LPE | Rapid Prototyping & Additive Manufacturing

Rapid Prototyping Technical Resources

Additive Manufacturing Process Comparison

	Stereolithography - Std.	Stereolithography - High Res.	DLP - Digital Light Process	Selective Laser Sintering	Metal Sintering	Vacuum Casting	CNC Machining	FDM
Description	•High Quality Models •Choice of 8 Materials	•Detail & Definition •Features down to 0.01mm	•Super High Resolution •Super fast	•Excellent strength & functionality •Suitable for Low Volume Production	•Feature rich metal components	•Low volume production in range of near production grade materials	•Functional models and parts •Production plastics and metals	•Good Strength & Functional •Less accurate
Max Part Size	650 x 750 x 550mm	125 x 125 x 125mm	124x70.2x196mm	320 x 320 x 600mm	250x250x330mm	1500 x 700 x 500mm	1000 x 600 x 600mm	355 x 254 x 254mm
Surface Finish - Details	•Standard - Finish external surfaces to smooth •Additional - Gloss, Water-Clear, Spark, Matt..	•Standard - Finish external surfaces to smooth •Additional - Gloss, Water-Clear, Spark, Matt..	•Standard-As Printed support removal only •Additional -Gloss, Spark, Matt	•Standard - Texture similar to very fine sandpaper • Additional - Contact sales team	•Surface finish is similar to good investment castings	•Standard - Finish external surfaces to smooth •Additional - Gloss, Water-Clear, Spark, Matt..	•As milled - some tool marks may be visible	•Standard •Not as smooth as SLS
Surface Finish - Grading	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★	★★★	★★★★★	★★★★	★★
Material Strength	★★	★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★
Min. Feature / Wall Thickness	0.5mm ★★★★	0.25 ★★★★★	0.5 ★★★★★	0.8mm ★★★	0.3mm ★★★★★	0.5mm ★★★★	0.5mm ★★★★	1mm ★★★★
Max. Temperature	240°C ★★★★★	60°C ★★★	60°C ★★★	180°C ★★★★	+800°C ★★★★	175°C ★★★★	Material Dependent	120°C ★★★
Lead Times	2-5 Days	2-5 Days	1-2 Days	2-5 Days	3-6 Days	5-8 Days	1-4 Weeks	4-6 Days
Price	££	£££	£££	£	£££	£££	££	£

	Stereolithography - Std.	Stereolithography - High Res.	DLP-Digital Light Process	Selective Laser Sintering	Metal Sintering	Vacuum Casting	CNC Machining	FDM
Description	•High Quality Models •Choice of 8 Materials	•Detail & Definition •Features down to 0.01mm	•Super High Resolution, •Super fast	•Excellent strength & functionality •Suitable for Low Volume Production	•Feature rich metal components	•Low volume production in range of near production grade materials	•Functional models and parts •Production plastics and metals	•Good Strength & Functional •Less accurate
Max Part Size	650 x 750 x 550mm	125 x 125 x 125mm	124x70.2x196mm	320 x 320 x 600mm	250x250x330mm	1500 x 700 x 500mm	1000 x 600 x 600mm	355 x 254 x 254mm
Surface Finish - Details	•Standard - Finish external surfaces to smooth •Additional - Gloss, Water-Clear, Spark, Matt..	•Standard - Finish external surfaces to smooth •Additional - Gloss, Water-Clear, Spark, Matt..	•Standard-As Printed support removal only •Additional - Gloss, Spark, Matt	•Standard - Texture similar to very fine sandpaper • Additional - Contact sales team	•Surface finish is similar to good investment castings	•Standard - Finish external surfaces to smooth •Additional - Gloss, Water-Clear, Spark, Matt..	•As milled - some tool marks may be visible	•Standard •Not as smooth as SLS
Surface Finish - Grading	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★	★★★	★★★★★	★★★★	★★
Material Strength	★★	★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★
Min. Feature / Wall Thickness	0.5mm ★★★★	0.25 ★★★★★	0.5 ★★★★★	0.8mm ★★★	0.3mm ★★★★★	0.5mm ★★★★	0.5mm ★★★★	1mm ★★★★
Max. Temperature	240°C ★★★★★	60°C ★★★	60°C ★★★	180°C ★★★★	200°C ★★★★	175°C ★★★★	Material Dependent	120°C ★★★
Lead Times	2-5 Days	2-5 Days	1-2 Days	2-5 Days	3-6 Days	5-8 Days	1-4 Weeks	4-6 Days
Price	££	£££	£££	£	£££	£££	££	£