Additive prototyping with 3D printing

What tolerances can be held with additive prototyping?

Our quoted tolerance on 3D printed parts is ±0.5mm though this is influenced by part geometry, 3D printing technology, material and build orientation

However, when we use PµSL for 3D printing, we quote a much tighter general tolerance of ±25µm.

If you need specific tolerances on individual part features, talk to us and we will do whatever we can to accommodate your requirements.

What is the smallest feature that additive prototyping can achieve?

Most 3D printing technologies cannot form features smaller than 0.6mm, though there is some variation between technologies. If your part has a feature smaller than 1mm, talk to us before requesting a quote, as we will need to interrogate the part file to determine the best build orientation.

For small parts with ultra-fine detail, thin walls and sharp edges, PµSL has a resolution down to 10µm and layer thickness down to 5µm.

What materials are used for 3D printing prototype parts?

We have five different 3D printing technologies and each machine manufacturer recommends a range of materials. From these, we have selected a set of materials to meet the vast majority of our customers’ needs. Between them, our 3D printers can produce parts that mimic those injection moulded from materials as stiff and strong as glass-filled nylon, though to soft elastomers. More information is provided on our page about materials for 3D printing.