Whether you're evaluating a new manufacturing approach or trying to improve speed, cost, or performance, polymer 3D printing offers several key advantages over traditional methods.
Polymer 3D printing can be the most cost-effective manufacturing process for prototyping, small production runs and applications, and large custom production runs.
Traditional prototyping methods like CNC machining require costly machines, fixtures, and setups, while injection molding needs expensive metal tools with minimum order runs.
With polymer 3D printing, the ability to make complex shapes and parts more easily eliminates the high costs associated with programming and setups. Polymer 3D printing also allows you to make only what you need, minimizing material costs and minimum part orders—all while running unattended.
Polymer 3D printing allows you to design and print more complex geometries—without the constraints of traditional manufacturing.
Traditional manufacturing methods often can’t achieve this without incurring high costs and long lead times. Some of the 3D printing technologies that can help you efficiently produce more complex geometries include:
You can save significant product development time and cost by using polymer 3D printing to iterate prototypes—or move directly into production.
Unlike injection molding, no tooling is required. With polymer 3D printing, you can design a part, manufacture it, and test it—all within 24 hours.
Choosing the right process is critical to achieving your desired performance, cost, and timeline.
There are several types of polymer 3D printing, including:
To select the right polymer 3D printing process for your application, it’s important to understand the strengths of each process and map those attributes to your product development needs.
For extremely precise, miniature parts
Micro DLP printing uses UV light to rapidly photopolymerize layers of resin. Unlike traditional DLP technologies that have resolutions between 75 and 100 microns, micro DLP prints parts at a resolution between 1-5 microns with a layer thickness down to 1 micron.
Fabrica Tera 250 Micro 3D Printer
The Fabrica Tera 250 allows us to deliver prototypes in five business days or less. Key performance specs:
True digital manufacturing for end-use parts
Carbon DLS is a photochemical process that uses both light and oxygen to build parts with exceptional mechanical properties.
After parts are built continuously, they are washed, supports are removed, and they are thermally or UV cured to achieve final strength.
High-precision prototypes for development
SLA converts liquid resin into solid parts using an ultraviolet laser—building thin layers with high accuracy and smooth finishes.
Production-grade parts at scale
HP Multi Jet Fusion is a powder-based process designed for scaling from prototype to full production.
Cost-effective and versatile 3D printing
FDM is one of the most widely used 3D printing processes due to its accessibility and ability to use real engineering thermoplastics.
Durable parts without support structures
SLS uses a laser to fuse powder materials, allowing for complex geometries and full build chambers without supports.
Multi-material, high-detail prototypes
PolyJet uses an inkjet process to create smooth, highly detailed parts with multiple materials and colors.
Finishing is critical to achieving production-ready parts. TTH offers a wide range of post-processing capabilities depending on your application requirements.
More available upon request.
Q: Can I finish and paint parts?
A: Yes—TTH offers a full range of finishing options, including painting, textures, metalizing, and plating.
Q: Should I print threads or use inserts?
A: We recommend heat-staked inserts whenever possible; however, some materials cannot accommodate this. In these situations, we can use press-in inserts or glue them into the part. It is best to print threads in and chase them during finishing for optimal fit.
Q: What file format do I need?
A: STEP, IGES, Parasolid, or STL files are all commonly used. If these formats are not available, we are happy to try to work with you on converting another style.
Q: How large can parts be?
A: Parts can be built in sections and bonded—we’ve produced parts up to six feet in diameter.
Q: What tolerances can be achieved?
A: Tolerances vary by process, material, and geometry, and are confirmed on a case-by-case basis.
Q: How can I reduce costs?
A: Common strategies include consolidating parts, optimizing geometry, and designing specifically for additive manufacturing.
Ready to find the right polymer 3D printing solution for your project?
At The Technology House (TTH), we specialize in creating custom, intricate polymer 3D printed parts for demanding industries. From design through prototyping and production, our integrated, all-under-one-roof approach allows you to take your concept to market faster and more cost-effectively.
Personalized quoting—no auto-quote. We take a consultative approach to determine the best result for your project.