SLA resin
Smoothest finish and finest detail. Prototypes, patterns and visible parts.
±0.1 mmTolerance
50 µmLayer
2–4 daysLead time
StandardToughHigh-tempBiocompatibleCastableClear
Explore SLA resin
PROCESS COMPARISON
SLA vs SLS vs SLM
Three processes, one table. Every number here is a value we actually hold rather than a marketing range, so you can pick the process your part needs instead of the one that sounds best.
3Processes compared
1 pcMinimum order
24hWritten quote
WorldwideShipping
SIDE BY SIDE
The full comparison
Specifications first, then what they mean in practice.
| Specification | SLA resin | SLS nylon | SLM metal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical tolerance | ±0.1 mm | ±0.3 mm | ±0.2 mm |
| Typical layer height | 50 µm | 100 µm | 30 µm |
| Typical lead time | 2–4 days | 3–5 days | 7–10 days |
| What it prints from | Liquid photopolymer resin | Nylon powder | Metal powder |
| Support structures | Yes — added, then removed | None — the powder supports the part | Yes — added, then removed |
| Surface finish | Smoothest of the three | Textured, bead-blasted | Metal, blasted or machined |
| Best at | Fine features, clear parts, class-A surfaces | Snap-fits, living hinges, complex shapes | Channels, brackets, metal end-use |
| Trade-off to know | UV sensitivity; shrinks slightly as it cures | Coarser detail; dyed rather than printed in colour | Highest cost and longest lead time |
AT A GLANCE
One card per process
The short version of each, with the numbers that matter.
SLS nylon
Tough nylon with no support structures. Complex geometry and end-use parts.
±0.3 mmTolerance
100 µmLayer
3–5 daysLead time
PA12PA12-GFPA11TPU
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SLM metal
Fully dense metal. Channels, brackets and consolidated assemblies.
±0.2 mmTolerance
30 µmLayer
7–10 daysLead time
Ti-6Al-4V316LAlSi10MgCopper
Explore SLM metal
DECIDING
How to choose
Three questions, in the order they are worth asking.
1. Start with what the part has to do
Clear and smooth, tough with complex geometry, or metal? That one answer usually narrows it to a single process before you look at a single number.
2. Then check the one number you actually care about
If it is a fit, a hole or a flat surface, look at tolerance. If it is how fast you need it, look at lead time. Both are in the table above.
3. Send the file and we will confirm it
We will tell you which process we would run — and say so plainly if a cheaper one will do the job.
FAQ
Questions we get about these three
Short answers. If yours is not here, ask it on the quote form.
What is the difference between SLA, SLS and SLM 3D printing?
They differ in what they print from. SLA prints liquid photopolymer resin with a UV laser, which gives the smoothest surface and the finest detail. SLS prints nylon powder, and the surrounding powder supports the part so no support structures are needed at all. SLM melts metal powder with a laser to make fully dense metal parts.
Which process has the tightest tolerance?
SLA holds the tightest at ±0.1 mm. SLS is ±0.3 mm and SLM is ±0.2 mm. These are values we hold without a special conversation — tell us which dimensions are critical and we will confirm them against your geometry before quoting.
Which process is fastest?
SLA is quickest at 2–4 days, then SLS at 3–5 days, then SLM is 7–10 days. Lead time also depends on quantity and on finishing.
Which process is cheapest?
It depends on the part rather than on the material price alone. A housing that will be printed in SLS and never machined usually costs less as SLS than as SLA, and loses nothing that matters. If a cheaper process will do the job we say so before you order rather than quoting the expensive one.
Do you run all three processes in-house?
Yes. SLA, SLS and SLM all run in Guangzhou, so a job that needs more than one material ships as one order instead of several separate ones.
What do you need from me to get a quote?
An STL or STEP file is ideal, but a drawing works too. The three things that most reduce questions coming back are the material, the quantity and what the part has to do.
GET STARTED
Still deciding? Send the file.
Tell us what the part has to do and we will tell you which process we would run — including when a cheaper one will do the job.
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