Additive Manufacturing Capabilities
FDM Technology
What is FDM Technology? FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) technology is the process of making physical objects by building up successive layers of material. A thermoplastic filament is pushed through an extruder and deposited where needed in each layer to complete the desired object.
Using state of the art machinery we have the capability of printing over a dozen materials up to 600mm x 600mm x 600mm and even larger as multi piece products.
We also have several belt printers that can print 180mm x 200mm x ∞
SLA Printing (Resin)
What is SLA Printing? SLA, or stereolithography, is a widely-used 3D printing process and the most popular of the resin printing technologies. The process owes its esteem in the additive space to its ability to produce prototypes that are accurate, isotropic and watertight, as well as production parts with impressive surface smoothness and more detailed features.
SLA Printing can achieve a resolution that FDM Printing is not capable of. Great for jewelry, mini figures and so much more.
With a maximum print volume of 210mm x 120mm x 235mm and a possible resolution of 28㎛.
FDM Material Options
PLA - Most Commonly Used
Polylactic acid, more commonly known as PLA, is the most widely used 3D filament because it is so easy to print and has the largest color catalog available. This plastic is made from vegetable starches, having the property of being biodegradable and being able to melt at low temperatures.
This material comes in a wide range of colors (including glow in the dark, pearlescent, wood and so much more) which makes it ideal for prototyping or applications where the aesthetics of the object is paramount.
PET-G
PET-G (glycolized polyethylene terephthalate) is another material widely used in the 3D printing world and could be said to be an intermediate between PLA and ABS. This plastic has good mechanical strength (somewhat lower than ABS) but good chemical resistance, in addition to being easy to print.
Some applications for PET-G are the manufacture of impact-resistant parts, decorative objects and food packaging, making it the most versatile 3D printer material available.
ABS
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene). this plastic is highly used at all professional levels due to its physical properties, being one of the most resistant 3D printing materials due to its high impact resistance and very good tolerance to high temperatures. In terms ofchemical resistance, ABS is affected by various solvents and acids, however, it is a property that can be taken advantage of as it allows polishing the surface of the part with an acetone vapor bath, giving it a smooth and shiny finish.
ASA
ASA (acrylonitrile styrene acrylate) is the perfect all-purpose 3D printing thermoplastic, suitable for many different applications.
It has a similar chemical makeup to ABS plastic but offers three improvements: better mechanical properties, superior aesthetics and it's UV resistant.
TPU
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) is is one of the most popular flexible materials in the world of 3D printing. Thermoplastic polyurethane is resistant to friction and wear, which makes it an interesting material to make coatings or protections.
You can find TPU in different degrees of hardness and flexibility. Useful for watchbands, phone cases, and engineering parts requiring flexibility.
PP
PP (Polypropylene), is a filament widely used in the industrial sector for the manufacture of functional parts due to its resistance to impact and abrasion, but above all for its excellent resistance to chemicals.
In addition, this material is very light and relatively flexible, so it can be used to create protective elements that are in contact with the skin, such as the inside of helmets and supports for face shields.
PA (Nylon)
Nylons or polyamides are materials characterized by their capacity to work continuously at temperatures up to 120ºC. They have high mechanical strength, which makes them ideal for mechanical parts, connectors, protective housings, among others.
Fiber-filled Materials
With the entry of 3D printing in the industrial sector, the need has arisen to use materials that are increasingly resistant to mechanical stress and corrosive environments, resulting in the birth of materials with loads of glass and carbon fibers. After metal, this type of material for 3D printers is one of the most resistant materials.
Polypropylene with glass fiber (PP GF) has the high chemical resistance of polypropylene but with a mechanical strength highly enhanced by glass fibers.
High-temperature polyamide with carbon fiber (PAHT CF) is a material that combines the high-temperature tolerance of polyamide with astronomical mechanical strength.
Polyethylene terephthalate with carbon fiber (PET CF) is a material positioned between the good properties of PP GF and PAHT CF, offering good chemical, thermal and mechanical resistance.
Metals
Along with fiber-based materials, metals have been another of the industrial sector’s main attractions, and 3D printing with FDM technology has been able to adapt to them. This type of materials for 3D printers are composed of a high degree of metal powders and a part of binder polymers. In order to manufacture functional parts with these materials, it is necessary to go through a process of removing the binder material and sintering, after printing the part.
Once the part has been synthesized, you can perform post-processing tasks such as polishing, milling, threading, turning, and welding, among others.
SLA (Resin) Material Options
General Purpose
Outstanding Performance. Excellent Detail.
Custom-formulated to deliver the highest-quality output, our standard resins capture astonishing detail without sacrificing strength.
We offer Touch Resin (ABS-like), Durable Resin and High Definition Resin.
Engineering Resins
Functional Prototyping Materials
Our library of versatile, reliable engineering resins are formulated to help you reduce costs, iterate faster, and bring better experiences to the market.
Dental Resins
Professional materials for digital dentistry.
Formlabs Dental Resins enable high precision, low-cost digital production of a range of dental products in-house, including surgical guides, orthodontic models, retainers, and aligners.
Jewelry Resins
High-detail materials for jewelry design and clean investment casting.
Prototype impressive concept models and manufacture distinctive pieces with sharp resolution and the best surface finish on the market, from idea to fitting to casting.
Flexible Resins
Flexible resins simulates TPU or TPE with a shore hardness of 30D and results similar to silicon. It's best suited for functional objects like seals and gaskets or personal products such as watchbands.