Quickparts Manufacturing Process Comparison
Choosing the right process for your custom parts depends on a variety of factors. The final application use of the piece needs to be considered at the same time as material options and realistic timelines for delivery.
Our vast range of 3D printing and traditional manufacturing options cover a wide array of applications and performance characteristics. Use the comparison table below to help determine the best solution for your project. If you need additional guidance, request to speak with a manufacturing expert now.
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| Process | Category | Applications | Instant Quoting Maximum Dimensions | Layer Thickness | Material Options | Finish Options | Lead Time Options | Recommended Minimum Feature Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stereolithography (SLA) | 3D Printing | Excellent for fit, form, and function testing
Design verification models for appearance and proof-of-concept models Best surface quality and highest resolution, ideal for trade show quality parts High precision and accuracy Easily finished and painted for demonstration/presentation models |
Normal/Standard Res: 1500 mm × 750 mm × 550 mm (59" × 29.5" × 21.5") High Res: 380 mm × 380 mm × 254 mm (15" × 15" × 10") |
Normal/Standard Resolution: 101.6 µm (0.004") High Resolution: 50.8 µm (0.002") |
Accura 25 (ABS/PP-Like) Accura Xtreme White Accura Xtreme Grey (High-Impact ABS-Like) Accura SL 7820 Black (ABS-Like) Accura 60 (PC-Like) Accura ClearVue (PC-Like) Accura Bluestone (High-Temp ABS-Like) Accura 48 (High-Temp PC-Like) |
Natural Standard Paint-Ready Painted Quick Clear Clearpart Custom |
As little as 2 business days | Normal/Standard Res: 635 µm (0.025") High Res: 254 µm (0.015") |
| Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) | 3D Printing | Ideal for durable, impact-resistant, functional parts with a variety of applications Capable of producing snap fits and living hinges Excellent heat and chemically resistant |
508 mm × 508 mm × 762 mm (20" × 20" × 30") | 101.6 µm (0.004") | Duraform PA (Nylon) Duraform GF (Glass-Filled Nylon) Duraform HST (Composite/High-Temperature) Duraform EX Black (Durable Nylon) Duraform EX Natural (Durable Nylon) Duraform TPU (Elastomeric) |
Standard Uncoated Standard Coated Paint-Ready Painted, Dyed |
As little as 3 business days | 762 µm (0.030") |
| Direct Metal Printing (DMP) | 3D Printing | Perfect for complex metal parts that need to be manufactured quickly and accurately Fully dense parts with excellent surface finish |
269.24 mm × 269.24 mm × 400 mm (10.6" × 10.6" × 15.7") | Normal/Standard Res: 60 µm (0.0024") High Res: 30 µm (0.0012") |
Titanium (Ti6Al4V Grade 5) Stainless Steel 17-4 Stainless Steel (316L) |
Anodized EDM Grinding Heat-Treated Milling Polished Turning |
As little as 8 business days | 254 µm (0.010") |
| Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) | 3D Printing | Excellent for demonstration models with full color printing Perfect for architecture, consumer product design, healthcare, educational models, crystallography, medical teaching models, and more |
914.4 mm × 609.6 mm × 914.4 mm (36" × 24" × 36") | 177.8 µm, 254 µm, 330.2 µm (0.007", 0.010", 0.013") layers | ABS M30 ABS M30i ABS M100 PC PC-ISO PC-ABS Ultem 9085 Ultem 1010 Nylon 12 |
Standard Paint-Ready Painted | 3-5 (maybe longer due to size and quantity) | 1524 µm (0.060") |
| Digital Light Processing (DLP) | 3D Printing | DLP delivers ultra-high speed and accuracy, with a wide range of material choices Ideal for low-volume production and quick-turn prototyping |
124.46 mm × 71.12 mm × 195.58 mm (4.9" × 2.8" × 7.7") |
Normal/Standard Res: 50.8 µm (0.002") High Res: 25.4 µm (0.001") |
Stainless Steel 17-4PH (A) Stainless Steel 316L (A) Aluminum (AlSi10Mg) (A) Aluminum (AlSi12) (B) Ti is actually grade 23 Inconel 625 (Ni625) (A) Inconel 718 (Ni718)(A) |
Natural Standard Paint-Ready Painted Custom |
As little as 24 hours | 254 µm (0.010") (May vary due to geometry) |
| Multi-Jet Printing (MJP) | 3D Printing | Concept modeling Form/fit testing Functional prototypes Jigs/fixtures Eggshell molding |
11.6" × 8.3" × 5.6" | 32 µm | Engineering Class: Visijet Armor Rigid Class: Visijet M2R-CL |
Standard | As little as 2 business days | 254 µm (0.010") |
| Cast Urethane | Traditional | Ideal for marketing samples Production-like attributes (surface finish, color, accuracy, and material properties) Focus groups Short-run production Bridge to production Viable production process for low-volume, high-value programs |
N/A | ABS-Like PE-Like PP-Like Elastomer (25A, 30A, 40A, 50A, 60A, 70A, 80A, 90A) Clear High-Strength High-Temp ABS-Like Custom (Glass-Filled) MRI Transparent ABS-Like FDA-Approved Rigid FDA-Approved Elastomeric UL94VO Polypropylene UL94VO ABS-Like Silicone |
Functional Show Clear (Polished) |
First article in as little as 6 business days | 635 µm (0.025") | |
| Injection Mold Tooling & Parts | Traditional | Pre-production and production applications Functional, process validation, and reliability testing |
All available in the market | All available for production | 1-4 weeks | DFM needed | ||
| Investment Casting | Traditional | Complex casting patterns - protoype and production Viable production process for lower volume programs Excellent for high-volume, production-level components; very beneficial when there are complex features that are better-suited for casting Functional, process validation, and reliability testing Alternative to machined, injection-wax tooling Iterative design opportunities resulting in better time to market vs. traditional tooled parts Excellent dimensional stability, especially in large part geometries Casings, impellors, rotors |
609.6 mm × 609.6 mm × 609.6 mm (24" × 24" × 24") | SLA - 0.002, 0.004, 0.006 Wax - 16 or 42 µm | SLA - Accura CastPro, Accura Fidelity (Antimony-Free) WAX - Visijet M2 Cast, Visijet M2 Industrial Cast Stainless Steel Low-Alloy Steel Aluminum (AS7G60) Carbon Steel Cast Iron Copper Zamak 12 |
SLA: Level 1 - Support removal, support bumps sanded, holes sealed, leak checked Level 2 - Level 1 + build lines lightly sanded, clearcoat applied Level 3 - Level 2 + surfaces sanded smooth, clearcoat applied WAX: Level 1 – Supports intact, requires customer removal Level 2 – Support removal, some evidence of build lines, some white discoloration may be visible Level 3 – Support removal, build lines smooth, little to no white discoloration Anodize Heat-Treated Powder Coat Paint Nickel Plating Tin Coating Gold Plating Silver Plating Black Oxide Chemical Conversion |
as little as 2 business days | 254 µm (0.010") |
| CNC | Traditional | Pre-production and production applications Functional, process validation, and reliability testing Excellent for form, fit, and function tests Best choice for tighter tolerances and/or surface finishes Most material-specific finishes available for machined components |
Lathe Diameter: 203. mm (8") Lathe Length: 609.6 mm (24") Mill X: 1016 mm (40") Mill Y: 533.4 mm (21") Mill Z: 457.2 mm (18") |
N/A | Aluminum (6000 series, 7000 series, 5000 series) Brass (100 series, 200 series, 300 series) Bronze (900 series) Copper (100 series, 200 series) Stainless Steel (300 series, 400 series, 17-4) Steel (1000 series, 1200 series, A36) Steel Alloys (4000 series, 8000 series) Plastics (ABS, Delrin, Acrylic, G-10/FR4, HDPE, Nylon, Phenolic, Polycarbonate, Polypropylene, PTFE, PVC, Ultem, UHMW, Peek) |
Anodize Custom Heat-Treated Natural Standard Paint-Ready Painted Powder Coat Nickel Plating Tin Coating Gold Plating Silver Plating Black Oxide Chemical Conversion |
3-15 business days Project Specific |
>0.25 mm (>0.0098") |
| Sheet Metal | Traditional | Pre-production and production applications Functional, process validation, and reliability testing Excellent for thin, simple parts, covers, and brackets with simple bends |
1219.2 mm × 1219.2 mm × 5.08 mm (48" × 48" × 0.200") | N/A | Aluminum Brass Bronze Copper Stainless Steel Alloy Steel |
Anodize Heat-Treated Powder Coat Paint Nickel Plating Tin Coating Gold Plating Silver Plating Black Oxide Chemical Conversion |
1-4 weeks Project Specific |
>0.5 mm (>0.0019") |
| Die Casting | Traditional | Pre-production and production applications Functional, process validation, and reliability testing Excellent for large-volume production, standard-toleranced, metal components |
152.4 mm × 152.4 mm × 152.4 mm (6" × 6" × 6") | N/A | Aluminum Zinc |
Anodized Paint |
3-6 weeks Project Specific |
Project Specific |
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