• FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)

It is one of the best known and most widely used technologies that use polymeric materials. It uses plastic fiber (so-called filament), which is plasticized in the nozzle and locally layered on the platform. There are many materials to choose from such as ABS, PLA, PET-G, including flexible materials or composite materials for functional parts. Last but not least, there is a serial granulate, which is identical to the material used for the injected parts - it is used in APF (Arburg Plastic Freeforming) technology.

• SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) and MJF (Multi Jet Fusion)

In both cases, the basic principle is sintering the powder (most often polyamide) in the desired location. SLS uses a laser, at MJF we achieve the result with the help of generated heat and a special binder. In addition to functional and visual prototypes, parts produced in this way are also used as parts in production. They take the form of personalized tools and jigs. In some cases, they even replace serial parts! Both technologies are very productive due to many years of development and there is no need to limit yourself to low production.

• SLA (Stereo Lithography) and DLP (Digital Light Proccesing)

For the production of parts, these technologies use a tank with a liquid resin, which is cured by UV radiation. This method of printing is one of the first to be developed for 3D printers and is still widely used today. The laser SLA and the DLP projector illuminate the layer cross-section of the required part. This hardens the polymer. In addition to large-format SLA machines, prototype production also uses MJ (Material Jetting) technology, where instead of a resin tank, the print head material is applied directly to the platforms. Curing occurs using very strong UV lamps on the sides of the print head. Thanks to this, different materials and colors can be combined in the print, without the need for glued joints!

• SLM (Selective Laser Melting) and EBM (Electron Beam Melting)

These technologies use the principle of melting metal powder. In the first case using a laser, in the second using an electron beam. The material is heated to the required temperature at the required point, which connects the individual particles. Unlike SLS, the atmosphere inside the building chamber plays a big role here. A controlled flow of inert gas (argon or nitrogen) is used to stabilize the melting process and a vacuum is maintained in the chamber for the EBM. Since this is a production of a metal part, the subsequent operations required are more similar to conventional production. We need to remove the support structures that are necessary for proper product printing in certain cases (separation from the platform, overhangs, etc.). Removal takes place with a grinding wheel, band saw, etc.

• WAAM (Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing)

WAAM is a printing method that uses the welding of metal wire in layers and in a protective atmosphere. It is a robot-controlled welding that can be supplemented by conventional machining within a single machine. Thanks to this, it is possible to have a very productive additive machine producing final products in the company!

• FDM

FDM technology is used not only in plastics but also in metals. Instead of plastic fiber, a filament consisting of metal powder and binder can be used. During printing, the binder melts, thus joining the individual layers together. The printed part (so-called green part) is stripped of most of the binder in a special dishwasher and placed in the furnace, where the sintering process takes place, thus creating the final part. The same process uses BJ (Binder Jetting) powder technology, with the difference that the part is created by applying a binder to the powder layers, instead of fiber.

• Wax model printing

It is one of the very strong industries of 3D printing. Models for this method can be produced quickly, accurately and cheaply! It is ideal for piece and small series production. It is used to create a smaller series of metal parts where machining does not make sense. Then comes the casting.

• Lost wax method

A method widely used in both prototype and serial production. Thanks to the technologies used, the wax model is accurate and with fine detail. It can be seen in jewelry, but also in other industries.