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Metal 3D Printing Service for Custom Parts

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Proto Labs, Inc.
5540 Pioneer Creek Dr.
Maple Plain, MN 55359
United States
P: 877.479.3680
F: 763.479.2679
E: [email protected]
Best-in-Class Online Quoting
After uploading your part design, you'll receive an online quote that includes manufacturing analysis to help improve part manufacturability. Within your quote, you can also adjust quantity and material and see price changes in real-time.
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Certifications

ISO 9001:2015 | AS9100D | ITAR Registered

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→ Capabilities
→ Available Alloys
→ Compare Material Properties
→ Surface Finishes
→ Post-Processing
→ Why Metal 3D Printing?

Direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) is an industrial metal 3D printing process that builds fully functional metal prototypes and production parts in 7 days or less. A range of metals produce final parts that can be used for end-use applications.

Metal 3D printing technology is commonly used for:

Prototyping in production-grade materials
Complex geometries
Functional, end-use parts
Reducing metal components in an assembly

We hope you find this guide helpful. If the file did not download, you can find it here.

Metal 3D Printing Guide

Jump start your metal 3D printing with this guide that covers material selection, design, post-processing, and quality inspections.

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Metal 3D Printing Capabilities

Our basic guidelines for metal 3D printing include important design considerations to help improve part manufacturability, enhance cosmetic appearance, and reduce overall production time.

Metal 3D Printing Tolerances

For well-designed parts, tolerances of +0.003 in. (0.076mm) plus 0.1% of nominal length can typically be achieved. Note that tolerances may change depending on part geometry.

Max Dimensions

Layer Thickness

Minimum Feature Size

Tolerances

*At this time, Inconel 718 and Aluminum are the only materials available on our large format, X Line machine

Metal 3D Printing Material Options

Below is our available metal alloys for 3D printing. Various heat treatments are available depending on material.

Stainless Steel (17-4 PH)

Stainless Steel 17-4 PH is a precipitation hardened stainless steel that is known for its hardness and corrosion resistance. If needing a stainless steel option, select 17-4 PH for its significantly higher tensile strength and yield strength, but recognize that it has far less elongation at break than 316L. Final parts built 17-4 PH receive vacuum solution heat treatment as well as H900 aging.

Primary Benefits

Heat treated for full hardness and strength
Corrosion resistance

LEARN MORE>

Stainless Steel (316L)

Stainless steel 316L is a workhorse material used for manufacturing acid and corrosion resistant parts. Select 316L when stainless steel flexibility is needed; 316L is a more malleable material compared to 17-4 PH. Final parts built in 316L receive stress relief application.

Primary Benefits

Acid and corrosion resistance
High ductility

LEARN MORE>

Aluminum (AlSi10Mg)

Aluminum (AlSi10Mg) is comparable to a 3000 series alloy that is used in casting and die casting processes. It has good strength -to-weight ratio, high temperature and corrosion resistance, and good fatigue, creep and rupture strength. AlSi10Mg also exhibits thermal and electrical conductivity properties. Final parts built in AlSi10Mg receive stress relief application.

Primary Benefits

High stiffness and strength relative to weight
Thermal and electrical conductivity

LEARN MORE>

Inconel 718

Inconel is a high strength, corrosion resistant nickel chromium superalloy ideal for parts that will experience extreme temperatures and mechanical loading. Final parts built in Inconel 718 receive stress relief application. Solution and aging per AMS 5663 is also available to increase tensile strength and hardness.

Primary Benefits

Oxidation and corrosion resistance
High performance tensile, fatigue, creep, and rupture strength

LEARN MORE>

Cobalt Chrome (Co28Cr6Mo)

Cobalt Chrome (Co28Cr6Mo) is a superalloy is known for its high strength-to-weight ratio.

Primary Benefits

High performance tensile and creep
Corrosion resistance

LEARN MORE>

Titanium (Ti6Al4V)

Titanium (Ti6Al4V) is a workhorse alloy. Versus Ti grade 23 annealed, the mechanical properties of Ti6Al4V are comparable to wrought titanium for tensile strength, elongation, and hardness. Final parts built in Ti6Al4V receive vacuum stress relief application.

Primary Benefits

High stiffness and strength relative to weight
High temperature and corrosion resistance

LEARN MORE>

Compare Material Properties

20 μm = high resolution (HR)
30, 40, and 60 μm = normal resolution (NR)

US
Metric

Materials	Resolution	Condition	Ultimate Tensile Strength (ksi)	Yield Stress (ksi)	Elongation (%)	Hardness
Stainless Steel (17-4 PH)	20 μm	Solution & Aged (H900)	199	178	10	42 HRC
Stainless Steel (17-4 PH)	30 μm	Solution & Aged (H900)	198	179	13	42 HRC
Stainless Steel (316L)	20 μm	Stress Relieved	82	56	78	90 HRB
Stainless Steel (316L)	30 μm	Stress Relieved	85	55	75	88 HRB
Aluminum (AlSi10Mg)	20 μm	Stress Relieved	39	26	15	42 HRB
	30 μm	Stress Relieved	50	33	8	59 HRB
	40 μm	Stress Relieved	43	27	10	50 HRB
Cobalt Chrome (Co28Cr6Mo)	20 μm	As Built	182	112	17	39 HRC
Cobalt Chrome (Co28Cr6Mo)	30 μm	As Built	176	119	14	38 HRC
Inconel 718	20 μm	Stress Relieved	143	98	36	33 HRC
	30 μm	Stress Relieved	144	91	39	30 HRC
	30 μm	Solution & Aged per AMS 5663	208	175	18	46 HRC
	60 μm	Stress Relieved	139	83	40	27 HRC
	60 μm	Solution & Aged per AMS 5663	201	174	19	45 HRC
Titanium (Ti6Al4V)	20 μm	Stress Relieved	153	138	15	35 HRC
Titanium (Ti6Al4V)	30 μm	Stress Relieved	144	124	18	33 HRC

Materials	Resolution	Condition	Ultimate Tensile Strength (MPa)	Yield Stress (MPa)	Elongation (%)	Hardness
Stainless Steel (17-4 PH)	20 μm	Solution & Aged (H900)	1,372	1,227	10	42 HRC
Stainless Steel (17-4 PH)	30 μm	Solution & Aged (H900)	1,365	1,234	13	42 HRC
Stainless Steel (316L)	20 μm	Stress Relieved	565	386	78	90 HRB
Stainless Steel (316L)	30 μm	Stress Relieved	586	379	75	88 HRB
Aluminum (AlSi10Mg)	20 μm	Stress Relieved	268	180	15	46 HRB
	30 μm	Stress Relieved	345	228	8	59 HRB
	40 μm	Stress Relieved	296	186	10	50 HRB
Cobalt Chrome (Co28Cr6Mo)	20 μm	As Built	1255	772	17	39 HRC
Cobalt Chrome (Co28Cr6Mo)	30 μm	As Built	1213	820	14	38 HRC
Copper (CuNi2SiCr)	20 μm	Precipitation Hardened	496	434	23	87 HRB
Inconel 718	20 μm	Stress Relieved	986	676	36	33 HRC
	30 μm	Stress Relieved	993	627	39	30 HRC
	30 μm	Solution & Aged per AMS 5663	1434	1207	18	46 HRC
	60 μm	Stress Relieved	958	572	40	27 HRC
	60 μm	Solution & Aged per AMS 5663	1386	1200	19	45 HRC
Titanium (Ti6Al4V)	20 μm	Stress Relieved	1055	951	15	35 HRC
Titanium (Ti6Al4V)	30 μm	Stress Relieved	993	855	18	33 HRC

These figures are approximate and dependent on a number of factors, including but not limited to, machine and process parameters. The information provided is therefore not binding and not deemed to be certified. When performance is critical, also consider independent lab testing of additive materials or final parts.

Surface Finish Options

Standard Finish

Expect roughness values of 200 to 400 µin Ra (0.005 to 0.010mm Ra), depending on material and resolution. Support structures are removed and layer lines are visible.

Custom Finish

We offer brushed surfaces in a range of grits and polished mirror finishes. Be sure to indicate if the custom surface finish is for functional or aesthetic purposes so we can best consult you on our custom options.

Post-Processing Capabilities for Metal 3D-Printed Parts

Improve strength, dimensional accuracy, and cosmetic appearance of final metal components with DMLS for production.

Surface Finishing

3- and 5-axis milling
Turning
Polish (Mirror or Brushed)
Passivation
Wire EDM
Tapping and reaming

Heat Treatments

Stress relief
NADCAP heat treatment
Hot isostatic pressing (HIP)
Solution annealing
Aging

Mechanical Testing

Tensile
Rockwell Hardness

Powder Analysis & Material

Traceability
Chemistry
Particle size and distribution analysis

Why Use Metal 3D Printing?

See how metal additive manufacturing technology can be used to reduce components within an assembly, fabricate complex geometries, and ultimately save you time and costs.

Click to enlarge

How Does Metal 3D Printing Work?

The DMLS machine begins sintering each layer—first the support structures to the base plate, then the part itself—with a laser aimed onto a bed of metallic powder. After a cross-section layer of powder is micro-welded, the build platform shifts down and a recoater blade moves across the platform to deposit the next layer of powder into an inert build chamber. The process is repeated layer by layer until the build is complete.

When the build finishes, an initial brushing is manually administered to parts to remove a majority of loose powder, followed by the appropriate heat-treat cycle while still fixtured in the support systems to relieve any stresses. Parts are removed from the platform and support structures are removed from the parts, then finished with any needed bead blasting and deburring. Final DMLS parts are near 100 percent dense.

Large Format Metal 3D Printing

We recently added the GE Additive X Line to our fleet of metal 3D printers to build large Inconel 718 and Aluminum (AlSi10Mg) parts. Have a project that might be a good fit? Contact us and we can discuss your requirements.

Learn More >

Metal 3D Printing for Production

Improve strength, dimensional accuracy, and cosmetic appearance for end-use metal components with post-processing options like CNC machining and heat treatments.

Learn More >

Resources

Design Tip

Post-Processing for Metal 3D Printing

Learn how to improve dimensional accuracy, surface roughness, and mechanical properties on metal parts with high-requirement applications.

Read Design Tip

White Paper

Combining Part Assemblies with Additive Manufacturing to Reduce Cost and Increase Performance

How to find the right opportunities to consolidate multi-part assemblies into single components with industrial 3D printing

Read White Paper

Blog

Inconel 718: A Workhorse Material for Additive Manufacturing

Inconel 718 is a go-to material for additive manufacturing of metal parts.

Read Blog

Blog

Large Format 3D Printing for Aluminum and Inconel Parts

When you’re printing really large parts in metal, it’s great to have a choice of materials. Aluminum and Inconel 718 both make a lot of sense, but which one is the best for your application?

Read Blog

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Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing Service

Back

Materials
Materials by Service
Injection MoldingCNC Machining3D PrintingSheet Metal
Materials by Type
PlasticsMetalsElastomers
Related Links
Customer Supplied ResinsColors
Injection Molding Material Alternatives Guide
Struggling with thermoplastic material shortages? We created a detailed guide to resin substitutes for ABS, PC, PP, and other commonly molded thermoplastics.

Download
Resources
Design Tips Guides and Trend Reports Success Stories Design Aids Webinars and Trade Shows
Blog Videos FAQs Educators and Students Glossary
Industries Medical Aerospace Automotive Consumer Electronics Industrial Equipment
About Us
Who We Are Why Protolabs? Research and Development Cool Idea Award Partnerships Sustainability and Social Impact
Careers Investors Locations Press Procurement
Contact Us
Proto Labs, Inc.
5540 Pioneer Creek Dr.
Maple Plain, MN 55359
United States
P: 877.479.3680
F: 763.479.2679
E: [email protected]
Best-in-Class Online Quoting
After uploading your part design, you'll receive an online quote that includes manufacturing analysis to help improve part manufacturability. Within your quote, you can also adjust quantity and material and see price changes in real-time.
Learn More

Get a QuoteSign In

SLA 3D printing service for rapid prototyping. Get an instant online quote.

GET SLA PARTS

Jump to Section

→ Capabilities
→ SLA Materials
→ Compare SLA Material Properties
→ Surface Finishes
→ Post-Processing
→ Our SLA 3D Printers
→ Why SLA 3D Printing?

Stereolithography (SLA) is an industrial 3D printing process used to create concept models, cosmetic prototypes, and complex parts with intricate geometries in as fast as 1 day. A wide selection of materials, extremely high feature resolutions, and quality surface finishes are possible with SLA.

SLA 3D printing is primarily used for:

parts requiring high accuracy and features as small as 0.002 in.
good surface quality for cosmetic prototypes
form and fit testing

If you have any issues getting your guide, click here to download.

3D Printing Surface Finish Guide

Get this quick reference guide to explore your surface finish options across our six 3D printing technologies.

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SLA Design Guidelines and Capabilities

Our basic guidelines for stereolithography include important design considerations to help improve part manufacturability, enhance cosmetic appearance, and reduce overall production time.

SLA Tolerances

For well-designed parts, tolerances in the X/Y dimension of ±0.002 in. (0.05mm) for first inch plus 0.1% of nominal length. (0.001mm/mm), and Z dimension tolerances of ±0.005 in. for first inch plus 0.1% of nominal length, can typically be achieved. Note that tolerances may change depending on part geometry.

Max Part Size

Layer Thickness

Minimum Feature Size

Minimum Wall Thickness

Minimum Hole Size

Tolerances

*Available for the following materials: ABS-Like White and Gray, ABS-Like Translucent/Clear, and PC-Like Translucent/Clear

SLA Material Options

ABS-Like White (Accura Xtreme White 200)

ABS-Like White (Accura Xtreme White 200) is a widely used general purpose SLA material. In terms of flexibility and strength, this material falls between molded polypropylene and molded ABS, which makes it a good choice for functional prototypes. Parts as large as 29 in. x 25 in. x 21 in. can be built with ABS-Like White so consider it a primary option if you require an extensive part size build envelope.

Primary Benefits

Durable, general purpose resin
Accommodates extra-large parts

ABS-Like Gray (Accura Xtreme Gray)

ABS-Like Gray (Accura Xtreme Gray) is a widely used general purpose SLA material. In terms of flexibility and strength, this material falls between molded polypropylene and molded ABS, which makes it a good choice for functional prototypes. ABS-Like Gray offers the highest HDT of the ABS-like SLA resins.

Primary Benefits

Durable, general purpose resin
Highest HDT of the ABS-like SLA resins

ABS-Like Black (Accura 7820)

ABS-Like Black (Accura 7820) is a widely used general purpose material. Its deep black color and glossy up-facing surfaces in a top profile offer the appearance of a molded part, while layer lines may be visible in a side profile. RenShape 7820 also has low moisture absorption (0.25% per ASTM D570) so that parts are more dimensionally stable. Compared to other SLA materials, it has midrange values for all mechanical properties.

Primary Benefits

Low moisture absorption
Glossy cosmetic appearance

ABS-Like Translucent/Clear (WaterShed XC 11122)

ABS-Like Translucent/Clear (WaterShed XC 11122) offers a unique combination of low moisture absorption (0.35% 0.25% per ASTM D570) and near-colorless transparency. Secondary operations are required to achieve functional part clarity, and the part will also retain a very light blue hue afterward. While good for general-purpose applications, WaterShed is the best choice for flow-visualization models, light pipes, and lenses.

Primary Benefits

Lowest moisture absorption of SLA resins
Functional transparency

MicroFine™ (Gray and Green)

MicroFine™ is a custom formulated material available in gray and green that is exclusive to Protolabs. This ABS-like thermoset is printed in Protolabs’ customized machinery to achieve high resolution features as small as 0.002 in. MicroFine is ideal for small parts, generally less than 1 in. by 1 in. by 1 in. In terms of mechanical properties, MicroFine falls in the mid-range of SLA materials for tensile strength and modulus and on the low end for impact strength and elongation.

Primary Benefits

Produces highest resolution parts
Ideal for extra-small parts

PP-Like Translucent White (Somos 9120)

PP-Like Translucent White (Somos 9120) is the most flexible SLA option outside of Carbon RPU 70 and FPU 50. In direct comparison to the average values of an injection-molded polypropylene, 9120 has similar tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural modulus, and impact strength. The only departure from molded PP is its elongation value, which is only 25% of the molded thermoplastic.

Primary Benefits

Semi-flexible
Translucency

PC-Like Advanced High Temp (Accura 5530)

PC-Like Advanced High Temp (Accura 5530) creates strong, stiff parts with high temperature resistance. A thermal post-cure option can increase HDT as high as 482°F at 0.46 MPa loading. Accura 5530 has the highest E-modulus of all the unfilled SLA materials, and it is known for being resistant to automotive fluids. However, the thermal curing process does make Accura 5530 less durable, resulting in a 50% reduction to elongation.

Primary Benefits

High elastic modulus
Higher resistance to heated fluids

PC-Like Translucent/Clear (Accura 60)

PC-Like Translucent/Clear (Accura 60) is an alternative to the general purpose ABS-like materials and WaterShed XC 11122 when stiffness is desired. Like WaterShed, this material can be custom finished to achieve functional transparency with secondary processing. Accura 60 has the highest tensile strength of and elastic modulus compared of all SLA materials outside of the Advanced High Temp options that are most often thermal cured.

Primary Benefits

High stiffness
Functional transparency

Ceramic-Like Advanced HighTemp (PerFORM)

Ceramic-Like Advanced HighTemp (PerFORM) exhibits the highest tensile strength and E-modulus making it the stiffest performance material of the SLA materials. When the thermal cure option is applied to parts made from PerFORM, it exhibits the highest HDT (as high as 514°F at 0.46 MPa loading) of the SLA materials.

Primary Benefits

Stiffest SLA resin
Highest HDT of SLA resins

Compare SLA Material Properties

US
Metric

Material	Color	Tensile Strength	Tensile Modulus	Elongation
ABS-Like White (Accura Xtreme White 200)	White	7.9 ksi	479 ksi	9%
ABS-Like Gray (Accura Xtreme Gray)	Gray	5.8 ksi	290 ksi	9%
ABS-Like Black (Accura 7820)	Black	7.0 ksi	435 ksi	5%
ABS-Like Translucent/Clear (WaterShed XC 11122)	Translucent/Clear	7. 9 ksi	421 ksi	6%
MicroFine™ (Gray and Green)	Gray or Green	8.7 ksi	377 ksi	8%
PP-Like Translucent White (Somos 9120)	Translucent/White	5.0 ksi	232 ksi	25%
PC-Like Translucent/Clear (Accura 60)	Translucent/Clear	10.8 ksi	508 ksi	7%
PC-Like Advanced High Temp* (Accura 5530)	Translucent/Amber	6.5 ksi	566 ksi	1.5%
Ceramic-Like Advanced HighTemp* (PerFORM)	White	10.9 ksi	1523 ksi	1%

*Properties listed are based on thermal cure

Material	Color	Tensile Strength	Tensile Modulus	Elongation
ABS-Like White (Accura Xtreme White 200)	White	54.47 Mpa	3300 Mpa	9%
ABS-Like Gray (Accura Xtreme Gray)	Gray	39. 98 Mpa	2000 Mpa	9%
ABS-Like Black (RenShape SL7820)	Black	48.26 Mpa	3000 Mpa	5%
ABS-Like Translucent/Clear (WaterShed XC 11122)	Translucent/Clear	54.47 Mpa	2600 Mpa	6%
MicroFine™ (Gray and Green)	Gray or Green	59.98 Mpa	2600 Mpa	8%
PP-Like Translucent White (Somos 9120)	Translucent/White	34.47 Mpa	1600 Mpa	25%
PC-Like Translucent/Clear (Accura 60)	Translucent/Clear	74.46 Mpa	3503 Mpa	7%
PC-Like Advanced High Temp* (Accura 5530)	Translucent/Amber	44.81 Mpa	3902 Mpa	1.5%
Ceramic-Like Advanced HighTemp* (PerFORM)	White	75.15 Mpa	10,500 Mpa	1%

*Properties listed are based on thermal cure

Surface Finish Options for SLA Parts

Material: ABS-like Translucent/Clear
Finish: Unfinished

Material: MicroFine Gray™
Finish: Unfinished

Material: ABS-like Translucent/Clear
Finish: Standard

Material: MicroFine Gray™
Finish: Standard

Material: ABS-like Translucent/Clear
Finish: Natural

Material: MicroFine Gray™
Finish: Natural

Material: ABS-like Translucent/Clear
Finish: Custom

Material: MicroFine Gray™
Finish: Custom

Additional Finishing Options

Custom finishing is a mix of science, technology, and fine art that can transform a part to your exact specifications. Finishes include:

Soft-touch paint
Clear part finishing
Paint finishes
Masking
Color matching
Decals/graphic
Texture

Metal Plating

Our metal-plating process for SLA coats a ceramic-filled PC-like material (Somos PerFORM) with a nickel that gives parts the look, feel, and strength of metal, but without the weight. The combination of the material’s strength, rigidity, and temperature resistance with nickel plating, takes strength, stiffness, and impact and temperature resistance to a degree previously unattainable in SLA parts.

Microfluidics

Our microfluidic fabrication process is a modified form of high-resolution SLA that uses a clear ABS-like material (WaterShed XC 11122). Parts are resistance to water and humidity, and work well for lens and flow-visualization models.

Our SLA 3D Printers

Our stereolithography machines consists of Vipers, ProJets, and iPros. In high-resolution mode, Vipers and ProJets can make parts with extremely tiny features and crisp details, while in normal-resolution mode, they can build cost-effective parts very quickly.

iPros have extremely large build volumes at 29 in. by 25 in. by 21 in. (736mm by 635mm by 533mm), yet are still able to image highly detailed parts easily.

Why Use SLA?

Stereolithography (SLA) is an additive manufacturing process that can 3D print parts with small features, tight tolerance requirements, and smooth surface finishes.

How Does SLA 3D Printing Work?

The SLA machine begins drawing the layers of the support structures, followed by the part itself, with an ultraviolet laser aimed onto the surface of a liquid thermoset resin. After a layer is imaged on the resin surface, the build platform shifts down and a recoating bar moves across the platform to apply the next layer of resin. The process is repeated layer by layer until the build is complete.

Newly built parts are taken out of machine and into a lab where solvents are used to remove any additional resins. When the parts are completely clean, the support structures are manually removed. From there, parts undergo a UV-curing cycle to fully solidify the outer surface of the part. The final step in the SLA process is the application of any custom or customer-specified finishing. Parts built in SLA should be used with minimal UV and humidity exposure so they don’t degrade.

SLA Resources

Design Tip

An Introduction to Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing

Stereolithography, a staple of 3D printing, can deliver complex prototypes quickly and accurately.

Read Design Tip

Design Tip

Selecting a Material for Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing

Compare materials for stereolithography with one another and with injection-molded plastics.

Read Design Tip

Blog

SLA vs. FDM: Comparing Common 3D Printing Technologies

See how these two 3D printing technologies stack up for prototype parts. Understanding the advantages of each will help accelerate design.

Read Blog

Guide

What is 3D Printing?

Gain an understanding of additive manufacturing and how it can be leveraged to improve product development through rapid prototyping and production.

Read Guide

Get an instant online quote for 3D printing.

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Aerospace

The use of safe, strong and lightweight materials is essential for the aerospace industry. 3D printing technology provides endless opportunities to reduce material and energy consumption in industry. What's more, these 3D printing technologies are widely used for sustainable development benefits.

Detailed information about the aerospace industry

Medical

In the medical industry, 3D printing service is useful in digital dentistry. The 3D technique is used for intraoral scanning and provides a smooth digital workflow in both small laboratories and larger ones. In addition, the details created with this technique are accurate, comfortable and very useful for orthodontic devices.

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Automotive

3D printing technology is broadly addressing the growing needs of the transportation and automotive industries.
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Automation equipment

3D printing techniques are widely used in the production of automation equipment. From a technical standpoint, 3D technologies help companies improve their manufacturing system and create more parts in less time.
Therefore, this allows industries to significantly reduce product prices by reducing the assembly time of vision systems.

More about automation equipment

Construction

3D printing technologies are widely used in the construction industry, as they are the main source of building components in the manufacturing industry.
Technically this method is effective for powder welding, extrusion and additive welding. In addition, applications are also widely applicable in the commercial, private, government and industrial sectors.

More information about construction

Electronic product

Over the past few years, 3D printing technology has created many dimensions for the electronics industry. Typically, this method is useful in the production of printed circuit boards, cases, and electronic components. When using 3D methods in electronic products, the user can benefit from the easy consolidation, customization and accuracy of their products.

More about the electronic product

Education

In education, 3D printing allows students to be creative by building prototypes without expensive tools.
Moreover, these techniques act as a bridge between ideas and paper, allowing you to create masterpieces. Typically, students learn various 3D techniques, including the study of design and architectural principles.

More about education

Robotics

Robotic 3D printing is an additive technique that uses a 3D printer head with a multi-axis robotic arm to create flexible 3D designs.
Subsequently, the manipulator opens up new horizons of possibilities - from almost any angle to the creation of complex and intricate designs.
What's more, robotic 3D printers provide larger print sizes than traditional ones.

More information about robotics

Recent projects we have completed

We have successfully produced over 72 million different parts before you.

Why choose us?

Work with market leaders in on-demand manufacturing without the fuss or risk.

High Precision

Experience precision and accuracy is what our customers get when they work with DEK. All you have to do is send us the requirements and you will receive the desired products.

Excellent quality

Good is not enough in DEK. We conduct stringent quality checks and are always striving to improve our services to provide you with the best.

low cost

Thanks to our deep application experience and many years of experience in this field, we offer our customers the best deals.

Fast turnaround time

In order to meet your specific 3D product requirements as quickly as possible, we implement a strategic plan to ensure that you receive your product as soon as possible.

Business partnership

We always want to benefit our customers with our experience. For us, you are not just our customers. We consider you as business partners.

24x7 Services

To make the most of our facilities, our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you can get services anytime, any day.

Quality is our top priority

"QUALITY DOES NOT BE FROM CHECKING BUT FROM IMPROVING THE PRODUCTION PROCESS."
-DR. W. EDWARDS DEMING

For DEK, Dr. Deming's textbook remark is not a theory, but a practice that we do every day. We use advanced production technology and strict control systems to ensure high quality. More importantly, the quality-oriented attitude is so ingrained in the minds of every single employee.

We never stop improving

“We use advanced 3D printing technology and strict inspection systems to ensure high quality. More importantly, the quality-oriented attitude is so ingrained in the minds of every employee.”
- Austin CEO DEK

At DEK we never stop improving the quality of our product. This is how we differ from the competition and also why we can stay at the top of the game for so many years.

Questions and Answers

Will you optimize the design?

Yes, we will analyze your 3D files and make recommendations suitable for 3D printing.

Do you provide surface finishing services?

Yes, we can do surface finishing such as sanding, polishing and painting 3D printed parts.

Do you provide assembly services?

Yes, after the parts are printed, if necessary, we can assemble them.

How long does it take to print?

Usually within 1-3 days, depending on your requirements such as quantity, material, surface finish, etc.

How to pack?

The product will be wrapped with foam to avoid shock and then placed in a reinforced 5-layer corrugated box.

How to deliver to our company?

For small items, we will deliver directly to you via DHL, FedEx, UPS, TNT. It usually takes 3-7 days.

It's a great honor for us to be their best partner

During my work with DEK, I realized how beneficial it is to work with a professional team of specialists. I sent in some complex 3D parts to test their capabilities and was really impressed with the amount of effort they put into each piece. They are highly recommended.

Bishop S.

This was my first experience with any online 3D printing services company. I wasn't sure how the process would go and how things would go. But the way the DEK team took full responsibility was commendable. The whole process was very smooth and flawless. Definitely recommended.

Ethan L.

10 reasons to visit a prototyping center

Analytics and business

Rapid prototyping

Experts recommend

Author: Andrey Kombarov

The 3D printing services business is growing faster than ever. This happens because more and more people are striving to realize their ideas by means of additive technologies. Many solo enthusiasts, research groups, and manufacturing companies are not interested in investing in 3D printers, but prefer to go to a prototyping center first.

Today, 3D printing services are based mainly on working with professional clients. Of course, orders are also carried out for individuals, but most of the market is the B2B segment.

Even if you have access to a 3D printer, sometimes it's better to hire an outside contractor. Let's say you need a part in a material or color you don't have, and you'd rather not buy the whole lot. It is much wiser to order the missing part, and not to purchase all the equipment and inventory that may not be needed in the future.

We will look at ten reasons why additive manufacturing using a service can be more profitable.

Do you have projects that you would like to realize using 3D printing, 3D scanning or 3D modeling? Order a service from our company!

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1. Supply chain management

Additive technologies have been improved over the years, and today they allow the production of both prototypes and final parts, especially when solving certain problems.

In general, the development and manufacture of a particular part can be expensive due to high tooling costs. 3D printing is an extremely flexible technology. Manufacture of many different products and refinement of their designs is no longer a complex problem, which makes additive manufacturing a reliable solution to problems with the active use of redesign.

Today, many research groups and companies rely on 3D printing services as a supply chain. It is extremely useful for them to be able to easily create and deliver custom parts.

2. Large selection of materials

One of the strong selling points for 3D services is the variety of consumables (and technologies) on offer. Thanks to the constant introduction of innovations in this area, service providers are able to work with the latest developments, especially large companies.

Prototyping centers offer, as a rule, the three most popular additive technologies: FDM, SLA and SLS. Accordingly, polymer filaments or granules, photopolymer resin and plastic powders are used as consumables.

A wide range of options gives the customer the opportunity to obtain the material that is required for a particular project, based on mechanical and chemical properties and aesthetic requirements.

The variety of materials is practical not only for professional needs. The Professional 3D Services Center will also offer simple materials that may not be available to a private person. Buying a certain material and printing a product from it on your own can be more expensive than simply ordering the manufacture of a single part from this material.

iQB Technologies experts recommend an article: 9 products that are more profitable to make on a photopolymer 3D printer

3. Variety of colors and finishes

With such a wide range of materials available, 3D printing service customers are not limited in their choice of colors and finishes. Creating the perfect combination for a specific task has never been easier.

Colors

FDM filaments (PLA, ABS, PETG, and others) are typically offered in a wide range of colors. The plastic granules from which the thread is made are easily dyed.

More advanced combinations of plastics in the form of filaments, such as polymer composites or nylon, are difficult to dye and their color range is not as rich.

With regard to SLA technology, various colors are available for photopolymers. True, there are not as many of them as for PLA. Methods like SLS use industrial grade nylon powder, which comes in white, black, or some color in between. This is also due to the difficulty of coloring.

There are full-color 3D printers that are ideal for creating visually appealing prototypes and teaching models, such as anatomy and geography. Given the high cost of professional machines, the ability to use technology that is not otherwise available through a 3D printing service is of great importance to the end user.

Finish

The surfaces of products created on a 3D printer can be subjected to various post-processing methods. Details are processed until the layers are completely indistinguishable and, as a result, look as if they were not printed at all.

But this is only the beginning. Finishing can include sanding, polishing, electroplating and painting, and many other finishes. Not every 3D printing material is suitable for all post-processing methods, and the service provider should explain this point to you when ordering.

In addition to the huge selection of options, one of the biggest benefits of ordering a finishing service is quality and convenience. Post-processing can take a lot of time, and entrusting the work to professionals, you will be sure of a high-quality and reliable result.

4. Large Format 3D Printing

An additive manufacturing services company typically operates multiple 3D printers to meet high demand (and meet deadlines) and various other requests. This provides a number of advantages, among them - the flexibility of product sizes.

Sometimes splitting a large part into multiple sub-elements is not the best solution, so an additive setup with a large build platform is needed. An individual or company often does not have access to large 3D printers, while many 3D service providers do.

5. Professional quality parts

3D printers are becoming more reliable, and even the most affordable technology is showing impressive accuracy. However, many products (say, jewelry) require more precise workmanship or tighter tolerances to ensure perfect compatibility (for example, functional units). The professional results offered by the 3D printing service guarantee consistently high-quality workmanship in terms of precision and finish.

Professional machines are more reliable in terms of repeatability. This is an important factor to consider when printing a large number of parts that require constant and tight tolerances.

But not only machines determine the final result. The people who work with 3D printers make a significant contribution to the production of professional quality parts. They have the knowledge and experience to advise you on how to best prepare your model, select the most suitable material, and finally create the final part.

6. Cost reduction

If you need to make something on a 3D printer, there are two options: either buy equipment and print the parts yourself, or order printing and receive finished products. Using a 3D printing service can save you money.

When a business is considering launching its own additive manufacturing, outsourcing through a service provider first makes sense. This will allow an individual or company to access 3D printing technologies while avoiding the cost of equipment, materials and maintenance. Once you understand that 3D printing meets the needs of your business, this may be the right time to start thinking about buying equipment.

There are other scenarios as well. Some businesses can save money in the prototyping phase by having them 3D printed before putting the final version into production through another process such as injection molding.

However, outsourcing a project can save a lot of money until a “tipping point” is reached, at which point the cost of acquiring the equipment becomes a worthy investment.

Considering starting a 3D services business?

We share our experience in the article 3D printing as a business: the most profitable concepts of the RP center

We will consult and select ready-made solutions. Contact us!

7. Save time

When ordering 3D printing from a service provider, you don't have to worry about printer setup and maintenance. In fact, you make a payment and get the parts you need. Everything is done on a turnkey basis, and you don't have to think about all the additional costs associated with setting up, maintaining and operating the equipment.

And even if you have printers, they may not be enough to print a large number of products in a short time. Since prototyping centers usually have a large stock of equipment, large batches can be produced very quickly.

Of course, the order may take a long time, so choose the service wisely. But the turnaround time for an order (printing from standard media with standard post-processing) may well be shorter than the total time it takes to set up, maintain, and operate the related equipment. For many, this alone is enough to apply for a service to a contractor.

In addition, the production of an object on a 3D printer takes hours or days - this requires control, which not everyone can do.

8. Scalability

Since the advent of 3D printing, it has been described in the mainstream media as a slow process. What is usually meant is that additive manufacturing cannot compete with traditional methods such as injection molding when it comes to high volume production.

There is some truth in this, but it is important to understand that 3D printing is a very effective process in certain circumstances. When you need to produce large batches of the same parts, this is not the best option, but 3D printers are more than capable of producing in small and medium volumes.

This is especially beneficial when we are dealing with individual designs or iterations, that is, when classical methods involve much more time and money.

For this reason, 3D printing services in particular can provide scalable manufacturing solutions that meet the needs of even medium volume production. Small-scale production is possible in a garage or a small office, something larger is hardly imaginable, and this is where the use of a 3D printing service makes sense.

9. Expert advice and assistance

As already mentioned, 3D printing services are available to a large number of different customers. These can be both individuals who want to print a cartoon character figurine on a 3D printer, and world-famous corporations seeking to optimize their workflows. In any case, consultation is an important factor that can help close the deal.

The additive manufacturing experts at the 3D Services Center can help customers determine the right course of action before launching a project. Working with the client on the specific needs of his project, he is explained the available options.

Identifying the exact applications for 3D printing as well as discussing technical issues and specifics (such as what material is best for the purpose) are all part of the consulting service. Sometimes good preparation based on consultation can save money as the project progresses. For large projects, this is certainly an important advantage.

10. Professional design services

Most 3D service companies expect you to already have a 3D model ready to print. Often this is the case, but some clients still need additional help. In cases where the customer needs to develop a part from scratch and he does not have 3D modeling experience, a service with the involvement of full-time professional designers will come in handy.