> KNOWLEDGE_BASE ... 15 ENTRIES
Technical knowledge
Anisotropy, tolerances, chamber orientation, powder cost calculation. Every number from the manufacturer's card or from our quotation engine.
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Costs
3 MIN
How many parts fit in an SLS chamber and what affects price
Size, orientation and spacing affect build layout. Read the calculator’s part-count estimate separately from quotation and production preparation.
2 MIN
When does injection moulding pay for itself?
Tooling cost, moulded unit price and the complete SLS total for the same volume. Read the break-even result with design changes, deliveries and inspection in mind.
2 MIN
50–500 units: SLS or CNC machining?
Compare SLS and CNC for the same quantity, material, tolerances and finish. Include setup, minimum order value and scheduled deliveries.
Technologies
4 MIN
PA11 or PA12: how to choose between two polyamides
Two powders from the same family can produce very different parts. Compare impact strength of 71 versus 32 J/m, water absorption of 0.07 versus 0.66%, and stiffness in the opposite direction. Learn which figures matter and why datasheet temperatures can mislead.
4 MIN
3D scan accuracy vs. finished-part tolerance
Laser HD volumetric accuracy, data density and part tolerance. What the specification means, what a scan cannot measure and which requirements to send for a quote.
2 MIN
When CNC machining beats SLS
Threads, sliding surfaces, close fits and flatness. When to consider machining or metal hardware and when to change an SLS part's design.
3 MIN
Dip dyeing vs. colouring the material itself
How PA12 dyeing after printing differs from pigment throughout the plastic. Shade, penetration, fits and the sample to approve before a batch.
3 MIN
FDM or SLS gears: load, layers and material
Tooth geometry, mounting, orientation and operating conditions guide gear selection. Compare FDM and SLS and prepare the information needed for a repair review.
2 MIN
SLS vs SLA: when to choose powder or resin
Supports and cleaning, size, surface, material and quantity. Compare SLS and SLA for your own model and prepare a brief for either process.
3 MIN
FDM or SLS: when filament printing is not enough
FDM and SLS: supports, cleaning, orientation, material and cost. Compare the processes for your part and decide when a fit or operating test is needed.
DfAM
3 MIN
How water absorption affects polyamide part fit
PA12 and PA11 datasheets list water absorption of 0.66% and 0.07%. Learn how to read the test result, choose an initial clearance and check the fit under the part’s operating conditions.
3 MIN
Build orientation and part strength
Orientation changes how the build layers relate to the load. We compare specimen data for PA12, PA11 and TPU 90A, use PA11 CF as an example, and explain what a technologist needs before printing.
Repairs
4 MIN
Broken part, no CAD file: what happens next
From a phone photo to a finished replacement part: when a caliper is enough, when a scanner helps, and what cannot be measured on a worn part.
4 MIN
Can you legally print a spare part?
The scope of the repair clause, rights in documentation and the limits of our offer. Removing a logo alone does not determine whether a particular part can be reproduced.
Concept from the article sounds foreign? Check out the dictionary: each entry has two or three lines and a link to the page that lists them.
For printing
Checklist: model ready for SLS
17 checks to review while preparing a model. Reference values come from the manufacturer specifications; the checklist includes sources so you can verify them.
- Geometry
- Powder inside
- Fits
- Text and markings
- The file itself
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