Our Technologies: The Power Behind Your Projects.
At FabraForma, we believe in using the right tool for the job. We have invested in a range of advanced 3D printing technologies, each with unique capabilities and advantages. Understanding the differences between these processes can help you make an informed decision and achieve the perfect outcome for your project.
FDM / FFF: Strong, Durable, and Cost-Effective.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and its non-proprietary counterpart, Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), are the most widely recognized forms of 3D printing. These processes work by extruding a heated thermoplastic or composite filament, layer by layer, onto a build platform. FDM/FFF is renowned for its reliability and ability to produce strong, durable parts that can withstand mechanical stress and a wide range of temperatures.
Key Advantages:
- Durability: Produces robust, functional parts ideal for end-use components, jigs, and fixtures.
- Cost-Effective: A great choice for producing affordable prototypes and large-scale models.
- Wide Material Range: Compatible with a vast selection of engineering-grade thermoplastics and reinforced composites.
Best-Fit Applications:
- Functional Prototyping and Testing
- Tools, Jigs, and Fixtures
- End-Use Parts and Assemblies
SLA (Stereolithography): Precision, Detail, and Smooth Finish. Content:
SLA is a highly precise additive manufacturing technology. It utilizes a powerful laser to cure a vat of liquid photopolymer resin, solidifying it layer by layer. The result is a part with an exceptionally smooth surface finish, intricate details, and a high level of accuracy that is perfect for models requiring fine resolution.
Key Advantages:
- High Resolution: Capable of producing very small, intricate details and complex geometries.
- Smooth Surface Finish: Parts come off the printer with a polished, professional look, minimizing the need for post-processing.
- Design Freedom: Ideal for creating complex organic shapes, master patterns, and aesthetic models.
Best-Fit Applications:
- Visual Prototypes and Models
- Master Patterns for Casting
- Intricate Artistic and Architectural Models
PolyJet: Unmatched Realism and Multi-Material Capabilities.
PolyJet is an advanced technology that works much like an inkjet printer, jetting droplets of liquid photopolymer resin onto a build tray and curing them instantly with UV light. This process is unique in its ability to print with multiple materials and in full color within a single model. This allows for stunningly realistic, multi-material prototypes with varying durometers and textures.
Key Advantages:
- Multi-Material in a Single Print: Combine rigid and flexible materials in one part.
- Full-Color Fidelity: Produces realistic, full-color models with intricate details and textures.
- Exceptional Surface Finish: Offers one of the smoothest surface finishes available, ideal for aesthetic and visual prototypes.
Best-Fit Applications:
- Visual and Aesthetic Prototypes
- Realistic Medical and Anatomical Models
- Overmolded Parts and Complex Assemblies
SLS (Selective Laser Sintering): Functional, Complex, and Tool-Free.
SLS is an industrial-grade technology that uses a powerful laser to selectively fuse fine powder particles into a solid structure. Because the unsintered powder acts as a natural support, SLS parts require no support structures, allowing for unprecedented design freedom and the ability to produce complex, interlocking geometries in a single build.
Key Advantages:
- No Support Structures: Eliminates design constraints and reduces post-processing time and cost.
- High Strength & Durability: Produces strong, end-use parts with excellent mechanical properties.
- Part Consolidation: Ideal for consolidating multiple components into a single, complex part.
Best-Fit Applications:
- Functional End-Use Parts
- Complex Geometries and Internal Channels
- Rapid Tooling and Jigs
MJF (Multi Jet Fusion): High-Speed Production, Superior Properties.
Multi Jet Fusion is a high-speed, powder-based technology that uses a fusing agent and detailing agent jetted across a bed of material. Infrared energy is then applied to instantly fuse each layer. MJF is known for its ability to produce functional, isotropic parts with excellent mechanical properties and a fine surface finish at a much faster rate than other powder-based processes.
Key Advantages:
- High Throughput: Produces large quantities of parts quickly and efficiently.
- Isotropic Properties: Parts are strong and durable in all directions, making them highly reliable.
- Excellent Detail: Achieves a fine surface finish and crisp details for high-quality parts.
Best-Fit Applications:
- Low-to-Mid Volume Production
- Functional Prototypes and End-Use Parts
- Complex Geometries with Internal Features
Metal 3D Printing: DMLS, SLM, and EBM.
For applications that demand the highest strength, durability, and heat resistance, we offer advanced metal additive manufacturing. Technologies like Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), Selective Laser Melting (SLM), and Electron Beam Melting (EBM) use powerful lasers or electron beams to fuse fine metal powder, creating dense, fully functional metal parts.
Key Advantages:
- Superior Strength: Produces parts with mechanical properties comparable to wrought metals.
- Heat Resistance: Ideal for high-temperature environments in aerospace and industrial engineering.
- Material Diversity: Works with a variety of metals including Titanium, Stainless Steel, and Aluminum.
Best-Fit Applications:
- Aerospace and Automotive Components
- Medical Implants and Devices
- High-Performance Tools and Fixtures
5-Axis FDM: The Future of 3D Printing is Here.
FabraForma is pioneering the next generation of FDM technology with our custom-built 5-axis FDM printer. By introducing two additional rotational axes, we can print on multiple planes, eliminating the need for support structures and allowing for truly unprecedented design freedom. This technology will produce stronger, more isotropic parts in a fraction of the time.
Key Advantages:
- No Support Structures: Print complex parts with undercuts and internal features without the need for supports.
- Increased Part Strength: Align filament layers with the direction of applied forces for stronger, more reliable parts.
- Design Innovation: Unlock new geometric possibilities and consolidate multiple parts into one.
Availability: Coming Soon. This technology is currently in its final stages of development and will be available for advanced projects in the near future.