Please choose your delivery location

The selection of the country/region page can influence various factors such as price, shipping options and product availability.
My contact person
Select location
NZ(EN)

Additive manufacturing processes at igus®

3D printing with self-lubricating plastics for wear-resistant parts


SLS printer
With our 3D printing service you can produce wear-resistant plastic components by means of three different processes: SLS, FDM and DLP 3D printing. On this page you will find further information on the respective production methods.
If you would like to discuss your project with one of our experts, please contact us!
Go to the contact form

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)

In SLS 3D printing, plastic powder is applied in layers with a blade and melted with a laser at specific points where the component is to be produced. This process is characterised above all by its cost-effectiveness, fast production and high dimensional accuracy of the printed components (from ±0.1mm).

Further advantages:
  • Strength and good layer bonding
  • Toughness: elongation at break is greater than 8%
  • Intricate components with a wall thickness of up to 0.7mm can be realised
  • Worldwide printing service: igus® has laser sintering plants in Germany, China, and the U.S.
Tipcompared to the SLS process, FDM 3D printing offers a greater variety of materials.
 
Discover the igus SLS powders in the shop
The SLS printing process

Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM)

FDM is a 3D printing method in which material that can be melted (plastic) is heated and applied layer by layer through one or more nozzles. This method is also referred to as melt strand deposition or filament extrusion. The low purchase price of a filament printer and the usability make FDM the most widely used 3D printing process.

Special services at igus:
  • Multi-material printing: in the 3D printing service, it is possible to produce parts from up to four different filaments in one printing process. 
  • Large-format 3D printing: components up to 1 metre in size can be additively manufactured in the large-format 3D printer from igus.
                                                                                                             ▶️ Find out more

Tip: If you would like to do without support material and require components with a good layer bonding and higher dimensional accuracy (<±0.2mm), the SLS and DLP processes are more suitable than FDM.
 
Discover the igus tribofilaments in the shop
The FDM printing process

Digital Light Processing (DLP)

DLP is a 3D printing process in which synthetic resin in a basin is exposed, layer by layer, to UV light, thereby curing or polymerising it. A UV light source strikes an array of mirrors, which reflect the light as two-dimensional layer geometry, shining it onto the material. 

Advantages:
  • High print resolution of up to 35µm
  • Isotropic mechanical properties (no strength disadvantages thanks to the layer structure)
  • Clean and smooth surface
  • Possible areas of application: gears with Tooth Module 0.2 and special components that require intricate recesses, internal channels or the finest holes 
DLP vs SLA:
A major advantage of 3D printing using the DLP process is the time saved. Unlike the SLA process, in which each dot is lasered individually, the DLP process cures the resin surface by surface, so build time is a fraction of that required for SLA. The resolution is also greatly increased (up to 35µm pixels).
 
Discover our DLP resin in the shop
The DLP printing process

The manufacturing processes in practice


 

The online 3D printing service

Online 3D printing service

Have your prototypes or series printed from wear-resistant igus plastics in one to three days.
 
More about the 3D printing service

3D printing process in operation

3D-printed pinions

Get an overview of the application areas in which the igus 3D printing service has played a decisive role.
 
Go to application examples

Consulting

I look forward to answering your questions

Shipping and consultation

In person:

Monday to Friday from 7 am - 8 pm.
Saturdays from 8 am- 12 pm.

Online:

24h


The terms "igus", "Apiro", "chainflex", "CFRIP", "conprotect", "CTD", "drylin", "dry-tech", "dryspin", "easy chain", "e-chain", "e-chain systems", "e-ketten", "e-kettensysteme", "e-skin", "e-spool", "flizz", "ibow", "igear", "iglidur", "igubal", "igutex", "kineKIT", "manus", "motion plastics", "pikchain", "readychain", "readycable", "ReBeL", "speedigus", "triflex", "robolink", "xirodur", and "xiros" are legally protected trademarks of the igus® GmbH/ Cologne in the Federal Republic of Germany and where applicable in some foreign countries.

igus® GmbH points out that it does not sell any products of the companies Allen Bradley, B&R, Baumüller, Beckhoff, Lahr, Control Techniques, Danaher Motion, ELAU, FAGOR, FANUC, Festo, Heidenhain, Jetter, Lenze, LinMot, LTi DRiVES, Mitsubishi, NUM,Parker, Bosch Rexroth, SEW, Siemens, Stöber and all other drive manufacturers mention on this website. The products offered by igus® are those of igus® GmbH