Here's an example of some of the 3D printing materials available from 3D printers on Maker6. This list doesn't include all material options and it's intended to be used primarily for reference.
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White, strong, slightly flexible material that can withstand some pressure when bent. The surface has a grainy, sanded appearance and is slightly porous.
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White plastic objects are produced by laser sintering of polyamide powder. The models are printed layer by layer by a laser that draws the object in the powder, solidifying the material. Layer thickness is 0.1 mm and the minimum size of visible details on the model is 0.3 mm. Minimum wall thickness for this technology is 0.8 mm (flexible and bendable), and the object is rigid when more than 2 mm thick. |
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Colored plastic objects are produced by laser sintering of polyamide powder. The models are printed layer by layer by a laser that draws the object in the powder, by solidifying the material. Following 3D Printing, the item is coloured by being bathed in dye. The layer thickness is 0.1 mm and the minimum size of visible details on the model is 0.3 mm. Minimum wall thickness for this technology is 0.8 mm (flexible and bendable), and the object is rigid when more than 2 mm thick. |
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Objects are produced by laser sintering of polyamide powder. The models are printed layer by layer by a laser that draws the object in the powder, solidifying the material. Layer thickness is 0.1 mm and the minimum size of visible details on the model is 0.3 mm. Minimum wall thickness for this technology is 0.8 mm (flexible and bendable), and the object is rigid when more than 2 mm thick. Polishing is obtained by mechanical smoothing, resulting in a slight loss of detail and any sharp edges. Models with long and thin parts are not appropriate for this material. |
 Alumide is a blend of polyamide and grey aluminium dust. Strong, slightly flexible material that can withstand some pressure when bent. The surface has a grainy, sanded appearance and is slightly porous with shiny aluminium dust on it.
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Alumide objects are produced by laser sintering of alumide powder. The models are printed layer by layer by a laser that draws the object in the powder, by solidifying the material. Layer thickness is 0.15 mm and the minimum size of visible details on the model is 0.5 mm. Minimum wall thickness for this technology is 1 mm. Alumide is more rigid than regular plastic. This material is convenient for complex models and moving parts. Maximum size is 308 x 308 x 600 mm (12.1 x 12.1 x 23,6 inches). |
 Sterling silver 925 is made with 925 ‰ of pure silver and 75‰ of a strengthening material. Solid and rather malleable material, provided with 3 finishes: rough, polished or mirror polished. Perfect for jewellery.
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3D Printed Sterling Silver is made using a three-step process.
Please have a look at the wikipedia page on lost casting to learn more about the wax casting process:
3 types of finish for Sterling Silver are offered:
Design guidelines:
Avoid deep engravings or high embossed details
Engraved details that are too deep will cause issues when casting. Embossed details that are too tall are more likely to chip and break during production (unless the detail meets the minimum wall requirements).
Wires need to be at least 1 mm thick
Wire frame models are difficult to print and are also fragile in silver. It might also snap in the manufacturing process. For security we recommend at least a thickness of 1 mm.
Ring bands should be 1mm thick
Ring band (the part that goes around the finger) needs to be 1mm thick to avoid deformation when wearing. Since silver is a weaker, more flexible material, ring bands that are too thin may deform or even break.
Internal detail can not be polished
Mechanical or hand polishing processes can only polish well-reachable surfaces, so tight internal spaces will remain unpolished.
Every part will be marked with a small hallmark (may not apply)
In accordance with French regulations, we will apply a hallmark to the external surface of your part. This mark will be very small and we will try to make it as discreet as possible.
Special care advice for polished silver
The surface of polished silver is very soft and can be scratched when worn. Please keep your silver models separately from your other jewellery, for instance in a separate box. We recommend the use of a silver polishing kit to clean and maintain a shiny surface.
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 Wax material, for lost-casting of precious metals and alloys. High quality surface and very low thermal expansion. |
A wax-based photopolymer designed for producing jewelry or wax copings. The material has a very low thermal expansion, which eliminates cracking and produces a non-porous surface.
This material is purely photopolymer-based and melts during the burnout cycle. The accuracy of the layer is 25 microns, enabling the production of highly accurate and detailed parts. The minimum size of visible details on the model is 0.3 mm. Minimum wall thickness for this technology is 0.5 mm. This material is perfect for precious and non-precious alloys.
Technical Data
Specific gravity: 1.08 – 1.10 g/cm3
Boiling point / Flash Point: > 100°C / 237°F
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 White or black-dyed resin, very close to standard plastic. Rigid, opaque, smooth surface, perfect for high detailed vizualisation.
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The model is printed layer by layer with a high-performance compound, photo polymeric liquid. Each photopolymer layer is cured by UV light immediately after being jetted. The printing resolution is 28 microns. The object is rigid, opaque, with a smooth surface, highly detailed. It's very close to standard plastic. Model can include moving parts. Maximum size recommended for this technology is 290 x 190 x 147 mm. Minimum thickness is 2 mm. Post processing a high detail model with paint is possible but leads to a possible loss in detail. Check this post for more information and design guidelines. |
 White resin, very close to standard plastic, post processed with spray paint. Rigid, opaque, smooth surface, perfect for highly detailed vizualisation.
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The model is printed layer by layer with a high-performance compound, photo polymeric liquid. Each photopolymer layer is cured by UV light immediately after being jetted. The printing resolution is 28 microns. The object is rigid, opaque, with a smooth surface, highly detailed. It's very close to standard plastic. Model can include moving parts. Maximum size recommended for this technology is 290 x 190 x 147 mm. Minimum thickness is 2 mm.
The model is post processed with paint; this may lead to a possible loss of detail and gives a matte aspect.
Available colors are:
Thalassa Blue
Intense Red
Marron Glacé
Valley Green
Orange
Light Yellow
Pearl Grey
Neon yellow
Neon pink
Neon orange
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 This material is composed of fine mineral powder. 0.1mm layers are constructed one-at-a-time. The minimum size of visible details on the model is 0.4 mm. Minimum wall thickness for this technology is 2 mm. This is the only material allowing full colour (16 million different colours) items in a single pass. This is the cheapest way to build multicolour objects. |
The object is as hard and brittle as porcelain, and should therefore only be used for ornaments. The surface has a grainy, sanded appearance.
Object is shipped in its finished state, and should not be sandpapered, as it would damage the surface. This material should not be exposed to water.
ZCorp’s mineral-based powder is bonded in successive layers using a specific ink-jet 3D printer. After printing, the object is carefully cleaned and infiltrated with cyanoacrylate glue.
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Ceramic is made by oven glazing after 3D printing with a specific compound powder. The surface looks shiny and very smooth but weakly detailed. The objects are rigid, water and heat resistant.
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Objects are produced by using a specific compound powder, then glazed at more than 1,000°C. Ceramic is a little bit fragile but heat and water resistant, and can be used for eating or drinking. Maximum size (X, Y, Z) is 400 mm to each side. Minimum thickness is 3,0mm for a global size under 200 mm; then 4,0mm for a global size under 300 mm or 6,0 mm above these dimensions. We advise avoiding thin structures and to design a large base for your model. 8 colors are available:
DESIGN RULES Size of Pieces
Walls and Features
Other Design Guidelines
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