Glossary of Post-Processing Terms

B

BJ

Binder Jet (BJ) is a process in which an industrial printhead selectively deposits a liquid binding agent onto a thin layer of powder particles either metal, sand, ceramics, or composites.

D

DMLS

Direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) is a 3D metal printing process which uses a high-wattage laser to micro-weld powdered metals.

DLP

Digital Light Processing(DLP) is a 3D metal printing process In which a vat of liquid polymer is exposed to light from a DLP projector. The DLP projector displays the image of the 3D model onto the liquid polymer. The exposed liquid polymer hardens and a build plate moves down and the process is repeated.

E

EBM (EBAM)

Electron Beam Melting(EBM) or Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing(EBAM), is a 3D printing technology where the raw material (metal powder or wire) is placed in a vacuum and fused together using the heat generated by an electric beam.

F

FFF

Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) uses a continuous filament of a thermoplastic material. The filament is fed from a large spool through a moving, heated printer extruder head, and is deposited on the growing work.

M

MJF

Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) uses an inkjet array to selectively apply fusing and detailing agents across a bed of nylon powder, which are then fused by heating elements into a solid layer.

R

Ra

Each surface comprises microscopic peaks and valleys, and the Ra metric is the Root Mean Squared of these peaks and valleys.

Rigid Resin

Rigid resin is designed for precise industrial parts and prototypes that are required to withstand significant load without bending or breaking.  Rigid resin is offered in two strengths Rigid 10k and Rigid 4000.  Rigid 4000 simulates the stiffness of PEEK and is best suited for load bearing applications.  Rigid 10k is similiar to the stiffness of glass and fiber-filled thermoplastics and is thermally and chemically resistant.

S

Sintered

Sintering is the process of forming a solid mass of material, typically from powder, by the application of heat or pressure without melting it to the point of liquefaction.

SLM

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is a 3D printing technology where the powder, on a molecular level, is sintered (not melted) together.

SLS

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) uses high-powered lasers to sinter, or bind, finely powdered material together into a solid structure.

  • Printed Materials: Thermoplastic powder (Nylon 6, Nylon 11, Nylon 12)
  • Dimensional Accuracy: +0.3%
  • Common Applications: Functional parts, Complex ducting(hollow designs), Low run part production
  • Strengths: Functional parts, mechanical properties, complex geometries
  • Weaknesses: Higher cost than Fused Filament Fabrication; Longer lead times