3D Printing

Mach Prototypes offers professional 3D printing services for rapid prototyping and low‑volume manufacturing. Supporting plastic, composite and metal materials, we produce complex custom parts with fast turnaround and reliable dimensional accuracy for concept models and functional prototypes.

Generally Used 3D Printing Methods

We provide a comprehensive range of industrial‑grade 3D printing solutions, covering metal and polymer additive manufacturing. Select the optimal printing technology according to your part requirements for prototypes, functional testing or low‑volume production. Each process delivers unique performance in accuracy, material choice, strength and lead‑time.

Metal 3D Printing


Metal 3D printing builds functional metal parts layer‑by‑layer using metal powder, ideal for high‑strength prototypes and end‑use production components. It supports complex geometries that traditional CNC machining cannot easily achieve.

  • High mechanical strength & excellent heat‑resistant performance
  • Produce intricate internal structures, lattice and conformal cooling channels
  • Wide material range: stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, Inconel alloy
  • Directly manufacture finished‑grade functional parts for aerospace, automotive and medical applications

SLA 3D Printing


SLA (Stereolithography) cures liquid photosensitive resin with UV laser to create high‑resolution plastic prototypes. It is the perfect solution for visual prototypes, appearance verification and detailed‑feature parts.

  • Ultra‑high surface finish and fine detail reproduction
  • High dimensional accuracy for complex appearance models
  • Multiple resin options: rigid, flexible, transparent, high‑temperature resistant
  • Fast turnaround for appearance prototypes before mass production

SLS 3D Printing


SLS uses a high‑power laser to sinter polymer powder without support structures. Great for functional plastic prototypes and low‑volume batch parts. Nylon is the most common working material.

  • No support required, freely design complex interlocking structures
  • Good mechanical properties, impact‑resistant nylon parts
  • Suitable for small‑batch production runs
  • Stable part performance for functional testing

MJF 3D Printing


MJF applies fusing & detailing agents on nylon powder bed for fast, uniform printing. Delivers consistent quality for functional nylon components and small‑volume manufacturing.

  • Short lead time for small‑batch production
  • Uniform part quality across whole build tray
  • Good isotropic mechanical performance
  • Matte natural surface, less post‑processing work

FDM 3D Printing

FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) builds parts by melting thermoplastic filaments and depositing material layer by layer. It is a cost-effective additive manufacturing solution for concept prototypes, functional testing parts and low-volume custom components.

  • Low cost for rapid concept validation
  • Wide thermoplastic material selection: PLA, ABS, PETG, ASA, PC and carbon fiber filled materials
  • Simple workflow, fast turnaround for simple geometries
  • Easy to assemble multi-part assemblies and custom jigs & fixtures
  • Support structures available for overhang features

Material Commonly Used for 3D Printing Parts

Plastic for 3D Printing

Eco-friendly, low printing temperature, no odor, high molding success rate. Widely used for decorative models, conceptual prototypes and educational 3D printing.

High toughness, strong impact resistance, good heat resistance. Suitable for structural prototypes, electronic shells and daily-use industrial parts.

Balanced comprehensive performance, anti-warping, chemical-resistant and waterproof. The best choice for daily functional parts, equipment housings and protective covers.

Industrial-grade nylon powder, wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant, no support needed. Applied in SLS/MJF 3D printing for complex hollow structural parts and industrial functional components.

Elastic soft rubber material, wear-resistant and anti-slip. Perfect for gaskets, seals, shock absorption parts and flexible protective cases.

High impact resistance, high temperature resistance and high light transmittance. Used for transparent structural parts, safety protection parts and high-strength industrial shells.

High-performance engineering plastic, high temperature resistant, biocompatible and corrosion-resistant. Applied in medical implantation parts, aerospace precision components and high-end industrial equipment.

Flame-retardant, high-temperature resistant and high-rigidity material. Mainly used for aerospace interior parts and high-temperature industrial tooling.

PVC provides great chemical stability and insulation performance. Mainly used for anti‑corrosion structural parts and electrical insulating components.

Metal for 3D Printing

Lightweight, high thermal conductivity and good moldability. The mainstream aluminum material for automotive heat dissipation parts, aerospace brackets and lightweight structural components.

Classic corrosion-resistant stainless steel, easy to polish and mold. Suitable for medical devices, chemical equipment, marine parts and precision mechanical components.

Precipitation hardening stainless steel, high strength after heat treatment. Applied for industrial tooling, high-load structural parts and mechanical fixtures.

Ultra-high specific strength, excellent biocompatibility and corrosion resistance. Widely used in aerospace structural parts, orthopedic implants and high-end precision parts.

Ultra-high thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity. Ideal for heat sink parts, conductive electrodes and thermal management components.

Surface Finish Fits for 3D Printed Parts

As‑Machined

Retains visible tool marks from CNC cutting. Cost‑effective for non‑visible functional surfaces with no strict cosmetic requirements. Standard surface roughness Ra 1.6‑6.3μm.

Vapour Polish

An electrolytic conversion coating primarily for aluminum parts. It builds a hard, durable oxide layer to boost wear and corrosion resistance, and supports custom color options.

Polishing

Mechanical polishing removes surface imperfections to deliver a smooth, high‑gloss surface. It lowers surface roughness and significantly improves the visual quality of metal components.

Sand Blasting

Pressurized abrasive media strikes the workpiece to form an even, fine matte texture. It eliminates tool scratches and creates an ideal base for subsequent painting or coating.

3D Printed Parts for Different Industries

Mach Prototype delivers professional 3D printing services for diverse industries, manufacturing high-precision custom parts from rapid concept prototypes to low-volume end production.

 

Our engineering team fully understands industry-specific technical requirements, covering lightweight aerospace structures, medical components, automotive assemblies and automation machinery. We offer optimized additive manufacturing solutions that balance mechanical performance, manufacturbility and production cost.

✔Aerospace
✔Medical Devices
✔Automotive
✔Robotics
✔Electronics
✔Communication
✔Semiconductor
✔New Energy
✔Consumer Products

Milling Size, Tolerance and Roughness

Please check below table for our general capability for 3D printing. Tolerance is geometry, material and build-orientation dependent. All values are general reference only. Custom parts will be reviewed by our engineering team for feasibility. If you have special requirements, please contact our sales team to discuss.

 

 

SLA

MJF

SLS

SLM

FDM

Min. Wall Thickness

0.6mm for unsupported walls, 0.4mm for supported walls on both sides

At least 1mm thick; avoid overly thick walls

From 0.7mm (PA 12) to 2.0mm (carbon-filled polyamide)

0.8 mm

1.0mm for unsupported walls, 0.8mm for supported walls

Layer Height

25 µm to 100µm

Around 80µm

100–120 µm

30 – 50µm

100–300µm 

Max. Build Size

1400×700×500mm

260×340×350mm

380×280×380mm

320×320×400mm

400×350×400mm 

Dimension Tolerance

±0.2mm (For >100mm, apply 0.15%)

±0.2mm (For >100mm, apply 0.25%)

±0.3mm (For >100mm, apply 0.35%)

±0.2mm (For >100mm, apply 0.25%)

±0.3mm (For >100mm, apply 0.3%)

Standard Lead Time

4 business days

5 business days

6 business days

6 business days

3 business days

Surface Finish (Ra)

Normal: 3.2µmAfter polishing: 0.8-1.6µm

3.2–6.3µm(No secondary processing for nylon)

3.2–6.3µm(Polishing/grinding available)

3.2–6.3µm(Polishing/grinding available)

6.3–12.5µm(After sanding/vapor smoothing: 3.2µm)

Design Tips for 3D Printed Parts

Well-optimized part designs reduce printing difficulty, shorten lead-time and control manufacturing costs. Below are practical design guidelines to help you create print-ready drawings suitable for additive manufacturing.

  • Sharp internal corners are acceptable for 3D printing; fillets are optional
  • Follow process-specific minimum wall thickness for your 3D printing technology
  • Design overhangs at self-supporting angles to minimize support structures
  • Include drain holes on enclosed hollow cavities to remove trapped powder or resin
  • Orient critical surfaces carefully, as supports may leave surface marks after removal
  • Apply tight tolerances only to functionally critical dimensions

More about 3D Printing

Basics of 3D Printing

3D printing is an additive manufacturing process that builds parts layer by layer by depositing or fusing material. Controlled by pre-programmed CAD files, it delivers custom parts in metal, plastic and composite materials for prototypes and low-volume production.

How 3D Printing works?

The machine follows sliced G-code instructions generated from your 3D model. It builds your geometry one thin layer at a time by fusing, curing or depositing material. No solid stock block or cutting tools are required, enabling complex internal features that traditional machining cannot easily produce.

Types of 3D Printing

  • FDM: Cost-effective for large, low-detail thermoplastic prototypes and functional parts
  • SLA: High-resolution resin printing for smooth-surface prototypes and fine features
  • MJF: Fast powder-bed plastic printing for functional low-volume batch parts
  • SLS: Selective laser sintering for robust plastic parts without support structures
  • SLM: Metal laser melting for high-strength metal components with complex geometries

Advantages and Benefits of 3D Printing

  • No Custom Tooling

No custom tooling required, ideal for rapid prototyping and low-volume production. Skip tooling or fixture costs, and start manufacturing directly from your CAD model.

  • Unmatched Design Freedom

Manufacture highly complex geometries, internal channels and lattice structures. Produce organic shapes and intricate internal features that traditional methods struggle to make.

  • Rapid Product Iteration

Fast turnaround to accelerate product iteration and shorten time-to-market. Print, test and revise designs quickly without lengthy manufacturing setup cycles.

  • Part Consolidation

Consolidate multiple assembled parts into one single printed component. Reduce assembly labour, fasteners and potential failure points.

  • Reduced Material Waste

Minimal material waste compared with subtractive CNC machining. Material is deposited only where needed, cutting raw material expense.

  • Broad Material Options

Flexible material selection including engineering plastics, metals and composites. Match mechanical, thermal or chemical requirements for your application.