Technologies

From artwork to aeronautics and everything in between, you’ll find the 3D printing technology that best suits your project at Materialise. Call on our in-house facilities, wide range of production-grade materials and finishing degrees, and design and engineering expertise to bring your design to life without limitations.  

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View of a geometrical, 3D-printed chair seat from a 3D-printed prototype of a customized, futuristic-looking wheelchair, using multiple 3D printing materials. The seat is lattice-structured and made of a translucent gray resin.

Stereolithography 

Stereolithography is one of the most widely used rapid prototyping technologies, ideal for high-quality visual models with impeccable surface quality, fine details, and fast turnaround.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

  • Vat photopolymerization technology that uses lasers to harden liquid resin
  • Provides excellent surface quality and fine detail
  • Parts require support structures, which need to be removed manually
  • Ideal for visual models, prototypes, master patterns, and small series manufacturing
View of the inside of a 3D-printed food nozzle lying on its side

Selective laser sintering 

Laser sintering is a popular and versatile 3D printing technology thanks to its wide range of high-performing materials and the absence of support structures which makes complex geometries possible.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

  • Powder bed fusion technology that binds powdered plastics using lasers
  • Provides mechanical properties comparable to injection-molded parts
  • No support structures needed, making highly complex designs and build optimization possible
  • Ideal for all stages of the production lifecycle, from prototyping to small series or custom manufacturing
Close-up of the end of an insole 3D printed in Multi Jet Fusion PA 12

Multi Jet Fusion

Multi Jet Fusion combines the design freedom of 3D printing with high-performance materials and a consistently fast build time to offer an attractive alternative to injection molding.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

  • Powder bed fusion technology that uses chemical agents and heat to fuse powdered plastics
  • Provides mechanical properties comparable to injection-molded parts
  • No support structures needed during printing, as powder is self-supporting
  • Ideal for functional prototypes and small series of complex end-use parts
Close-up view of the inside of a 3D-printed spacer part for Airbus

Fused deposition modeling

Fused deposition modeling couples 3D printing's design freedom and fast lead times with production-grade thermoplastics to create durable parts that have excellent mechanical properties. 

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

  • Material extrusion technology that uses melted thermoplastic filament to build parts
  • Uses production-grade thermoplastics to create durable parts with excellent mechanical properties
  • Parts require support structures, which need to be removed manually
  • Ideal for prototypes directly constructed in production materials and small series manufacturing
Underside of a 3D-printed metal lamination tool with cooling channels for automotive use

Metal 3D printing

Metal 3D printing, combines the design flexibility of 3D printing and the mechanical properties of metal to create unique, strong, and lightweight parts, even for the most complex applications.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

  • Powder bed fusion technology that binds powdered metals using lasers
  • Well suited to complex metal parts with intricate structures
  • Parts require support structures, which need to be removed mechanically or manually
  • Ideal for fully functional prototypes and small series manufacturing
Top view of a 3D-printed static mixer, mostly transparent with some orange and blue particles inside

PolyJet

PolyJet offers the unique ability to print precision assemblies with multiple materials, colors, and levels of transparency, and with different mechanical or physical properties, all in a single build. 

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

  • Material extrusion technology that binds liquid photopolymer resins using UV light
  • PolyJet materials can be blended for specific properties, colors, and transparency
  • Smooth surfaces right out of the machine, with a support structure that is washed away
  • Ideal for complex visual models and prototypes, especially those that need multiple colors
Close-up view of a circular part cast from patterns created using the Tetrashell technology in TuskXC2700T

Somos® TetraShell™ 

DSM Somos TetraShell software converts solid 3D design files into lightweight, hollow models that can be printed using stereolithography to create high-quality patterns for casting.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

  • High-quality, 3D-printed patterns for investment casting or lost wax casting
  • Increases design freedom and eliminates need for costly tool production
  • Stereolithography ensures patterns with excellent surface finish
  • Suitable for use in industries including aerospace and aeronautics, oil and gas, art and architecture, and more
Close-up view of a red and black part of a portable crack detector, vacuum casted using the ABS-like polyurethane material

Vacuum casting

Vacuum casting, using two-component polyurethanes and silicone molds, is a fast and effective way to produce high-quality prototypes or end-use parts comparable to injection-molded components.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

  • Copying technique that duplicates a 3D-printed master using polyurethanes and silicone molds
  • Fast, cost-effective, and precise production method
  • Offers high-quality surface comparable to injection molding
  • Ideal for concept models, high-quality prototypes, or small series manufacturing

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