There are number of different technologies that are capable of 3D printing. In general objects are built by layering materials on top of one another to create a part. Currently, the most predominant 3D printing technologies are selective laser scintering (SLS), fused deposition modeling (FDM), and stereolithography (SLA). Each of these technologies produces a 3D object, but the manner in which it is done is slightly different from one technology to the other.
Selective laser scintering, abbreviated SLS is a technique that uses lasers to bind material together to form a solid structure. SLS can fuse plastic, metal, ceramic or glass. The material is melted by the laser and slowly deposited layer by layer, sometimes thousands of times until the object is complete.
Fused deposition modeling, abbreviated FDM is the 3D process where a plastic filament is heated in a holding chamber and extruded in a more liquid state. The object is built from the bottom up and is deposited layer by layer until the object is complete. The extruded material is deposited and extruded according to directions given by the computer. This process is able to utilize multiple materials and deposit them as necessary for support.
Stereolithography, abbreviated SLA is one of the faster methods of 3D printing in a sea of 3D printers that are generally pretty slow. SLA is considered a rapid processor. Whereas other technologies use filament fabrication that melts the materials such as nylon, SLA uses a resin to build the object. SLA also builds the object layer by layer and it is cured when exposed to ultraviolet light.
Selective laser scintering, abbreviated SLS is a technique that uses lasers to bind material together to form a solid structure. SLS can fuse plastic, metal, ceramic or glass. The material is melted by the laser and slowly deposited layer by layer, sometimes thousands of times until the object is complete.
Fused deposition modeling, abbreviated FDM is the 3D process where a plastic filament is heated in a holding chamber and extruded in a more liquid state. The object is built from the bottom up and is deposited layer by layer until the object is complete. The extruded material is deposited and extruded according to directions given by the computer. This process is able to utilize multiple materials and deposit them as necessary for support.
Stereolithography, abbreviated SLA is one of the faster methods of 3D printing in a sea of 3D printers that are generally pretty slow. SLA is considered a rapid processor. Whereas other technologies use filament fabrication that melts the materials such as nylon, SLA uses a resin to build the object. SLA also builds the object layer by layer and it is cured when exposed to ultraviolet light.