Offers the world's largest production capacity for rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing services.
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www.redeyerpm.com
Instant Quoting for SLA, SLS, FDM & PolyJet prototypes. ISO 9001: 2000 Certified. Single Source from Prototype to Production. Buy SLS Parts Now!
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www.QUICKPARTS.com
Get To Market Faster with Software That Enables You To Create, Test, and Iterate Your Models in 3D.
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Autodesk.com/Beyond-3d
Concept Models, Functional Testing & More. Get an Online Quote Today!
www.DPT-Fast.com
Made In China At Half The Price! Managed by A Top American Engineer.
Star-Prototype-China.com/Prototype
Provides database of suppliers for selective laser sintering prototyping. Includes catalogs, technical information, and supplier contact information.
manufacturing-fabrication.globalspec.com
Design, Fabricate & Assemble Electrical & Mechanical Products
www.Indesign-llc.com
Winning industrial design, new product development, and prototypes
www.idgroup-Inc.com
Manufacturing & Prototyping Experts Custom Prototype Services.
www.A2eTechnologies.com/Prototypes
| Used Engines | Price Guns | Plastic Containers | |||
| Storage Shelves | Car Lifts | Traffic Signs | |||
| Work Benches | Utility Carts | Cast Iron Radiators | |||
| Generator Parts | Plastic Bags |
Provider of rapid prototyping using stereolithography, laminated object manufacturing and selective laser sintering.
www.3dimensional.com
Provider of rapid product-development services including plastic selective laser sintering and rapid tooling.
www.3trpd.co.uk
Provider of prototyping services including selective laser sintering, stereolithography, vacuum casting, injection molding and alumninum castings.
www.advanced-prototyping.com
Provider of prototype modeling, product development, computer-aided design and manufacturing, and small series production services.
www.amitek.com
Producer of functional prototypes, vacuum castings and investment castings. Provides rapid prototyping and rapid tooling services.
www.amsys-rpt.co.uk
Provider of prototyping services including selective laser sintering, stereolithography, molds, computer-aided design (CAD) and computer numerical control (CNC) machining.
aphaseii.com
Provider of rapid prototyping, precision computer numerical control (CNC) machining and computer-aided design (CAD) services.
www.arrk.com
Provider of stereolithography and selective laser sintering rapid prototyping services, rapid tooling and room temperature vulcanization (RTV) molds.
www.atirapid.com
Get To Market Faster with Software That Enables You To Create, Test, and Iterate Your Models in 3D.
Autodesk.com/Beyond-3d
Provider of computer-aided design (CAD) engineering, stereolithography, selective laser sintering, plastic and metal reproductions, rapid tooling and short-run injection molding.
www.bastech.com
Specializes in rapid prototyping, model making and market ready prototyping services. Capabilities include stereolithography, selective laser sintering and modeling.
www.bbcdesigngroup.com
Provider of 3-D modeling and tooling design services for the foundry and tooling industry. Services include computer-aided design (CAD), rapid prototyping and prototype casting.
www.beckerccc.com
Provider of stereolithography, fuse deposition modeling and selective laser sintering services.
www.conceptual-reality.com
Provider of rapid prototyping (stereolithography, selective laser sintering, laminated object manufacturing) and rapid tooling of injection molded plastic parts.
www.creativerapidtooling.com
Provider of rapid prototyping (stereolithography, selective laser sintering), rapid tooling, injection molding and computer numerical control (CNC) machining.
www.designalternatives.com
Provider of product design, product engineering, computer-aided design (CAD) solid modeling, rapid prototyping and rapid tooling for both plastic and metal parts.
www.dpt-fast.com
Provider of prototyping, rapid tooling, mold building, custom injection molding and primary or secondary finishing operations. Processes include selective laser sintering and stereolithography.
www.ferriot.com
Provider of rapid prototyping and rapid tooling. Services include vacuum casting, reaction injection molding, computer-aided design, and sand and investment casting.
www.formation.co.uk
Provider of rapid prototyping, rapid tooling and computer-aided design (CAD) services. Processes include selective laser sintering and stereolithography.
www.globalrapid.com
Provides database of suppliers for selective laser sintering prototyping. Includes catalogs, technical information, and supplier contact information.
manufacturing-fabrication.globalspec.com
Provider of stereolithography, fused deposition modeling and laser sintering.
www.gtp.se
Provider of functional, model and pattern prototypes. Processes include casting, selective laser sintering and stereolithography.
www.harvest-tech.com
Manufacturer of patterns and dies. Provides rapid prototyping, computer numerical control (CNC) machining and production tooling services.
www.jppattern.com
Provider of rapid prototyping utilizing stereolithography, fused deposition modeling, selective laser sintering and laminated object manufacturing.
www.laserrepro.com
Provider of rapid prototyping and tooling services for medical and technical applications. Develops rapid prototyping software.
www.materialise-rp.co.uk
Provider of rapid prototyping and tooling services for medical and technical applications. Develops rapid prototyping software.
www.materialise.be
Producer of models, molds and prototypes for the metals and plastics industries. Services include tooling design, rapid prototyping and tooling, pattern-making and machining.
www.modelex.com
Provider of rapid prototyping utilizing stereolithography, selective laser sintering, computer numerical control (CNC), laminated object manufacturing and fused deposition modeling.
www.moellerdesign.com
Provider of rapid prototyping and tooling, product development and engineering, and full turnkey manufacturing services.
www.ncore.com
Provider of product design services including precision models, mock-ups, rapid prototypes, preproduction parts and custom-fabricated assemblies.
www.origin2000.net
Manufacturer of plastic prototypes. Processes include stereolithography, laminated object manufacturing, reaction injection molding, vacuum casting and selective laser sintering.
www.oxon-prototypes.co.uk
Provider of mechanical engineering services including design, analysis, rapid prototyping and tooling, and systems research and development.
www.padtinc.com
Provider of product design and engineering, prototype services, rapid prototyping and tooling and injection molding.
www.paramountind.com
Engineering service bureau providing design, rapid prototyping, metal castings and reverse engineering.
www.peridotinc.com
Rapid prototyping service bureau providing prototypes and short-run production. Services include stereolithography, selective laser sintering, rapid tooling and casting.
www.protocam.com
Provider of stereolithography, selective laser sintering, metal casting, rubber molding, computer numerical control, computer aided design and solid molding.
www.prototechengineering.com
Instant Quoting for SLA, SLS, FDM & PolyJet prototypes. ISO 9001: 2000 Certified. Single Source from Prototype to Production. Buy SLS Parts Now!
www.QUICKPARTS.com
Provider of rapid prototyping utilizing selective laser sintering.
www.rapidprototypeco.com
Provider of stereolithography, selective laser sintering, rapid tooling and injection molding.
www.rapidsolutions.com
Provider of rapid prototyping services, including selective laser sintering, stereolithography and casting.
www.realizeinc.com
Offers the world's largest production capacity for rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing services.
www.redeyerpm.com
Provider of rapid prototyping, urethane casting, rapid tooling and injection molding services. Processes include 3-D printing, selective laser sintering and stereolithography.
www.santineng.com
Provider of stereolithography, laminated object manufacturing, selective laser sintering and polyurethane castings.
www.selecteng.com
Provider of rapid prototyping and manufacturing services. Develops third-party rapid prototyping software. Processes include casting, stereolithography and selective laser sintering.
www.solidconcepts.com
Producer of prototype to short-run investment castings. Provides rapid protoyping and manufacturing services.
www.texcast.com
Concept Models, Functional Testing & More. Get an Online Quote Today!
www.DPT-Fast.com
Made In China At Half The Price! Managed by A Top American Engineer.
Star-Prototype-China.com/Prototype
Selective laser sintering (SLS) prototyping creates a prototype by using a three-dimensional design to construct a physical model, layer by layer. Each layer is formed using a powdered substance, such as metal or plastic, in a controlled environment. After each layer is formed, a laser melts or "sinters" the powdered substances together to provide form and durability.
Using selective laser sintering prototyping, models with levels of detail similar to SLA prototype manufacturing can be created. Powder in the controlled environment requires little or no support during the construction process and will keep its shape after post-curing or finishing. If you're considering using the SLS prototype manufacturing process, know this:
1. SLS prototyping produces stronger prototypes than most model manufacturing processes. If you need a prototype able to withstand large amounts of stress, an SLS prototype works well.
2. Unlike most other prototype manufacturing processes, SLS rapid prototyping models don't become brittle over time. Prototypes made with SLS have longterm stability.
3. SLS prototypes require very little clean-up and finishing. Most SLS prototypes don't need post-curing, saving valuable manufacturing time.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Decide which material you'd like your SLS prototypes built with
SLS can be made with powdered ceramic materials, nylon-based materials, plastic, and a rubber-like substance. Choose your source material depending on the prototype's intended uses. Objects that need to be tested in high temperature environments, such as gaskets, may need to be made of metal, while others can be manufactured more cheaply from thermal plastics or ceramic materials.
I recommend: Choose a material for your selective laser sintering (SLS) prototyping from the selection at Paramount Industries, then start manufacturing your prototype. Or, let 3T RPD help you select a material to start with.
Construct your own SLS prototypes
To make your own SLS prototypes, you'll need selective laser sintering prototyping machines and a controlled thermal environment. It's important to remember that large prototypes require a machine big enough to construct them. The design must be fully contained in the thermal control chamber during manufacturing.
I recommend: Buy an SLS prototype machine from 3D Systems or Phenix Systems.
Find a company that offers selective laser sintering prototyping services
Many companies will work with you to design a prototype, select the right materials and construct the prototype, without requiring you to purchase or rent selective laser sintering machines. Always make sure, however, that the company you select can handle the size and accuracy requirements you prefer, and work in the materials you select.
I recommend: Request a quote from ProtoCAM's SLS prototyping services, or get a quote online from rapid MFG.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- • Although SLS prototyping services are most often used to create functional models and prototypes, the process is also increasingly used for the limited run manufacturing of end-use parts. The relative ease and low cost with which SLS prototypes can be produced makes it useful for manufacturing specialized parts and even sculpture.
Offers the world's largest production capacity for rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing services.
Case Studies | Materials | How it Works | Articles
Instant Quoting for SLA, SLS, FDM & PolyJet prototypes. ISO 9001: 2000 Certified. Single Source from Prototype to Production. Buy SLS Parts Now!
Get A Quote Now
Get To Market Faster with Software That Enables You To Create, Test, and Iterate Your Models in 3D.
Inventor Trial
Provides database of suppliers for selective laser sintering prototyping. Includes catalogs, technical information, and supplier contact information.


