
4 steps
to your
product
Four steps to your product
Calculate the guide price right here on the website
1
Construction
You design the component you require and send us the CAD data, optionally accompanied by a production drawing.
We’d be happy to assist you with tips and tricks to improve cost-effectiveness.
2
Preparation
The machine is being prepared for the production of your component. Where necessary, support structures are added to the component to ensure a high-quality result.
3
Production
The printing process begins and the laser builds up the object layer by layer until all the parts of the print job are complete. This usually takes between 6 and 60 hours.
4
Fine-tuning
It is rare for a component to be ready for use immediately after printing. Whether it requires mechanical finishing, heat treatment or surface finishing: as soon as the components have been removed from the machine, the finishing process can begin.
Prototype, production and training
From a minimum order quantity of 1
Aluminium AlSi10Mg
Stainless steel 316L
Inconel 718
Tool steel 1.2709 (hardenable)
Titanium TiAl6V4
SLM with various alloys
Series production
Available installation space:
278 mm x 278 mm x 360 mm (L x W x H)
Density > 99.8 %
Tolerance ± 0.05 mm ± 0.15, depending on geometry.
Surface roughness:
Ra 6 – Ra 2.5 with standard finishing
Getting started with 3D printing
Not all components can be manufactured cost-effectively using SLM technology. We would be happy to advise you on this or offer you and your team a training day at our production facility.
Tailored to our customers’ needs
Many years of experience
Do you have any questions about the materials, areas of application or technical possibilities? Drawing on our experience in the field of additive manufacturing, we would be happy to advise you on your project.
In-depth specialist knowledge
We possess a wide range of specialist scientific and technical expertise in the optimisation and production of complex components.
Areas of application
Mechanical engineering
Motorsport
Automotive industry
Aerospace
Turbine manufacturing
Toolmaking
Post-processing
Surface finishing
Depending on the material chosen and the orientation of the component, the surface has a roughness of Ra 6 – Ra 2.5.
The surface can be further refined using processes such as sandblasting or vibratory grinding.
Machining
Components with tight tolerances or threads usually require reworking.
In collaboration with our sister companies within the SwissFactory Group, we can offer you CNC milling, CNC turning and grinding, as well as die-sinking and wire EDM, quickly and hassle-free.
Heat treatment
Do you have exceptionally high requirements regarding properties such as hardness or tensile strength for your component?
Different heat treatments can enhance the desired properties. We would be happy to advise you.
Quality assurance
Quality is important to us!
At ProtoShape, we place great importance on the quality of our products and services. One aspect of our commitment in this area is our ISO 9001:2015 certification.
Documentation
For specialised applications (e.g. aerospace), we offer additional quality assurance services:
- 3D scanning
- Metallography
- Customised component numbering
- 100% inspection and documentation
- Tactile 3D measurement using state-of-the-art measuring machines
External quality assurance
- Density testing
- Computed tomography
- X-ray analysis
- Tensile testing
- Fatigue analysis
We would be happy to advise you and arrange the required analyses on your behalf.