Plastic Types and Characteristics

Resin
Nylons
Investment Casting
Biocompatible
ABS & Polypropylene-like

What is Resin?

Resin is used as the plastic material for Figure 4, Stereolithography (SLA) and entry-level industrial technologies. It is a liquid polymer that is UV sensitive and is hardened layer by layer by either a laser (in the case of SLA) or a projector image (in the case of Figure 4 or entry-level industrial printers). Resins can have properties similar to ABS, Polypropylene or elastomers. After printing, resin parts require post-curing in a UV curing unit for the best results possible.

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Introducing the ProX™ 800 SLA System

The ProX 800, 3DS' latest industry-leading Stereolithography 3D printer, features a revolutionary new laser print head and a print material management system to go along with its legendary SLA accuracy and speed.

Production-Grade Nylons

Powder-based Nylons and reinforced/composites used on Selective Laser Sintering 3D printing technology is fused by a laser to form tough and durable production parts. These materials are designed to offer a full range of capabilities and isotropic properties, from rigid to elastomeric, high elongation, high impact strength, and high temperature resistance.

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A 3D printed, black, nylon aerospace duct

An aerospace duct made from production-grade nylon with Selective Laser Sintering (SLS).

Investment Casting

3D print investment casting patterns to create a digital workflow that eliminates tooling for pattern production. Print patterns in wax or plastic. Wax patterns fit in existing investment casting processes, making it ideal for customized metal components, bridge manufacturing and low volume production. Our castable resins are also available in antimony-free varieties for aerospace castings.

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Understanding How 3D Printed Casting Patterns Work in the Foundry

Wax 3D printed casting patterns from 3D Systems’ ProJet MJP 2500 IC are made from real wax and drop seamlessly into the investment casting process.

Biocompatible Materials

3D Systems offers a number of USP Class VI certified materials capable of meeting ISO 10993-5 & -10 standards for biocompatibility, suitable for use in certain medical applications such as surgical guides, as well as a portfolio of 30 unique NextDent biocompatible materials to address multiple dental applications. All NextDent materials are biocompatible and CE-certified, FDA listed and classified in accordance with the international medical device regulations.

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NextDent 5100 with Dr. Daniel Wismeijer and Prof. Eddie Chaoho Chien

Learn how the speed and accuracy of 3D Systems' NextDent 5100 3D Printer for dental is helping change the outlook of dentistry for Dr. Daniel Wismeijer and Prof. Eddie Chaoho Chien.

ABS & Polypropylene-like

Powder-based Nylon 11, Nylon 12 and reinforced/composites used on Selective Laser Sintering 3D printing  technology is fused by a laser to form tough and durable production parts. These materials are design to offer a full range of capabilities and isotropic properties, from rigid to elastomeric, high elongation, high impact strength, and high temperature resistance.

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Advanced VisiJet® Materials for MultiJet Printing

3D Systems’ new engineering materials for the ProJet® MJP 2500 Series deliver advanced capability for functional prototyping across a range of applications, from high impact to high pliability to high contrast.

Plastic Materials and 3D Printing

Plastic Materials and 3D Printing

3D Printing Applications for Plastics

  • Prototyping

    Solutions that streamline workflow to accelerate digital design, create appearance models and build functional prototypes.

  • Production

    Additive manufacturing at scale for plastic parts is now a reality, with the productivity, durability, repeatability, and lower total cost of operation manufacturers require.

  • Investment Casting

    Accelerate the delivery of high-quality metal products and casting patterns with 3D printed wax and SLA casting patterns.

  • Jigs and Fixtures

    Produce accurate jigs and fixtures with 3D printing to provide a fast and cost-effective way to advance your manufacturing process.

  • Explore the Best 3D Printing Technologies

    3D Systems invented 3D printing. We produce hundreds of thousands of plastic parts with our printers, plastic materials, services and specialized software. How can we help you?
    Explore 3D Printers
    Explore Technologies

  • Our Software Delivers Results

    Software is the key to transforming data from 3D scans, illuminating designs, and inspecting part quality, and is used every day to enable manufacturing for traditional and 3D-based manufacturing processes. Explore our end-to-end software portfolio today.
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“With 3D printing, the real strengths so far are complexity and customization. If you have a manufacturing process where you need a lot of detail or a lot of differentiation between parts, that’s where 3D printing can play.”
— Chuck Hull, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, 3D Systems

  • Application Innovation Group

    Our team can help you solve your most difficult design and production challenges with additive manufacturing solutions. Together we’ll identify your needs, working with you to optimize your designs, prototype, validate and define a manufacturing flow.
Explore Real-World Examples of Applications
High temperature resistant fixture printed with figure 4 hi temp 300 am
Service Bureau Accelerates Delivery of 3D Printed Fixtures for Use in Automotive Industry
Chihui reduced delivery times and costs by more than 30 percent, significantly improving production efficiency with help from 3D Systems

Hangzhou Chihui Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. is a 3D printing service provider for production and manufacturing. The company focuses on providing 3D digital technology application solutions, innovating traditional manufacturing through 3D printing technology and helping customers solve complex challenges with printed products. Its key customers include Interplex and well-known automotive companies. Interplex is a global leader in applying technology to develop complex, customized products and solutions across a continually expanding range of design and production disciplines.

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A mold for a universal gasket 3D printed in a batch of 36 on the Figure 4 printer by BWT Alpine F1 Team.
Same-Day Silicone and PU Parts Speed Development at BWT Alpine F1® Team
3D Systems’ Figure 4 eggshell molding solution gives BWT Alpine F1 Team unprecedented speed and flexibility to produce silicone and polyurethane parts for development and on-car use....
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Hankook 3D printed tire parts
Hankook Tire
Hankook Develops Award-Winning Autonomous Mobility Solution with Figure 4 and SLS Additive Manufacturing Solutions
Hankook Develops Award-Winning Autonomous Mobility Solution with Figure 4 and SLS Additive Manufacturing Solutions...
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  • Materials Buyer’s Guide for Plastics

    An overview of the 3D printing materials landscape. You’ll uncover a wide array of plastic materials, which deliver a vast range of characteristics such as flexibility to bio-compatibility and more, ensuring you have a material suited to your specific application’s requirements.
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