The 7 Types of 3D Printing Technology: A Simple Guide

3D printing is making things by adding material in layers. This is different from CNC machining which cuts material away. At Istar Machining, we know all about making parts in many ways. Today, we will talk about 3D printing.

What is 3D Printing?

3D printing makes real objects from computer designs. The printer adds material layer by layer until the thing is done. Why people like 3D printing:

• It is fast
• You can make special shapes
• You can make one-of-a-kind things
• It works with many materials

The 7 Main Types of 3D Printing

1. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)

How it works: A hot tip melts plastic and puts it down in layers. Materials you can use:

• PLA plastic
• ABS plastic
• PETG plastic Good things about FDM:
• It is cheap (printers cost $200-$4000)
• You can use it at home
• The materials cost only $20-$40 for a big roll Not so good things:
• You can see the lines on the thing you make
• It is not very exact What people use it for:
• Testing new ideas
• Making toys and things at home

2. Stereolithography (SLA)

How it works: A light beam hardens liquid goo layer by layer. Materials you can use:

• Special liquid plastic that gets hard with light Good things about SLA:
• Makes very small details
• Makes things with smooth sides
• Looks more like a real product Not so good things:
• The parts can break easy
• You need to clean and harden the parts after printing
• Materials cost $50-$300 per bottle What people use it for:
• Making teeth things like braces
• Making jewelry models
• Medical models for doctors

3. Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)

How it works: A laser melts powder into solid shapes. Materials you can use:

• Nylon powder
• TPU (rubber-like) powder Good things about SLS:
• You don’t need supports for hanging parts
• Makes strong parts
• Good for working parts Not so good things:
• The sides feel rough
• Machines cost a lot ($100,000+)
• Nylon powder costs $100-$200 per bag What people use it for:
• Car parts
• Working test parts
• Parts that need to be strong

4. Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)

How it works: Just like SLS but for metal. A laser melts metal powder. Materials you can use:

• Titanium
• Stainless steel
• Special metals for planes Good things about DMLS:
• Makes super strong parts
• Can make parts that planes need
• Makes light but strong parts Not so good things:
• Very, very costly (machines cost $500,000+)
• You need to finish parts after printing
• Metal powder costs $300-$500 per bag What people use it for:
• Rocket parts at SpaceX
• Hip parts doctors put in people
• Special airplane parts

5. Binder Jetting

How it works: A print head drops glue on powder to stick it together. Materials you can use:

• Sand
• Metal powder
• Clay Good things about Binder Jetting:
• Can make colorful parts
• Prints fast
• Can use many types of powder Not so good things:
• Parts are not very strong
• Parts have tiny holes in them
• Need to be made stronger after printing What people use it for:
• Building models
• Sand figures
• Full-color models

6. Material Jetting

How it works: Like an inkjet printer but drops plastic instead of ink, then hardens it with light. Materials you can use:

• Clear plastics
• Colored plastics
• Rubber-like materials Good things about Material Jetting:
• Very exact
• Can use many materials in one print
• Very smooth finish Not so good things:
• Parts can break easy
• Not many material choices
• Materials cost $250-$500 per bottle What people use it for:
• Medical teaching models
• Prototypes with different feels
• Clear parts

7. Digital Light Processing (DLP)

How it works: Like SLA but uses a projector to harden a whole layer at once. Materials you can use:

• Special plastics that harden fast with light Good things about DLP:
• Faster than SLA
• Makes smooth parts
• Good detail Not so good things:
• Can’t make big parts
• Limited material choices
• Materials cost $80-$200 per bottle What people use it for:
• Fast prototypes
• Small detailed models
• Jewelry models

3D Printing in Different Jobs

Airplane Making (Aerospace)

• Uses DMLS to make light parts
• SpaceX makes rocket engines this way
• Parts are 50% lighter than old ways

Doctor Tools (Medical)

• SLA for surgery guides
• DMLS for hip parts to put in people
• 95% success rate for titanium hip parts

Cars (Automotive)

• SLS for air tubes
• FDM for tools
• BMW says it makes parts 70% faster now

Things We Buy (Consumer Goods)

• Binder jetting for home things
• Material jetting for shoe designs
• Helps make new products faster

Which 3D Printing is Best for What?

Here is a simple chart to help you pick:

How to Pick the Right 3D Printing Type

When picking a 3D printing type, think about:

1. How much money you have
   • FDM is cheapest
   • DMLS is most costly
2. How strong it needs to be
   • SLS and DMLS make strong parts
   • SLA and Material Jetting make weaker parts
3. How smooth it needs to look
   • SLA, DLP and Material Jetting make smooth parts
   • FDM shows lines
4. How many you need
   • For lots of parts, SLS might be best
   • For a few parts, any type works At Istar Machining, we also offer precision CNC milling services when you need metal parts with very exact sizes. Sometimes, a mix of 3D printing and CNC machining makes the best parts.

Real Stories of 3D Printing

Car Parts Story

Ford uses binder jetting to make sand molds for metal parts. This is much faster than old ways.

Space Story

SpaceX prints rocket engine parts with DMLS. These parts are lighter but still very strong.

Medical Story

Doctors use SLA to make guides for surgery. This helps them do better work on patients.

Shoe Story

Adidas uses SLS to make special shoe bottoms called Futurecraft 4D. They feel better when you walk.

Materials Used in 3D Printing

Different 3D printing types use different materials:

• FDM: PLA, ABS, PETG plastics
• SLA/DLP: Special liquid plastics that harden with light
• SLS: Nylon, rubber-like powders
• DMLS: Titanium, stainless steel, special metal powders
• Binder Jetting: Sand, metal, clay powders
• Material Jetting: Clear and colored plastics, rubber-like materials At Istar Machining, we know materials well. For metal parts that need to be very strong, we might suggest our CNC metal services instead of 3D printing.

New Things in 3D Printing

The world of 3D printing is always changing:

• New Materials: People can now print using recycled plastic
• Faster Machines: New printers work 30% faster than old ones
• Bigger Prints: Some printers can now make very big things
• Better Metal Printing: Metal printing is growing at 24% each year

Questions People Ask

Why 3D Printing Matters

3D printing is changing how we make things. It lets us:

• Make things that were too hard to make before
• Make things faster
• Make special things for one person
• Test ideas before making lots of something At Istar Machining, we stay up to date with both 3D printing and CNC parts machining. This helps us make the best parts for our customers.

Final Thoughts

3D printing has seven main types, each good for different jobs. FDM is best for home use and low cost. SLA and DLP make smooth, detailed parts. SLS makes strong plastic parts. DMLS makes metal parts for planes and medical uses. Binder jetting makes colorful models and sand forms. Material jetting makes multi-material and clear parts. Remember that Istar Machining can help with both 3D printing and traditional 5-axis machining. Sometimes the best answer is to use both ways to make your parts! Want to learn more about making parts? Call us today to talk about your next project!

[^1]: Data sourced from multiple industry reports and manufacturer specifications. [^2]: Case studies sourced from published company reports and industry analyses. [^3]: Technology descriptions based on standard industry definitions and practical applications.