers
• Air/Oil/Fuel mixing devices
• Customised sporting goods
• Weight-reduction parts utilising Topology optimisation
• Industrial burner parts
• Radiation collimators
• Semicon and wafer handling equipment
• Customised production line equipment

Cast Urethane

Achieve parts that accurately mimic the physical properties, colour, texture and feel of injection moulded parts.

Vacuum Casting provides high-quality parts production at low- to mid-volumes without the cost and time of hard tooling, using 3D printed masters and silicone moulds that defy traditional production timelines.

Key Features: Wide range of polyurethane materials, smooth surfaces, colours available with RAL or Pantone number.

From product development models and prototypes to low-volume production runs, this rapid prototyping process allows us to produce parts that accurately mimic the colour, texture, feel and physical properties of injection moulded parts.

• Accurately mimic production colours and textures
• Large material selection – rigid, flexible, durable, transparent and high-temp
• Offers similar physical properties to injection moulded parts
• Used for pre-production runs
• Parts made for marketing samples and test prototypes
• Low-volume manufacturing

Cast Urethane parts can be completed and delivered in days after completing SRM tooling (Silicone Rubber Molds). Short runs of several hundred pieces can be delivered within weeks in most instances.

One of the most significant benefits of the Cast Urethane process is the ability to over-mould existing parts or hardware with a second material.

Investment Casting Patterns

Accelerate your casting production timelines with high quality, fast prototype and production casting patterns with 3D Technology On Demand Manufacturing services

Investment casting, often known as lost-wax casting, is a manufacturing methodology that has been around for thousands of years. While there has been some degree of automation in the foundry industry, the need for the pattern around which to make the cast shape remains a constant – and waiting for tooling to create the patterns can take weeks or months, costing tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

3D printed casting patterns offer a tool-free, fast, reliable and accurate alternative to patterns created using tooling, reducing the costs of creating a pattern by as much as 90%, and produced in one-tenth of the time. With two key 3D printing materials – SLA plastic and wax – that are fully industry-tested, your casting patterns can be completed in days or a couple of weeks, with little to no restriction on the size of the casted part.

3D Technology On-Demand Manufacturing offers rapid production of casting patterns from its partner production facilities in the UK. With expert teams who have been producing investment casting patterns for more than 20 years, using additive platforms and materials that are being continually refined and updated to meet ever more rigorous standards, On Demand Manufacturing can meet your needs for prototype and production-grade casting patterns.

3D printed patterns can be created quickly, and deliver more complex parts than injection moulded wax patterns. We use both a plastic process and a wax process depending on the needs and applications of our customers.

Applications

QUICKCAST PATTERNS

The QuickCast build style for investment casting is preferred in medical, aerospace & defence applications because of accuracy and high-level surface finish.

PROJET WAX PATTERNS

Preferred by the jewellery, medical and aerospace industries, ProJet Wax patterns are built by printing thin layers of wax materials to quickly create the highest levels of surface finishes for casting patterns.

CNC Machining

Build parts in final production materials

Applications

• Electronics Parts Manufacturing
• Engraving Machine Applications
• Machining Composites
• 5 Axis Machining
• Micro Hole Drilling
• Machining Aluminum
• Machining Plastics
• And more

ColorJet Printing

Create vibrant, full-colour concept models, architectural models and demonstration models.

ColorJet Printing (CJP) is an additive manufacturing technology which involves two major components – core and binder.  The Core™ material is spread in thin layers over the build platform with a roller.  After each layer is spread, a colour binder is selectively jetted from inkjet print heads, which causes the core to solidify. The build platform lowers with every subsequent layer which is spread and printed, resulting in a full-colour three-dimensional model.

• Full-colour concept models
• Architectural models
• Demonstration models
• Highly complex geometries
• Quick production times

Whether printed with colour or in standard white, parts can be additionally clear coated to add a hard, smooth coating or wax coated to smooth out the surface finish.

Applications

Excellent for demonstration models with full-colour printing.

Fused Deposition Modeling

Great for proving designs, fit and function testing, small production runs, jigs, and fixtures.

Applications

• Concept
• Engineering models
• Functional testing
• Consumer products
• High-heat applications
• Initial prototypes