product guide

Product Guide

General Pattern employs a variety of technologies to enable us to provide Rapid Prototyping and manufacturing services that best address your application requirements in terms of accuracy, aesthetics, physical properties, delivery and cost in both plastic and metal materials. The following table summarizes the differences between each of the technologies and how they address various applications.

Application	SLA	SLS	CNC	Cast Urethane	Cast Metal
Concept Prototype	SLA Model with raw machine finish	SLS DuraForm Model with raw machine finish	CNC Machined modeling board with machined finish	.	.
Form & Fit Prototype	SLA Model with cosmetic finish	SLS DuraForm with cosmetic finish	CNC Machined modeling board	Cast Urethane Models with cosmetic finish	.
Functional Prototype	.	SLS DuraForm	CNC Machined metal & plastic	Cast Urethane Parts from a variety of materials	Cast Metal Parts with post machining and other operations
Presentation Prototype	SLA Model with texture, paint & printing	SLS Model with texture, paint & printing	CNC Machined Model with texture, paint & printing	Cast Urethane Model with texture, paint & printing	.
Master Pattern	SLA Model with prep paint inside & outside	SLS Model with prep paint inside & outside	CNC Machined high density modeling board	.	.
Investment Casting Pattern	SLA Quick Cast Pattern with hand finish inside & outside	SLS CastForm Pattern raw or hand finish inside & outside	.	.	.
Typical Lead Times	1 - 5 days	1 - 5 days	1 - 5 days	1 - 5 days	1 - 5 days
Part Size	Buttons to Car Bumpers	250mm x 350mm	Buttons to Car Bumpers	Buttons to Car Bumpers	250mm x 350mm

CastForm and DuraForm are trademarks of DTM Corp. QuickCast is a trademark of 3D Systems, Inc.