3D printing

Additive Manufacturing, also known as 3D Printing, is the process of creating 3D Solid objects layer-by-layer using different technologies from a digital file.

There are many technologies involved in 3D Printing, and each technology has its Pros/Cons and the most popular ones are.

• Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 
• Stereolithography (SLA) 

There are other 3D Printing Technologies available. However, they are expensive to operate, and more complex;

• Digital Light Processing (DLP) 
• Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 
• Selective Laser Melting (SLM) 
• Electronic Beam Melting (EBM) 
• Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM)
• And more!

It takes a lot to produce a 3D Printed product, and on average, some products are shipped on the same day, some take up to 48 hours, and rarely do 3D Printed parts take 72h+.

Our Detailed workflow

1. Design Analysis 
2. Repair file
3. 3D Printing Simulation
4. 3D Printing Slicing
5. 3D Printing 
6. Removal of support material 
7. Sanding 
8. Polishing
9. Primer Painting
10. Client Color Requirement Painting
11. Curing
12. Shipping

FDM 3D Printing

• PLA (Blue, Black, White, Grey, orange)
• ABS (Orange, black, grey)
• Nylon (Black) 
• Nylon Carbon Fiber (Black) 

SLA 3D Printing

• Standard PLA Resin (Black, White, Grey, Semi-Transparent)
• Castable Resin (Purple) (Custom order)
• High Tough Resin (Semi-Transparent) (Custom order)

If you require other types of resin, we can make a customer order to fulfill your requirements.

Benefits of 3D Printing over Mold Injection

• It takes less than 72 hours from design to the production of the prototype.
• Cost less to produce a 3D Printed Part over an Injected Mold Part.

However, there are some limitations to 3D Printing;

• 3D Printed Parts are not as strong as injection molding parts.
• High volume production is preferable in injection molding because of the decrease in cost with increasing production volumes.

A 3D printing service bureau or company is a local or international business that will handle end-to-end 3D Printing, from the design phase to 3D Printing to Post Processing to the Finished 3D Print Part. Using a 3D printing service bureau like ARL can be cost-effective for students, businesses, and governments.