3D printing companies in north carolina

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Selective Laser

Direct Metal Laser

Stereolithography

Carbon Digital Light

Professional 3D printing services in North Carolina

We serve mechanical engineers to make custom 3D printed parts for application in multiple industries: space, aerospace, automotive, defense, hardware startups, industrial automation, machinery, manufacturing, medical devices, oil & gas and robotics. Use SyncFab expert 3d printing services to take advantage of our network of professional 3D printing capabilities, which means our customers get both competitive prices and fast lead times. We specialise in four processes, bringing you everything you need for custom 3D printing projects, from rapid prototyping to small production runs of metal 3D prints for industrial applications.

Find the Right 3D Printing Process

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)

Stereolithography (SLA)​

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)​

Carbon Digital Light Synthesis (DLS)​

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)

Stereolithography (SLA)​

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)​

Carbon Digital Light Synthesis (DLS)​

3D Materials

Aluminum

Steel

ABS Materials

PEI Materials

Rubber-like Plastics

Aluminum

Steel

ABS Materials

PEI Materials

Rubber-like Plastics

Concept Models

The speed and versatility of 3D Printing lets product developers create physical snapshots of their designs through the iterative process.

Tooling Parts

3D Printing can be used to create fully-functional prototypes, complete with moving parts, as well as all-in-one assemblies.

Production Parts

The high accuracy and consistency of 3D Printing makes it an ideal way to build large quantities of discrete or customized parts.

3D Printing for Industrial Applications

3D printing is very versatile and can be set up for relatively hands-free production, which makes them ideal
for many industries including automotive, electronics, aerospace & defense, robotics, and medical.

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SyncFab offers an industry-leading online 3D printing service. Whether you need prototypes or production parts, we can make them for you in as fast as a day. We are your one-stop shop for accurate, precise custom 3D printed parts at a low cost. Upload your 3D CAD file to get a quote.

We use the latest additive manufacturing processes to build affordable functional prototypes & end-use parts in all metals and plastics. You can explore our materials below. We offer high-quality 3D printing processes including selective laser sintering, fused deposition modeling, stereolithography, direct metal laser sintering, polyjet, Carbon DLS, and HP Multi Jet Fusion.

Advantages of 3D printing

Rapid Turnaround

Parts can typically be shipped in as little as 1 day, allowing for faster design iterations and speed to market.

Durability

3D printing can offer great impact strength, medium flexibility, and high resistance to environmental factors.

Complex Geometry

Geometries can be built more easily due to the 3D printing process, adding complexity without additional cost.

Part Production

3D printing with SyncFab helps you produce end-use parts on-demand, increasing throughput.

Precision

We can meet tolerances of +/- 0.005” or +/- 0.002” per inch, whichever is greater. Please see our Manufacturing Standards for more details.

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Benefit from Advanced Industry Blockchain Smart Contract Cybersecurity Protection for your Uploads and Supplier Incentive Programs for Complex RFQs

3D Printing with SyncFab

A Brief History Of 3D Printing

Additive manufacturing, also called 3D Printing, began in earnest in the early 1980s. The first patent application for an additive rapid prototyping technology was filed by Dr. Hideo Kodama in Japan in 1980, though he did not receive a patent due to his failure to submit the full patent specification within one year.

In July of 1984, a group of French inventors filed a patent for stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing – a process in which layers are added to a part curing photopolymers with ultraviolet light lasers. The French patent was later abandoned due to Three weeks later, Chuck Hull, an American working who later founded 3D Systems, filed his own patent for SLA. Hull also invented the STL file format.

In the late ‘80s 3D printing took another step forward. In 1987, Carl Deckard of the University of Texas filed a patent for Selective Laser Sintering; his application was granted in 1989.

Next, S. Scott Crump, the founder of Stratasys, developed fused deposition modeling (FDM) in 1988. Stratasys was granted the patent in 1992 and soon after would launch one of the first commercially successful FDM machines. In addition, EOS, another prominent 3D printer company, was founded by Hans Langer in 1989.

Through the ‘90s and early 2000s, new technologies continued to be introduced, thought most were focused on expensive industrial applications. Companies like Solidscape, ZCorporation and Arcam were launched during this period and the selective laser melting (SLM) process was developed during this time. The market for both high-end printers and more prototyping-focused, less expensive machines both grew in this era.

It took years – until 2009 – that the first widely available commercial 3D printers went on sale. It was also about this time that the first commercial 3d printing services began to appear. Since this time, both industrial and personal 3D machines have improved in quality and gotten less expensive. In 2013, two NASA employees Samantha Snabes and Matthew Fiedler launched their large-format, affordable 3D printer, Gigabot and a new company called re:3D. Since then, 3D printers have become even more accessible.

The 3D printing services space continued to grow with the launch of SyncFab in 2014. Since then, SyncFab has offered instant quotes on custom parts with fast lead times to everyone from solo entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 companies. SyncFab now offers six 3D printing processes: selective laser sintering, fused deposition modeling, stereolithography, direct metal laser sintering (metal), PolyJet 3D, and HP MultiJet Fusion, a faster, less expensive advanced process from Hewlett Packard. 

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Largest listed companies in the 3D printing sector

3D printing dates back to the late 1980s. At the end of 2018, the size of the 3D printing market, according to various estimates, reached from $9 trillion to $10 trillion. Calculations were made based on the cost of producing printers, components and 3D printing.

In the coming years, expert agencies (IMARC, Inkwood Reasearch, Marketwatch, etc.) predict a steady growth of at least 20% per year. In this scenario, by the end of 2025, the scale of the entire 3D printing segment will reach at least $ 32 trillion - 3. 5 times higher than the current values.

The outlook for the sector makes it attractive to investors. Consider the largest and most stable companies in this segment, whose shares can be considered for purchase and take their rightful place in your portfolio.

1. HP Inc Capitalization: $29.3 billion

HP manufactures computers, printers, tablets and a number of other devices. The release of 3D printers is not the main specialization of the company, but HP occupies one of the leading positions in the 3D printing segment. In 2014, the company developed the Multi Jet Fusion technology, which allowed to increase productivity and reduce the cost of professional (industrial) 3D printers. The technology has been successfully applied in mass production of printers since 2016.

In 2017, HP opens the world's first 3D lab, equipped with printers in various build states and essential tools for device experimentation. The company has opened up the first opportunities to test new materials in 3D printers to increase efficiency.

In 2018, HP will open a joint manufacturing center with China's Guangdong in Guangdong, China, which is the largest such 3D printing project in Asia Pacific and Japan. The facility is equipped with ten high-tech next-generation HP Metal Jet printers to produce parts and prototypes for industrial customers.

2. Proto L abs (NYSE: PRLB). Capitalization: $2.56 billion

The company was founded in 1999 and has more than 10 production sites in seven countries. The head office is located in Minnesota. The company specializes in the production of parts for other manufacturing companies. The corporation positions itself as the fastest in the world in the production of custom prototypes and finished parts for industrial customers. In 2014, Proto Labs launched 3D printed parts.

In addition to 3D printing, the company produces CNC (Computer Numerical Control) parts, injection molding and sheet metal parts. In 2015, Proto Labs bought Alphaform (specializing in innovative 3D printing) with divisions in Germany, Finland and the UK. This allowed the company to expand its 3D printing business in Europe. To diversify its business and introduce sheet metal manufacturing, the company acquired Rapid Manufacturing in 2017 for $120 million. 9 Systems ( NYSE: DDD). Capitalization: $1.01 billion

3D Systems was founded by inventor Chuck Hull in 1986 as the world's first 3D printing company. It produces 3D printers and components, including software, and also designs them. The company provides services at various stages of design, development and production of products for many large industries, including aerospace, automotive, medical, entertainment and other areas. It should be noted that the corporation also works with retail consumers. Business diversification within the 3D segment makes the company financially stable.

3D Systems is headquartered in Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA. The number of employees of the company exceeds 2600 (as of the end of 2018), which is twice as high as five years ago.

4. Stratasys ( NASDAQ: SSYS). Capitalization: $0.98 billion

The company was founded in 1989 by Scott Crump. The technology was based on the idea of ​​creating the shape of a figure by layering after Scott decided in 1988 to make a toy for his daughter using a gun filled with glue. At 1992 Stratasys released its first 3D Modeler product.

Today, Stratasys manufactures industrial and desktop 3D printers and related accessories. The range of services includes installation, maintenance and training in working with printers. The company serves various industries by developing technologies for the production of prototypes and parts. The first public offering of Stratasys shares took place in 1994 at $5 per share and a total volume of $5. 7 million. The head office is located in Minnesota.

5. Materialize Capitalization: $0.88 billion

Incorporated in 1990 in Leuven, Belgium, Materialise specializes in 3D printing services and 3D printer software. Like other leaders in this sector, Materialize works with various major manufacturers around the world (Adidas, HP), but a significant share of the business is in cooperation with medical centers and institutions. The company's portfolio includes more than 150 medical patents. Materialize offices are located in 18 countries, including one office located in the CIS in Ukraine.

Issuer Comparison

The most valuable company among the leaders is HP, which is due to the scale and diversification of the company's business in the entire technology segment. 3D Systems, Stratasys and Materialize specialize exclusively in the 3D printing segment, while their capitalization is on the same level. Proto Labs has three businesses besides 3D printing and is in the middle of our list in terms of capitalization.

The most undervalued company in terms of EV/EBITDA is HP, but it is not correct to compare it with other issuers by this multiplier due to the differentiation of the company's products and services. 3D Systems has the highest EV/EBITDA, and from this point of view, the paper is not so attractive to buy. Moreover, over the past four years, 3D Systems shares have been in a stable sideways trend without technical prerequisites for growth.

The remaining three companies, in our opinion, may be of interest. At the same time, if your long-term goal is to get the maximum increase from the growth of the 3D printing sector, then investing in HP shares is less preferable compared to other securities. After all, the reaction of the shares of companies with a direct specialization is more sensitive to changes in the sector. Below are the consensus forecasts of investment houses according to Reuters, according to which Stratasys (14.9%) and Materialize (13.6%) shares have the greatest potential now.

HP Inc (NYSE: HPQ): $20.5 (+3.4%)
Proto Labs (NYSE: PRLB): $98.7 (+3.0%)
3D Systems (NYSE: DDD): $8 .6 (+0.6%)
Stratasys (NASDAQ: SSYS): $20.8 (+14.9%)
Materialize (NASDAQ: MLTS): $19.2 (+13.6%)

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3D printing under the protection of the law | RBC Trends

The development of 3D technologies raises questions for lawyers: who owns the rights to 3D models, is it legal to post weapon drawings on the Internet, and who still owns the Iron Throne from the Game of Thrones

3D printing is already actively used in some industries, such as medicine, automotive and aircraft manufacturing, light industry. Moreover, a 3D printer can be used not only as a tool for such familiar purposes as the production of small-scale parts. For example, North Carolina-based Precise Bio has developed a bioprinter to create an artificial cornea.

3D printing works like a conventional printer. To make a plastic phone case, you first need to create a 3D model of it using a special application on your computer. This model is then sent for printing, just like a regular document. Modeling involves various forms of creating a three-dimensional object. For example, selective laser sintering (the laser, scanning the model, “sculpts” the future object), layer-by-layer deposition. Instead of ink, a variety of materials are used, such as plastic, laser powder, metal, and even human tissue.

In connection with the development of three-dimensional printing, the issue of the legal regime of three-dimensional models is of particular relevance. It can be assumed that 3D objects will become more in demand in commercial circulation than their physical counterparts. For example, it will be possible to buy not the thing itself, but its three-dimensional prototype or “assemble” the model to fit your needs. For example, Under Armor, Adidas and Nike are already working to introduce a custom 3D sneaker service. And the domestic manufacturer of trucks KAMAZ uses technology to create digital twins of products.

It is important to understand the legal regime of a 3D model and its legal protections. In some cases, this is an object of intellectual property, for example, when it comes to a model with an original design or a model containing patentable solutions.

Traditionally, patent law, unlike copyright law, protects the content of a solution, not its form. Therefore, the use of a patented solution, as a general rule, is considered to be its “reification” in an object of the material world or the subsequent commercial use of such a material object. Such "reification" proves the use of the essence of the solution. At the same time, dissemination of information about a patented object, including drawings, drawings, verbal descriptions, is not considered the use of a patent. This position is also confirmed in court decisions, and in the Civil Code of Russia, all of the listed methods of using patents are associated with the implementation of a patented solution in a product or product, that is, in an object of the material world (Article 1358 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation).

Of interest is the role of online platforms and services for the distribution of three-dimensional models, of which there are already a lot (Pinshape, Turbosquid, Thingiverse, Free3d). Such sites contain large databases of 3D products, the legality of which placement and use in some cases is questionable. For example, on such resources, you can download models of key rings with trademarks of famous brands, toys in the form of famous cartoon characters, designer vases, and even spare parts for car engines.

HBO has filed a complaint against designer Fernando Sosa, who created a 3D model of the Iron Throne iPhone stand and put it up for sale. According to representatives of HBO, using the image of this throne when creating the model, the designer violated the copyright of the channel. After receiving the claim, Sosa removed the model from the site.

Another question that is gaining relevance in connection with the development of 3D modeling: who will be responsible for the damage caused by the printed object?

The technical capabilities of 3D printers have reached such a level that even firearms and human organs can be created. Now the cases of printing such objects are rare, and the distribution of devices on which you can simulate such complex objects is not even a matter of tomorrow.

However, this future will certainly come. The story of Cody Wilson, the owner and founder of the Defense Distributed project, raises questions about the safety of using 3D printing. Wilson created and 3D printed the first working model of a single-shot Liberator pistol. The company posted drawings of the components of these weapons on the website in the public domain in 2013, which caused concern to the authorities, including because such pistols cannot be detected by metal detectors. The businessman was threatened with millions in fines and promised to be charged with the illegal export of weapons. Wilson obeyed the demands, but filed a lawsuit for infringement of his rights to freely disseminate information, and the ban was canceled.
In 2018, the Attorneys General of ten US states filed a lawsuit against the administration of US President Donald Trump for allowing the authorities to post instructions for assembling a gun on a 3D printer on the Internet.

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