3D Printing
Self-supporting nylon builds for functional prototypes and production.
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) fuses thermoplastic powder with a laser. Unsintered powder surrounds the part during the build, acting as natural support. SLS nylon parts are tough, heat-resistant relative to FDM, and well suited to brackets, ducts, and snap-fit assemblies.
Selective Laser Sintering fuses thermoplastic powder with a laser. Loose powder stays around the part and acts as a nest, so most geometries do not need printed supports. That is why ducts, hinges, and packed batches are everyday SLS work.
AIHFABS runs SLS mainly in nylon (PA11, PA12, glass-filled) plus PP and TPU where the job needs them. After cool-down we break the cake, depowder, and dye or vapor-smooth when you ask for a less grainy skin.
Powder-bed size and as-sintered tolerance below are planning values, not a substitute for the live quote.
| Lead time | Typical tolerance | Max build envelope | Surface finish | Supports |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From 48 hours express; 72 hours / 5 days standard tiers | ±0.3 mm or ±0.3% | 645 × 325 × 520 mm | Matte, slightly grainy; vapor smoothing or tumbling optional | Not required — powder bed supports the part |
Engineering nylons first. Glass-filled, PP, and TPU grades are listed when the application needs stiffness or flex.
As-sintered nylon is matte and slightly grainy. Dye and vapor smooth are the usual next steps.
Natural white or stone-gray powder texture. Functional and honest — no dye, no extra cycle.
Immersion dye, most often black, that soaks a shallow layer and covers the open grain.
Chemical smooth or media tumble to close pores and take the chalky feel down.
SLS and MJF both print nylon without support trees. MJF is often faster on dense production nests; SLS still wins on some alloys of powder and envelope.
| Process | Lead time | Tolerance | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selective Laser Melting (SLM)Metal | From 5 business days (express options where available) | ±0.3 mm or ±0.3% (whichever is greater), tighter after machining | Instant quote · typical metal part from $90 |
| Stereolithography (SLA)Resin | From 48 hours for standard resin jobs | ±0.2 mm on well-supported features | Instant quote · typical resin part from $18 |
| Digital Light Processing (DLP)Resin | From 48 hours | ±0.2 mm on supported geometry | Instant quote · typical resin batch from $20 |
| Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)Resin | From 48 hours | ±0.2 mm on supported geometry | Instant quote · typical resin part from $16 |
| Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)Plastic powder | From 48 hours express; 72 hours / 5 days standard tiers | ±0.3 mm or ±0.3% | Instant quote · typical nylon part from $28 |
| Multi Jet Fusion (MJF)Plastic powder | From 48 hours express; standard 72 hours / 5 days | ±0.3 mm or ±0.3% | Instant quote · typical PA12 part from $25 |
| Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)Thermoplastic filament | From 24–48 hours depending on size | ±0.5 mm or ±0.5% on FDM-appropriate geometry | Instant quote · typical prototype from $12 |
Packing density, escape holes, and wall thickness are checked before the cake is committed. Enclosed volumes without a powder exit are flagged in DFM.
After cool-down, parts are depowdered and blasted. Dye, vapor smooth, or tapping is added only when the order lists it.
Let powder out, then keep walls in a band the cake can cool without banana-ing.
| Feature | Recommended practice |
|---|---|
| Escape holes | Open every enclosed volume so unsintered powder can leave. |
| Walls | About 1.0 mm unsupported and 0.8 mm supported is a safe first pass. |
| Holes & details | Keep holes and embossed details around 0.8–1.0 mm or larger. |
| Living hinges | Use a TPU grade and a tuned thickness — PA12 is the wrong hinge material. |
| Large flats | Rib large panels so they stay flatter through cool-down. |
Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is a powder-bed metal additive process. A high-power laser scans each cross-section of your CAD model, melting metal powder that solidifies into a dense part.
Full process details
Stereolithography (SLA) cures liquid photopolymer with a precision UV laser, building parts layer by layer.
Full process details
Digital Light Processing (DLP) solidifies an entire layer of photopolymer at once using a projected image.
Full process detailsAlmost never. The unsintered powder holds the part. You still need escape holes on closed volumes.
Both make durable PA12. MJF is often quicker on dense production nests; SLS is strong when the powder grade or the envelope fits that cell better. Upload once and we will pick a route.
±0.3 mm or ±0.3%, whichever is greater, on typical SLS geometry.
Yes. Dye is the usual cosmetic step; vapor smooth is added when you want a less grainy hand feel.
Express from 48 hours; standard tiers around 72 hours or 5 business days depending on cake schedule.
AIHFABS quotes custom 3D printing and CNC machining from a CAD upload. Compare SLA, SLS, MJF, SLM, FDM, DLP, milling, and turning, then add finishing such as vapor smoothing, dyeing, anodizing, polishing, or powder coating in the same order.
Instant quoting is built for prototypes, jigs, housings, and small-batch production. You see material, process, quantity, and lead time together, which keeps engineering changes from turning into a new round of supplier emails.
If this page describes a process, industry, or sample part you want to reproduce, start from the upload flow and match technology plus finishing to your drawing.
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