Rapid Prototyping Services Specifications

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Capabilities

	Your choices are...
	Stereolithography (SLA)		Stereolithography uses an ultraviolet laser for curing. A platform that moves vertically contains a vat of photosensitive resin. The part under construction is supported by the platform, which moves downward to create each layer by a specified layer thickness (typically, 0.1 mm / 0.004 inches). A laser beam traces the shape of each layer and hardens the photosensitive resin.
	RTV Molding / Urethane Casting		Room-temperature vulcanizing (RTV) molding and urethane casting are accurate, cost-effective ways to make multiple parts. Typically, the procedure for RTV molding and urethane casting includes the following steps: 1) produce one or more high-quality stereolithography parts, 2) produce a rubber mold using the stereolithography parts, and 3) produce accurate, multiple parts using a castable material in a rubber mold.
	Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)		Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a 3D printing process based on sintering. A computer-directed laser beam is selectively applied to the surface of a metallic or non-metallic powder in order to produce a solid or surface model.
	Rapid Injection Molding		Rapid injection molding uses a solid model file (either scanned or designed) to generate a CNC file. A mold is then cut from a soft material such as aluminum and used to produce small quantities of the part.
	Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)		Fused deposition modeling (FDM) heats a filament of thermoplastic polymer and squeezes it from a tube to form layers. Machines range from fast concept modelers to slower, high-precision equipment. FDM materials include polyester, ABS, elastomers, and investment-casting wax.
	Three Dimensional Printing (3DP)		Three dimensional printing (3DP) starts by depositing a layer of powder at the top of a fabrication chamber. The upward incremental movement of a piston dispenses the measured quantity of powder from a supply chamber. A roller then distributes and compresses the powder at the top of the fabrication chamber. Subsequently, a multi-channel jetting head deposits a liquid adhesive in a two-dimensional pattern onto the powder layer. This bonds the powder together and forms a layer of the object. When a layer is completed, the fabrication piston moves downward by the thickness of the layer. This process is repeated until the entire object is formed within the powder bed. Upon completion, the object is elevated and the extra powder brushed away, leaving a "green" object. No external supports are required during fabrication since the powder bed supports overhangs. Three-dimensional printing offers speedy fabrication and low material cost. In fact, 3DP is probably the fastest of all RP methods. Recently, color outputs have become available; however, there are limitations in terms of resolution, surface finish, part fragility and available materials. The closest competitor to 3DP is probably fused deposition modeling (FDM).
	Polyjet (PJET)		Polyjet (PJET) uses an application head to apply an ultraviolet-photosensitive resin onto the build tray. The applied resin is then immediately cured or hardened by a UV light source. PJET creates parts by building layers that are approximately 0.016 mm or 0.0006 inches thick.
	Rapid Metal Casting		Rapid metal casting involves the shaping of free-flowing liquid metals through the use of dies, molds or patterns in order to produce a prototype.  These prototypes are used to eliminate design flaws and test the form, fit, and function of the test piece before mass production begins.
	Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM)		Laminated object manufacturing (LOM) manufactures 3D objects based on 3D geometric data. The starting point is the object's sliced data, which is used for controlling a laser beam that cuts the contours of foil materials. During LOM, these foils are glued together and the desired model is created layer by layer.
	Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)		Direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) is an ”additive” technology that works by sintering very fine layers of metal powders layer-by-layer from the bottom up until the build is complete. The final part is metal. The method uses high power laser beam to produce metal parts in a single process.
	Ballistic Particle Manufacturing (BPM)		Ballistic particle manufacturing (BPM) uses 3-D data about a solid model to position streams of material on a target. 3-D objects are generated in a way that is comparable to how inkjet printers produce 2D images.
	Digital Light Processing (DLP)		Digital light processing (DLP) uses a digital mirror to polymerize photosensitive resins. Unlike stereolithography (a process which uses an ultraviolet laser for curing), DLP uses visible light and special visible light-sensitive resins.
	Other		Other unlisted or proprietary rapid prototyping processes.
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Services

	Your choices are...
	Design Assistance		Companies assist with concepts, manufacturing costs, manufacturing techniques and material considerations. Companies may also be able to assist in upgrading or redesigning, re-evaluating or modernizing existing products to increase performance and/or reduce manufacturing costs.
	Solid Modeling or CAD Services		Companies provide design documentation in CAD or other drawing formats and can convert 2-D drawings into solid models.
	Appearance Model		Tolerances and exact dimensions are not necessary. Only a product appearance proof is necessary for marketing or other purposes.
	Design Verification Model		Companies produce prototypes for the purpose of verifying that products work in real-world settings.
	Functional Prototype		Prototypes or parts are used in actual functional testing.
	Casting and Molding (Rapid Tooling)		Rapid tooling (RT) is used for making molds or patterns that produce cast plastic parts, die cast metal parts, injection molded parts and other tooling components  (RTV, epoxy, wax patterns, metal investment etc.)
	Low Volume Production		Companies provide low volume production runs.
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Location

	Your choices are...
	North America		Companies are located in the United States, Canada or Mexico.
	United States Only		Companies are located in the United States.
	Northeast US Only		Companies are located in the Northeast United States, namely Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
	Southern US Only		Companies are located in the Southern United States, namely Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington D.C., and West Virginia.
	Southwest US Only		Companies are located in the Southwest United States, namely Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.
	Northwest US Only		Companies are located in the Northwest United States, namely Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.
	Midwest US Only		Companies are located in the Midwest United States, namely Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
	Canada Only		Companies are located in Canada.
	South / Central America Only		Companies have facilities in South American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, or Chile; or in Central American countries such as Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, etc.
	Europe Only		Companies are located in Europe, namely Germany, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom, etc.
	South Asia Only		Companies are located in South Asia, namely India, Pakistan, Nepal, etc.
	Near East Only		Companies are located in the Near East, namely Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, etc.
	East Asia / Pacific Only		Companies are located in East Asia, namely China, Japan, Taiwan, etc.
	Other		Other unlisted country or region.
	Search Logic:		Products with the selected attribute will be returned as matches. Leaving or selecting "No Preference" will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

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