Bringing your product from 2d sketches and 3d models into real life hands on parts can be a daunting task. Below is a list of manufacturing processes that can be used with brief descriptions on each.
- Additive manufacturing
- Fused deposition modeling (FDM) or fused filament fabrication (FFF) is the most common additive manufacturing technology. It lays down material in layers, fed by raw material filament (often a plastic). It is great for initial rapid prototypes or rough durable parts.
- Benefits: cost, durability, speed
- Cons: surface finish, accuracy
- Stereolithography (SLA) works by curing a photo-reactive resin with a UV laser or similar power source
- Multijet technology (MJM or polyjet)
- Selective laser sintering (SLS)
- Selective laser melting (SLM) or direct metal laser sintering (DMLS)
- Fused deposition modeling (FDM) or fused filament fabrication (FFF) is the most common additive manufacturing technology. It lays down material in layers, fed by raw material filament (often a plastic). It is great for initial rapid prototypes or rough durable parts.
- Machining
- Lathe
- Mill
- Casting
- Centrifugal
- Continuous
- Die
- Investment casting (lost wax)
- Sand casting
- Molding
- Injection
- Transfer
- Extrusion
- Forming
- Forging
- Rolling
- Pressing
- Bending
- Shearing
- Joining
- Welding
- Brazing
- Soldering