So what is 3d printing?

3D printing is a term that refers to:

The action or process of making a physical object from a three-dimensional digital model, typically by laying down many thin layers of a material in succession.

But what does that mean for our business, and more importantly how we can help you?

At Useful 3D Prints, we utilise 2 different types of 3D printers:

- FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) Printers - Most commonly using various types of plastic material.

- SLA (Stereolithography) Printers - Utilising different types of liquid resins.

We'll go into more detail below for those interested, including a "What's right for me?" Section

FDM Printing

FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) printers create objects by heating solid plastic filament and depositing it through a fine nozzle. The printer follows a digital design and lays the melted plastic down in thin, precise lines. Each layer cools and solidifies before the next layer is added, gradually building the object from the bottom up.

This method produces strong, durable parts and is well suited to functional items, larger objects, and designs where strength and practicality are more important than fine surface detail.

This process is usually a more cost effective method for people obtaining 3D printed items as the post processing is not as labour intensive as Resin printing.

Additionally, this process can print in a wide variety of colours.

SLA (Resin) 3D Printing

Resin 3D printers use a liquid photopolymer resin that hardens when exposed to light. The printer projects or shines light in precise patterns to cure each layer of the model. As each layer solidifies, the object forms with extremely fine detail and smooth surfaces.

After printing, the model is washed to remove excess resin and then fully cured under light to achieve its final strength. Resin printing is ideal for highly detailed models, miniatures, and parts where accuracy and surface quality are critical.

This process will provide prints that are a uniform colour, most commonly various shades of grey depending on batches provided by manufacturers, these items if wanting various colours, would usually need to be painted.

Which one is right for me?

It's important to think about:

What your item is.
How your item will be used.
Do you have a preference for functional, or higher details?

With those things in mind:

Choose FDM printing if you need strong, functional parts, larger prints, or a more cost-effective solution.
Choose resin printing if you want the highest level of detail, smooth finishes, or are printing miniatures and display models.

Still not sure on what you need? We’re happy to help you choose the best printing method based on your design and intended use, contact us to have a more in depth chat about how we can help!