At Make, we focus on 2 3D printing techniques: filament printing (fused deposition modelling, or FDM) and stereolithography, also known as resin printing. For techniques such as binder jetting, SLS (selective laser sintering) and DED (directed energy deposition), we work together with our partner network.
How filament printing works
Fused Deposition Modelling is one of the most widely used 3D printing techniques. An FDM printer pushes melted plastic through a nozzle, building computer designs layer by layer in 3 dimensions. Converting the 3D computer model into instructions for the printer is called slicing. At Make, we have a workstation for drawing and slicing 3D models for the printer.
Material
We work with a wide variety of materials – rigid, reinforced or filled, for example. Flexible: PLA, PETG, PVA, ABS, TPU, ASA, PP and nylon. And filaments filled with glass or carbon fibre. At Make, we stock PLA, PETG, TPU and PVA. Want to bring your own filaments? Check with us in advance to confirm whether the material is compatible.
For making moulds, we use the sacrificial PVA technique. This means we use PVA as a dissolvable mould, not just as a support structure.
How stereolithography (SLA) works
Instead of melting plastic, SLA works with liquid photopolymers – also known as resin – and ultraviolet light. A UV laser cures this light-sensitive liquid layer by layer. You can compare this to preparing a screen-printing frame.
As with FDM, you also convert the 3D model into instructions for the printer. We have a workstation where you can do this. Once the model is printed, it needs to be washed with isopropyl alcohol and post-cured withadditional UV light.
Material
We work with a wide variety of materials, including hard, flexible, flame-retardant and castable resins. We also stock a standard eco-friendly resin, a flexible resin and a tough resin.
Do you have other materials or ideas in mind? Great – we encourage experimentation. Do check with us in advance to confirm whether what you have in mind is possible.