SLA vs FDM Printing
Choosing the best method and material for your partsWhich Printing Method Do I Need?
FDM Printing
What is FDM Additive Manufacturing
FDM stands for Fused Deposition Modeling. A plastic filament is heated and extruded out of a nozzle. Once the plastic is heated to its melting point, it is extruded and moved to build a 3D part layer by layer.
How much does fdm Printing cost?
FDM costs around 4 cents per gram (depending on material type chosen). Wabana automatically calculates the volume of your STL file and utilizes that to determine the amount of material used. Material cost and printing times being lower than SLA are why this method yields lower prices.
what materials can be printed with fdm
PLA and PETG are the two most common filaments used in FDM printing. We recommend PLA if the project requires a better aesthetic and cost. If the Print needs high mechanical properties, PETG is recommended.
what objects are commonly printed by fdm
FDM printing is the most common printer in the world due to its low cost and ability to print large objects. FDM is commonly used for rapid prototyping and “around the house” objects.
advantages over sla
Low cost and the ability to produce larger sized parts within reasonable cost is one of many reasons to choose FDM. While the surface finish is not as glass smooth as SLA, FDM still produces high quality parts with detailed precision. Most customers choose to print their part with the FDM method.
SLA Printing
What is SLA additive manufacturing
Stereolithography printing machines utilize a vat of resin that can be cured by laser at specific light wavelengths. This laser will cure the material layer by layer yielding a 3D object.
how much does sla printing cost
SLA costs about 7 cents per gram. Similar to FDM, Wabana uses the volume of the STL file to determine the amount of material used. While the finish and properties of SLA prints are great, the method is more expensive due to slower printing speeds and more expensive resins.
What materials can be printed with sla
SLA utilizes cured resins through photopolymerization. There are many types of resins which can yield different mechanical properties. The type of resin used is specified by the Printer.
what objects are commonly printed by sla
Often smaller objects requiring more exact tolerances are printed with the SLA method. The surface finish on SLA parts is smooth and fine. From earbuds to action figures, SLA is often a great choice for intricate models.
advantages over fdm
Surface finish and precision with SLA bests FDM prints. When intricate details and finish is required, professionals choose SLA.
Choosing the Best Material
FDM Printing
Surface finish
FDM Printing utilizes support structures to help build up the Print. Often, some degree of smoothing is necessary to remove these support structures and layer lines. This can be done in a variety of ways, including sanding, vapor smoothing, and bead blasting.
Mechanical strength properties
With many material types available for FDM Printers, FDM Printing consistently produces objects with a high-degree of strength and durability, with superior results in this regard compared to SLA.
Aesthetics
FDM Printing often yields an object with a “rough” finish, in which you can often make out the layer lines and support structures. Although accurate, it lacks in the detail capabilities of SLA.
Heat Resistance
Generally, FDM Prints have a high heat resistance with the many material types available. PETG is one such example.
Color
Generally, FDM allows for a wider range of colors and gloss finishes whereas SLA is a lot more limited.
SLA Printing
Surface Finish
SLA Produces objects with a smooth finish. These Prints generally maintain a higher level of accuracy and detail.
MECHANICAL STRENGTH PROPERTIES
Due to the nature in which SLA Prints work and the resins used, SLA Prints are generally not as strong in comparison to FDM. However, various types of resins are available to give properties such as elasticity and heat resistance.
Aesthetics
SLA Printing yields more precise models with intricate details. SLA Printing is perfect for figurines, models, or prototypes requiring high levels of detail.
Heat resistance
SLA Prints can have high heat resistance, depending on the type of resin used.
Color
Although not as many colors are available for SLA Prints, SLA does allow for clear resins to be used more effectively.