3D Printing

3D Printing opens up new options for design teams. Rapid Cut offers a wide variety of Technology including SLA, SLS, FDM, and DMLS in as little as 2 days. Materials include true thermoplastics, clear resins, and even metals. Instant online quoting of all our 3D printing services allows you to explore options and find the perfect solution for your program.

SLA

Stereolithography (SLA) was the first commercially successful 3D printing platform, and in many ways still sets the standard for 3D printing. Offering a variety of material options, fine detail, and excellent tolerances. Stereolithography utilizes a system of UV lasers to cure a 2 dimensional cross section of liquid resin. Once completed the platform descends into the vat of material and the process continues until your part is completed. Post processing includes a UV cure cycle prior to final finishing. Standard parts are delivered with a bead blast finish, with options to paint, plate, and even polish to water clear finishes.

 

SLS

Selective laser sintering (SLS) is an additive manufacturing technique used for the low volume production of prototype models and functional components. Selective Laser sintering changed the prototyping industry by creating parts in a true material, and eliminating supports in the build process. No supports offer significant advantages to the design engineer when creating features captured inside another part. Fuel Cells, Custom Electronic Enclosures, Air Ducts, that once required multiple parts, and fabrication, can be grown in a complete assembly. When you are ready for production, the SLS supportless process is the perfect technology for Just In Time & Additive Manufacturing programs. SLS  allows our machine engineers to nest parts, and utilize the entire machine envelope, drastically lowering part cost and build times.If you need some pointers for designing your part for addititive manufacturing then take a look at the SLS Design Guide

FDM

FDM builds concept models, functional prototypes and end-use parts in standard, engineering-grade and high-performance thermoplastics. It’s the only professional 3D printing technology that uses production-grade thermoplastics, so parts are unrivaled in mechanical, thermal and chemical strength. FDM is a clean, simple-to-use, office-friendly 3D printing process. Thermoplastic parts can endure exposure to heat, chemicals, humid or dry environments, and mechanical stress. Soluble support materials make it possible to produce complex geometries and cavities that would be difficult to build with traditional manufacturing methods

DMLS

Direct metal Laser Sintering offers Design Engineers a new tool for creating parts in Metal. The DMLS process grows parts by sintering powder metal in 20 micron layers. Materials include Stainless Steel, Inconel, Cobalt Chrome, and Aluminum. DMLS is best utilized for short runs, of smaller parts, that cannot be machined or cast efficiently. DMLS is also an excellent solution for Additive Manufacturing & Just In Time Manufacturing programs that require the strength of metal. Lead times start at 5-7 days for typical run of parts.

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