Plan: Manufacturing Custom Plastic Parts

How to Choose a 3D Printing Technology

Having trouble finding the best 3D printing technology for your needs? In this video guide, we compare FDM, SLA, and SLS technologies across popular buying considerations.
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Types of Plastics

Plastics come in thousands of varieties with different base chemistries, derivatives, and additives that are formulated to cover a wide range of functional and aesthetic properties.
To simplify the process of finding the material best suited for a given part or product, let’s look first at the two main types of plastic: thermoplastics and thermosets.

Thermoplastics

Thermoplastics are the most commonly used type of plastic. The main feature that sets them apart from thermosets is their ability to go through numerous melt and solidification cycles without significant degradation. Thermoplastics are usually supplied in the form of small pellets or sheets that are heated and formed into the desired shape using various manufacturing processes. The process is completely reversible, as no chemical bonding takes place, which makes recycling or melting and reusing thermoplastics feasible.
Common types of thermoplastic materials:

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  Acrylic (PMMA)
  
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  Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)
  
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  Polyamide (PA)
  
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  Polylactic acid (PLA)
  
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  Polycarbonate (PC)
  
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  Polyether ether ketone (PEEK)
  
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  Polyethylene (PE)
  
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  Polypropylene (PP)
  
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  Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
  

Thermosetting Plastics

In contrast with thermoplastics, thermosetting plastics (also referred to as thermosets) remain in a permanent solid state after curing. Polymers in thermosetting materials cross-link during a curing process that is induced by heat, light, or suitable radiation. This curing process forms an irreversible chemical bond. Thermosetting plastics decompose when heated rather than melting, and will not reform upon cooling. Recycling thermosets or returning the material back into its base ingredients is not possible.
Common types of thermoplastic materials:

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  Cyanate ester
  
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  Epoxy
  
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  Polyester
  
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  Polyurethane
  
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  Silicone
  
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  Vulcanized rubber