I find it quite frustrating how often many of our new customers are mislead and given incorrect information when shopping for rapid prototype parts by other sources. To do my part and help if possible, I would like the share with you my knowledge of RP and more specifically, plastic rapid prototyping.
Rapid Prototyping using the SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) process, will provide you with an excellent solid plastic prototype (made in nylon) that you can test, tap, drill, snap-fit and assemble. You can also have living hinges and function springs made.
There are a few other Rapid Prototyping processes available on the market in addition to SLS, however to date and the best of my knowledge, this is the ONLY process that will make a plastic Rapid Prototype part. Any other process that "claims" to create plastic parts are often instead offering "Plastic-like" which is not the same at all. It will not function the way a plastic part would, because quite simply, it is not plastic.
Having correct information and being armed with the appropriate knowledge will help to ensure you get the quality of prototype you require.
Here is a bit about the SLS Process:
Selective Laser Sintering uses a co2 laser to fuse powdered materials such as nylon, rubber-like and metal. As the laser contacts the powder bed, it raises the material to its sintering temperature to create a layer of solid part geometry. Parts are white/off-white in color when they come out of the building bed.
In other words, the SLS process builds prototypes by sintering (or melting) one layer of Nylon powder to the next to create a solid plastic part. There is no curing process, no added support structure or post infiltrating required.
Your parts are NOT SLS nylon (plastic) parts if:
- they have to or were create and cured with UV light (If your part is cured with UV light it was made from a resin material and is constantly curing once out of the bed. The more it cures, the more brittle it becomes. This does not happen with SLS parts.)
- if they are clear or transparent (again, a resin material was used if this is the case, cured with UV light)
-if they are not made with plastic/nylon material (it is like making a wallet with cotton fabric and then calling it leather... it is only a leather wallet if it is made with leather... it is only a plastic prototype if it is made with plastic, not plastic-like)
Advantages to SLS Prototypes:
• Fully functional, durable prototypes
• Nylon material parts can be tapped, drilled, snap fit, assembled and painted
• Living hinges and functioning springs can be produced
• Rapidly produce one or multiple pieces
If you would like to learn more about SLS Rapid Prototyping, please feel free to visit our site at
www.3dprototype.com, or contact us on-line and I would be happy to answer your questions.
