The most popular technology used in 3D printing. Thermoplastic material is pushed through a heated nozzle and the molten filament is deposited on a build plate creating the object layer by layer.
Highlights: easy to use, strong parts and many material options
SLA – Stereolithography
SLA is one of the earliest forms of 3D printing technology. It uses a photopolymer resin as a raw material that hardens upon exposure to UV light, usually from a laser.
Highlights: detailed geometries, isotropic, waterproof, high resolution and surface finish.
SLS – Selective Laser Sintering
SLS uses a high-powered laser beam to fuse powdered raw materials together to create parts layer by layer.
Highlights: fast process, strong parts, medium resolution and surface finish.
LCD – Liquid Crystal Diode
LCD technology uses UV light for photo-polymerization. The system projects an entire layer on the resin, forming an entire solid layer all at once. This makes LCD printers faster than other technologies.
Highlights: Medium size and volume, detailed geometries, isotropic, waterproof, high resolution and surface finish.