12 technologies by resolution, speed, materials, price, complexity and post-processing
Last updated: 2026
| Technology | Resolution | Speed | Materials | Price | Complexity | Post-processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDM | 50-300 µm | Medium (40-150 mm/s) | PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU, Nylon, PC, PEEK | Low (€150-€7,500) | Low | Support removal, sanding |
| SLA | 25-100 µm | Slow (10-30 mm/s) | Engineering, casting, biocompatible resins | Medium (€1,000-€10,000) | Medium | IPA wash, UV cure, supports |
| DLP | 25-75 µm | Medium (full layer) | Standard, dental, engineering resins | Medium (€500-€7,500) | Medium | IPA wash, UV cure |
| LCD (MSLA) | 35-100 µm | Medium (full layer) | Flexible, transparent, casting resins | Low (€100-€1,500) | Low to medium | IPA wash, UV cure |
| SLS | 80-150 µm | Medium to high | PA11, PA12, TPU, composites | High (€5,000-€250,000) | High | Bead blasting, dyeing |
| DMLS/SLM | 20-100 µm | Slow | Steel, Titanium, Aluminum, Inconel | Very high (€50,000+) | Very high | Heat treatment, CNC, supports |
| EBM | 50-200 µm | Medium | Titanium, CoCr | Very high (€100,000+) | Very high | Vacuum, bead blasting, HIP |
| PolyJet | 14-28 µm | Medium | Photopolymers, elastomers | High (€25,000-€150,000) | Medium | Water-jet support removal |
| BJ / FCBJ | 100-400 µm | High | Gypsum, sand, ceramics | Medium to high (€10,000-€100,000) | Medium | Infiltration, drying |
| MBJ | 50-100 µm | High | Stainless steel, bronze, copper | High (€50,000+) | High | Debinding + sintering (17-20% shrinkage) |
| WAAM | 500-2000 µm | Very high | Steel, aluminum, titanium | Medium (€10,000-€50,000) | High | CNC milling, grinding |
| LOM (SDL) | 100-200 µm | Medium | Paper, plastic, ceramic, metal | Medium (€5,000-€40,000) | Medium | Decubing, sanding |
PolyJet has the finest resolution (14-28 µm), followed by SLA and DLP (25-100 µm). FDM is 50-300 µm. For the finest detail (miniatures, jewelry, dental) resin technologies are used.
FDM is cheaper and easier and produces stronger functional parts (PLA, PETG, Nylon). SLA gives much finer detail but resins are more brittle and toxic and require IPA wash + UV cure. For detailed prototypes choose SLA; for functional parts choose FDM.
SLS (Selective Laser Sintering): the unsintered powder supports the part during printing, so no supports are needed. This makes it ideal for complex geometries and batches.
FDM is the most affordable: desktop printers from €150. LCD (MSLA) resin printers are also cheap (from €100), but material and post-processing add cost.