2-HOUR FIRST RESPONSE QUOTE IN 24 HOURS NDA AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
Service — 3D printing

SLA & SLS 3D Printing for Functional Prototypes

Printed parts that survive a fit check, a user trial or a fixture on the line — reviewed for print orientation before anything is built.

Get Instant Quote Compare Processes

STL, STEP or OBJ · 1 pc minimum · NDA on request

3D printing facts

±0.1 mm typicalSLA, on features above 10 mm
2–5 working daysIncluding post-processing
SLA / SLS / FDMMatched to the geometry
Post-processing availablePrimer, paint, inserts, dye
600 × 600 × 400 mmLargest single build, confirm per part
Process comparison

Three processes, three different jobs

The choice is driven by surface finish, toughness and how the part will be handled — not by which machine is free.

Table 1 — SLA vs SLS vs FDM for prototype parts
Process Best for Tolerance Min wall Lead time
SLA
Stereolithography, resin		 Cosmetic shells, fine detail, clear parts, master patterns for casting ±0.1 mm 0.6 mm 2–4 days
SLS
Selective laser sintering, nylon		 Snap fits, living hinges, brackets, ducts and parts that get handled ±0.15 mm 0.8 mm 3–5 days
FDM
Fused deposition, filament		 Large fixtures, jigs and early form checks where cost dominates ±0.3 mm / ±0.5% 1.2 mm 2–4 days

Tolerances apply to features above 10 mm and are confirmed per part after the print orientation is agreed. Layer height can be reduced for a smoother surface at extra cost.

Print or machine?

The honest answer, before you spend

Printing is cheaper until the material or the tolerance becomes the point. Both columns below come from the same review.

Print it when
  • The geometry is still changing and every iteration costs a setup.
  • The part has internal channels, lattices or undercuts a cutter cannot reach.
  • You need five versions of the same housing for a user test next week.
  • Weight matters more than strength — a hollow printed shell beats a solid block.
  • The part is a master pattern for silicone casting or vacuum forming.
Machine it when
  • The drawing calls a real alloy: 6061, 316 stainless, POM, PEEK.
  • A bore, a flatness or a position callout decides whether it assembles.
  • Threads will be used more than a handful of times.
  • The part has to pass a drop, pressure or temperature test.
  • Surface finish is specified as Ra and will be measured.

A common route is to print the first article for fit, then machine the same geometry for the functional test. We quote both lines together so the comparison is visible before you choose.

Materials & finishing

What the part is made of, and what happens after

Resins and powders are stocked in the region; specialities are ordered against the job.

Table 2 — Printing materials
Material Process Typical use
Standard resinSLAForm studies, visual models
Tough / PC-like resinSLAHousings, clips, functional shells
Clear resinSLALight guides, lenses, fluid paths
High-temp resinSLAAir ducts, heat shields, moulds
PA12 nylonSLSBrackets, ducts, living hinges
PA12 glass-filledSLSStiff structural parts
TPU powderSLSGaskets, grips, soft-touch parts
ABS / ASA / PETGFDMJigs, fixtures, large form checks

Post-processing

  • Support removalHand-finished, no marks on cosmetic facesAll
  • Bead blastingUniform matte surfaceSLA / SLS
  • Primer + paintRAL or Pantone match, matte or glossSLA / SLS
  • DyeingBlack as standard, other colours on requestSLS
  • Inserts & tappingHeat-set inserts, M3 and aboveSLA / SLS
  • Clear coatUV protection and depth on clear partsSLA
Process

From file to finished part in four steps

Orientation and support strategy are decided before the build starts, not after it fails.

  1. Day 0

    File check + quote

    Mesh checked for errors, wall thickness and build size. The process is recommended, not assumed.

  2. Day 1

    Print

    Oriented for the cosmetic face, nested and built at the partner factory. Photos on request.

  3. Day 2–4

    Post-process

    Supports removed, surfaces finished, then primer, paint, dye or inserts as specified.

  4. Day 4–5

    Check + ship

    Key dimensions checked against the drawing, photos taken, parts packed and shipped.

±0.1 mm is typical for SLA on features above 10 mm, and ±0.15 mm for SLS. FDM is quoted at ±0.3 mm or ±0.5% of the dimension, whichever is larger. Printing is not a substitute for machining when a bore has to fit a bearing — we will say so before you order.
Yes. We tap M3 and larger directly in SLS nylon, and install heat-set inserts into SLA and SLS parts when the wall thickness allows. For repeated assembly, an insert is more durable than a printed thread; the DFM note will recommend one or the other.
Choose SLA when the surface has to look like a moulded shell and the part is small enough to fit the build platform. Choose SLS when the part needs to flex, snap or survive repeated handling — nylon is tougher than any standard resin, and there is no support removal on visible faces.
SLA parts can be primed and painted to a RAL or Pantone reference, with a matte or gloss clear coat. SLS parts are dyed black as standard and can be painted, though the slightly porous surface needs a primer coat first. Send the colour reference with the order.
For low-stress brackets, covers and fixtures, yes — particularly SLS PA12. For load-bearing or high-cycle parts, machining is the safer route. We will tell you which side of that line your part sits on rather than let you find out in the field.
Next step

Send the STL. Get a print plan within 24 hours.

An engineer checks wall thickness, orientation and finish, then quotes the process that will actually hold your tolerances.

Get Instant Quote WhatsApp an Engineer
Partner factory
Partner factory
Partner factory
DIN / ISO 2768-m / f · CMM reports available
WhatsApp