Plastic & metal printing on demand - the fastest way to get your prototypes and production parts
Rapid prototyping to manufacturing
What is 3D printing?
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a general term for a range of rapid prototyping technologies that make the transition from concept design to physical prototypes quick, simple and cost-effective. 3D printing helps to identify potential problems in the early development stages and solve them before large-scale production, thus avoiding high costs. 3D printing modifications can be completed in hours or days, which means that designs can be iterated quickly, accelerating the rapid prototype development cycle. 3D printing technology can produce complex geometries. 3D printing can use a variety of materials, including plastics, resins, metals, ceramics, etc. Due to the reduced need for tools and molds, 3D printing is particularly economical in small batch production and custom pieces. 3D printing is changing the way we design and manufacture products, providing unprecedented design freedom and production efficiency, and is widely used in many industries such as medical, automotive, aerospace, etc.
3D Printing Services at Brightstar
As a leader rapid prototype manufacturing company in China, Brightstar specializes in providing custom 3D printing services, including Metal Powder Sintering (SLM), Stereolithography (SLA), and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). Our professional team, composed of experienced engineers and project managers, works closely with clients to ensure the accuracy of CAD designs, the perfection of product functions, and the precision of dimensional tolerances, meeting the high standards of our clients in prototype design and production. As a professional prototyping company, Brightstar is committed to providing comprehensive prototype development and production services for businesses. We are capable of quickly delivering everything from individual prototypes to thousands of production-level parts, ensuring that our global customers receive timely and cost-effective solutions.
2015
ISO 9001 CERTIFIED
30
3D Printing machines
500+
Projects delivered/ month
50+
Plastic & metal materials
Advantages of 3D Printing
Customization and personalization: 3D printing allows parts and products to be easily customized to meet individual needs.
High degree of design freedom: It is possible to create complex geometries that are difficult or impossible to manufacture with traditional manufacturing techniques.
Rapid prototyping: Designers and engineers can quickly print out prototypes, accelerating the product development process.
Reduced material waste: 3D printing uses only the required materials, reducing material waste.
Reduced tooling costs: No expensive molds or tools are required, especially for complex parts.
Versatility: The ability to print in a variety of materials and colors increases design flexibility.
Our 3D printing capabilities
Selective Laser Sintering
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) uses an infrared laser to sinter powdered material, typically plastic, metal, ceramic, or glass, binding the material together to create a solid structure. SLS builds parts by fusing material layer by layer from the bottom up, without the need for additional support structures. Among several common 3D printing technologies, it has the highest material utilization rate and is relatively cheap.
Stereo Lithography Appearance
Stereo Lithography Apparatus (SLA) uses an ultraviolet laser beam to selectively cure a polymer resin layer by layer to create objects. It is suitable for making fine parts, and the surface quality is smooth. SLA always requires a support structure. The material is usually a photosensitive resin.
Selective Laser Melting
Selective Laser Melting (SLM) harnesses the power of focused laser energy to fuse fine metal powders, layer by layer, into solid structures directly from digital blueprints. It stands out for its remarkable capability to transform metal and superalloys into complex, high-strength components with unparalleled precision. It is particularly suitable for aerospace, medical, molds, automotive parts and other fields.
Why choose Brightstar's 3D printing services?
Quality has always been the guideline for Brightstar Behavior, which is the biggest reason for customers to choose and trust Brightstar and maintain stable cooperation. We strictly follow the ISO 9001 certified quality management system standards and have also obtained the iso 9001 2015 certification. Through rigorous inspection methods such as IPQC, FAI, and FQC, a series of quality inspections and controls, and the use of advanced detection tools, we ensure that the precision and quality of each product meet or even exceed customer requirements.
Superior Quality
Brightstar uses advanced 3D printing technology and high-quality materials to ensure the fineness and durability of the finished product.
Diverse Materials
We offers a variety of material options, including plastics, metals, resins, etc. to meet the needs of different applications.
High Speed
Fast turnaround and delivery times as short as 1 day
Service Reliability
we have successfully serviced a wide range of projects.
Reasonable price
Our reasonable prices and quote transparency are important for you to control budgets.
Confidential Principle
We have strict data protection measures to protect your designs and intellectual property. NDAs are available.
3D Prototypes Examples
SLM 3D Printed Car Wheel Hub
Technology: SLM (Selective Laser Melting)
Product: Car Wheel Hub
Industry: Automotive
SLS 3D Printed Cooling Tower Collector
Technology: SLS (Selective Laser Sintering)
Product: Cooling Tower Water Collector
Industry: Industrial Cooling
SLM 3D Printed Turbocharger
Technology: SLM
Product: Turbocharger
Industry: Automotive
SLA 3D Printed Eyes glass Model
Technology: SLA
Product: Eyeglass Model
Industry: Optical
SLA 3D Printed High Heel
Technology: SLA (Stereolithography)
Product: High Heel
Industry: Fashion
SLA 3D Printed Crayon Shin Chan Decoration Toys
Technology: SLA
Product: Crayon Shin-chan Decoration
Industry: Toys
SLA 3D Printed Lampshade
Technology: SLA
Product: Lampshade
Industry: Lighting
SLS 3D Printed Strainer Screen
Technology: SLS
Product: Strainer Screen
Industry: Kitchenware
SLA 3D Printed Hollow Ring
Technology: SLA
Product: Hollow Ring
Industry: Jewelry
SLS 3D Printed Humidifier Wick Filter
Technology: SLS
Product: Humidifier Wick Filter
Industry: Home Appliance
SLA 3D Printed Long Head Model
Technology: SLA
Product: Long Head Model
Industry: Art
SLA 3D Printed Hollow Building Model
Technology: SLA
Product: Hollow Building Model
Industry: Architecture
Available materials for 3D printing
Brightstar's 3D Printing Services offer a variety of materials to meet diverse application scenarios, with material selection determined by the quality, performance, and intended use of the printed object. Different materials cater to specialized fields, such as biomedical materials for personalized medical applications, metal materials (e.g., stainless steel, titanium alloys) fulfilling high-strength and corrosion-resistant demands in aerospace, and innovative composite materials like carbon fiber-reinforced composites for high-performance automotive and industrial products. Within our SLS, SLA, and SLM 3D printing processes, the following are commonly used materials:
SLM 3D printing materials
The materials used in SLM technology are mainly metal powders, including stainless steel, mold steel, titanium alloy, aluminum alloy, cobalt-chromium alloy, nickel alloy, copper, etc. The entire printing process is carried out in a closed chamber filled with inert gas (such as argon) to prevent metal powder oxidation.
SLA 3D printing materials
The common material of SLA is photosensitive resin. Processing materials include standard resins, engineering resins (ABS-Like, PP-Like, PC-Like), castable resins, dental resins, medical resins, silicone resins and ceramic resins.
SLS 3D printing materials
SLS technology is known for its ability to handle a wide variety of materials. And nylon is the most common.
1. Polymer powder (such as PA12、PA11、GF-PA、TPU、PEEK).
2. Metal powder (such as Ti-6Al-4V、SS316、AlSi10Mg、Cobalt-chromium alloy).
3. Ceramic powder (such as Al₂O₃、Si₃N₄ ).
4. Composites (such as Carbon fiber reinforced nylon、40% glass bead filled nylon 6 powder).
3D Printing surface treatment
Common surface treatment methods for 3D printing include grinding, polishing, or sandblasting to remove layer lines and improve the surface finish of parts; chemical polishing (e.g., solvent vapor smoothing) to eliminate surface flaws in resin or plastic components; coating (spray painting, electroplating) to enhance aesthetics or corrosion resistance; coloring (dyeing, hand-painting) for customized hues; and functional treatments (e.g., anodizing, sealant coatings) to boost wear resistance, waterproofing, or conductivity in metal or engineering plastic parts. Specific methods are tailored to materials and processes, optimizing appearance, mechanical properties, or application-specific requirements.
Begin creating 3D printed prototypes? Start a new quote
3D Printing General Tolerances
The tolerance and accuracy of SLA
SLA can keep tolerances within a relatively small range, with tolerances usually less than 0.05 mm..
Desktop SLA printers have a dimensional tolerance of about ±0.5% (±0.10 mm).
Industrial printers can achieve tighter tolerances, such as ±0.15% (±0.01 mm).
The tolerance and accuracy of SLS
SLS technology generally offers a slightly wider tolerance range, with a dimensional tolerance of about ±0.3% (±0.3 mm). SLS prints may experience a 2-3% shrinkage rate, which needs to be taken into account during design. However, the advantage of SLS technology is that it does not require support structures, thus reducing the workload of post-processing.
The tolerance and accuracy of SLM
SLM can achieve a high level of dimensional accuracy because it uses metal powder, which has minimal deformation during the cooling and solidification process after melting.
Linear dimension tolerance: ±0.1mm to ±0.2mm, or better accuracy.
Angular dimension tolerance: usually between ±0.1° and ±0.5°.
If you want to start a new 3D printing project, the usual steps are:
01
Upload 3D model
You need to upload the designed 3D model file to our quote page
02
DFM analysis and quote
After uploading the file, we will give you a quick quote and DFM analysis drawing
03
Place an order for printing
After confirming the quotation, you can place an order and we will start the printing work.
04
Get Your Parts
When the product is completed, we will deliver it to you as soon as possible by international express or according to your requirements.
Basic guidelines for designing 3D printed parts
There are many aspects to consider when designing 3D printed parts to ensure a smooth printing process and the quality and functionality of the final product. Here are some basic guidelines for designing 3D printed parts:
Understand the printing technology
First, you need to understand the characteristics of the 3D printing technology used, such as SLM, SLA, or SLS. Different technologies have different design requirements, such as the need for support structures, layer thickness, and resolution.
Design simplification
Keep the model design as simple as possible and reduce complex geometries, which helps reduce printing time and material usage, while also reducing the risk of errors during the printing process.
Consider the manufacturing process
Plan the manufacturing process of the product in advance (such as ensuring the uniform wall thickness of the components, considering the supporting structure and the direction of the components), then design reasonable drawings with appropriate software.
Avoid closed spaces
Make sure there are no closed cavities in the part, which may cause the material to not fill or cause bubbles during printing.
Use appropriate software
Use professional 3D modeling software such as Fusion 360, Blender, SolidWorks, etc., which provide tools for 3D printing optimization.
Post-processing
Define the external surface and functional requirements of the product to lay the foundation for manufacturing and post-processing, for example, surface treatment, dyeing, coating, etc.
FAQs of 3D printing
What are the typical applications of SLM?
Typical applications of SLM include turbine blades in the aerospace field, orthopedic implants in the medical field, and lightweight components in the automotive field.
Is rapid prototyping the same as 3D printing?
The process of creating a physical model of a product from design drawings or concepts is known as rapid prototyping. Along with other technologies like CNC machining and injection molding, 3D printing is one method of achieving rapid prototyping.
How does 3D printing compare to CNC machining？
3D printing is suitable for complex designs and small batch production, with material limitation but fast production and low cost. CNC machining is suitable for mass production, with high precision, wide selection of materials and superior surface finish.
What post-processing steps are required after SLA printing?
There are possible processes such as cleaning, post-curing, grinding, , polishing, and painting.
Does SLS printing require post-processing?
After SLS printing is complete, the excess powder needs to be removed. Therefore, sandblasting may be required to improve surface quality, and heat treatment may be required to improve mechanical properties.
Despite the relatively larger tolerance range of SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) technology, why do many clients still choose SLS?
Firstly, SLS requires no support structures, as the unsintered powder itself acts as natural support for complex geometries. This not only reduces post-processing efforts but also enables the fabrication of parts with intricate internal structures and shapes. Secondly, SLS supports a wide range of materials, including nylon, TPU, and glass fiber-reinforced composites, which offer excellent mechanical properties and durability. Additionally, SLS excels in low-volume production, customized products, and rapid prototyping, meeting the demand for complex functional components across industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical, and consumer electronics.
Do SLA printed objects require support structures?
Yes, complex geometries during SLA printing often require support structures in order to properly print overhanging parts.
What are the advantages of SLM compared to other manufacturing technologies?
The advantages of SLM include high design freedom, no hard tooling, reduced material waste, suitability for complex and small batch production, reduced development time, and improved performance
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