The three main kinds of 3D printers for plastic parts are stereolithography (SLA) and selective laser sintering (SLS), and fused deposition modeling (FDM). Formlabs provides two top-quality 3D printing techniques, SLA and SLS, making these efficient and affordable industrial fabrication tools into the creative hands of professionals around the world.

Stereolithography (SLA)
Stereolithography The first 3D printing technology used in the world was developed in 1980 and is still a very popular technology for professionals. SLA 3D printers make use of lasers to turn liquid resin into a hardened plastic. This is called photopolymerization. Whether you desire to learn details on professional 3d scanner, you've to navigate to pick3dprinter website.

SLA 3D printers made of resin are extremely popular due to their ability to create precise, accurate and water-proof prototypes. They are also able to produce parts made from a range of high-tech materials with fine features and smooth surfaces. SLA resins have a broad variety of optical, mechanical and thermal properties that correspond to the engineering, standard and industrial thermoplastics.

Resin 3D printing a great alternative for prototypes with high-quality with precise tolerances and smooth surfaces such as molds, patterns and functional parts. SLA 3D printers can be found in many industries, including engineering design, product development, manufacturing, dentistry, model making as well as education and jewelry.

Stereolithography is the ideal choice for:
Rapid prototyping
Functional prototyping
Concept modeling
Short-run production
Dental care applications
Prototyping jewelry and casting

Selective Laser Sintering
SLS 3D printers employ high-power lasers to melt small pieces of polymer powder to create solid structures. The powder that is not fused supports the print part and avoids the need for support structures. This allows SLS perfect for complicated geometries, including interior features, undercuts thin walls and negative features. Parts made with SLS printing are characterized by superior mechanical properties, with similar strength to injection-molded components.

The most commonly used material for selective lasersintering is nylon, a popular engineering thermoplastic that has outstanding mechanical properties. Nylon is strong, lightweight, and flexible and also stable against impact, chemicals as well as UV light, heat, water, and dirt.

SLS is a top choice for engineers who want to create functional prototypes. It is affordable per unit, high efficiency and solidly-proven materials. SLS can also be employed for bridge and limited-run manufacturing.

For:
Functional prototyping
End-of-use components
Manufacturing for bridges, short-runs or custom

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
Fused filament fabrication (FFF) is the most well-known type of 3D printing on a the consumer level. It's also called fused deposition modeling (FDM). FDM 3D printers extrude thermoplastic materials such as ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and PLA (Polylactic Acid) through an nozzle that is heated. The filament is melting and then placed layer by layer on a built plate. Each layer is laid each one at a time until the part is complete.

FDM 3D printers can be used for simple proof-of-concept designs and prototypes of small parts like ones that can be manufactured. FDM is not as accurate as SLA and SLS which is why it is not the ideal solution for complex designs and parts that have intricate details. Mechanical and chemical polishing can create superior finishes. Industrial FDM printer is a process that makes use of the soluble support, may alleviate some of these issues and also offer a wider selection of thermoplastics used in engineering. But, they do come at a high price.

A deposition model that is fused is great for:
Basic proof-of-concept models
Simple prototyping