3D printing service

Our 3D printing service offers you the precision and responsiveness you need to produce your prototypes. We can help you validate concepts or shapes using our two manufacturing techniques: Stereolithography (SLA) and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS).

What is 3D printing?

3D printing or additive manufacturing is a technique that involves making parts by layering selected materials until a final solid structure is formed. It allows the production of solid and very complex shaped parts from digital files (STL).

• Stereolithography (SLA)

Stereolithography is the oldest 3D printing prototyping technique. This process applies the light curing method for greater precision, using a beam of UV light to cure a photosensitive resin layer by layer to create the final part. The parts are made of EPOXY resin, in layers of 0.10 mm, with a minimum material thickness of 0.6 mm.

SLA is particularly useful for the production of high-precision prototypes, as it allows the production of highly detailed parts. It is also used for the production of small parts and complex shapes, as well as for the production of transparent or opaque parts.

Materials:

• ACCURA 25
• XTREME
• CLEAR VUE (clear resin)
• non-exhaustive list

SLA Tolerances:

• 0.15 mm every 100 mm

Our machinery dedicated to stereolithography (SLA):

• 7 machines : Maximum dimensions of 750 x 650 x 550 mm
• Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)

Selective Laser Sintering is one of the best-known technologies in 3D printing. This manufacturing process uses the energy of a powerful laser to sinter or fuse polymer powder particles. The parts are made of polyamide powders allowing the production of complex and impact-resistant parts with a minimum material thickness of 0.8 mm.

Materials:

• PA12
• PA12 HST (reinforced with glass fiber)
• CARBONMIDE (PA reinforced with carbon fiber)
• ALUMIDE (PA reinforced with aluminum fiber)

SLS Tolerances:

• 0.10 mm every 100 mm

Selective Laser Melting (SLM)

Direct metal 3D printing – also called Selective Laser Melting (SLM) – works similarly to selective laser sintering (SLS). In SLS a laser heats the powder but does not allow it to exceed its melting point, meanwhile, in direct metal 3d printing the melting point is exceeded. As a result, the printed metal parts have similar physical and mechanical properties as conventional metal parts. Therefore, the technology can be used to create realistic metal prototypes or small batch series of metal parts.

The technology is quite versatile and can be used with many different metals, however most aluminum, steel and titanium are the most commonly used.

We offer the following choice of materials:

• Stainless Steel: Stainless steel combines great hardness and high ductility with corrosion resistance. It is suitable for parts requiring high strength.
• Aluminum: Aluminum is a light metal (density ~2.7 g/cm³) which can be easily processed. It is a good choice for parts requiring low weight with good strength.
• Titanium: High strength, low density, corrosion resistant and bio-compatible make titanium an excellent choice for applications in medical implants, jewelry, and aerospace.

Our advantages:

Personalized follow-up with a single contact person

We offer you a support service throughout your order process. You will be provided a single, experienced contact person, available to assist you with your project from A to Z. This proximity translates into personalized advice and a tailor-made approach to your specifications, allowing us to react quickly to your request.

Fast turnaround times

We have a production plant and partners equipped with the latest machinery, which enables us to respond quickly to your needs. We guarantee to deliver your parts as soon as possible. Our team of project managers and our customer area allow us to keep you informed of the progress of your order in real time.

Parts that meet the requirements

To meet your most demanding requirements, EC International Group has a quality control department that meets the latest standards in force. All your orders are carefully checked and verified by a qualified team to ensure compliance with your requirements.