Shapeways

In Binder Jetting, a binder is selectively deposited onto the powder bed, bonding these areas together to form a solid part one layer at a time. The materials commonly used in Binder Jetting are metals, sand, and ceramics that come in a granular, powder form.

Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) begins with a thin layer of powdered material being deposited across the build platform. Droplets of fusing and detailing agents are applied along with thermal energy on top of the powdered material to define the part’s geometry.

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) process uses a laser to scan and selectively melt the metal powder particles, bonding them together and building a part layer-by-layer.

Material Jetting operates in a similar fashion to 2D printers. In material jetting, a printhead (similar to the printheads used for standard inkjet printing) dispenses droplets of a photosensitive material that solidifies under ultraviolet (UV) light, building a part layer-by-layer.

Selective laser sintering (SLS) uses a laser as the power source to sinter powdered material, aiming the laser automatically at points in space defined by a 3D model, binding the material together to create a solid structure.

Stereolithography (SLA) creates parts in a layer by layer fashion using photochemical processes by which light causes chemical monomers to link together to form polymers. Those polymers then make up the body of a three-dimensional solid.

3D printing technologies create a smooth wax pattern, which is used to create casting molds to produce precious metal parts.