FDM, SLA, SLS or metal: which fits a part
Choosing a technology for one part is a different question from choosing equipment for a company. This page compares the design limits, which is what a report checks. The business side is in the founder's articles.
| FDM | SLA | SLS | Metal LPBF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials checked | PLA, PETG, ASA, ABS, PA6-CF | photopolymer resins | PA12 | AlSi10Mg, Ti6Al4V, 316L, 17-4PH, IN718, IN625, CuCrZr, CoCr |
| Support | beyond 45° from vertical | below 30° from horizontal | none | beyond 45° from vertical, 50° for Ti6Al4V |
| Smallest wall | 0.8 mm with a 0.4 mm nozzle | 0.6 mm | 0.8 mm | 0.25 to 0.5 mm, reliable 1.0 to 2.0 mm |
| Closed cavities | harmless | need drain holes, 3.5 mm or more | need powder escape, 5 mm or more | need powder escape, 3 mm or more |
| Typical use | jigs, fixtures, prototypes, functional parts | fine detail, smooth surfaces, models and patterns | functional nylon parts, batches, complex shapes without support | high-strength metal parts, internal channels, low volumes |
Questions that choose the technology
- Does the part need the properties of a metal? Then metal, and the question becomes which alloy.
- Does it need fine detail and a smooth surface? Resin.
- Do you need many functional pieces with complex shapes and no support work? SLS.
- Is it large, simple and cheap to replace? FDM.
- Does it have closed cavities or internal channels? SLS or metal, not FDM or resin without drain holes.
One file, four answers
Dokimion runs the same part through all four technologies with the same A to E score, so the differences are visible, and estimates the cost per piece for each. The cost method is described in how the cost per part is estimated.
See your part in all four technologies
Check a partLast updated: