LKprototype All "Prototype Selection" articles
SLA VS SLS FOR PROTOTYPES: ACCURACY, STRENGTH, SURFACE FINISH, AND COST COMPARED
When an engineering team needs a physical part to prove a design, the first fork in the road is almost always the same: SLA or SLS? Both are laser-based polymer 3D printing processes, yet they produce prototypes with meaningfully different properties. Choosing wrong can force a reprint, delay a milestone, or — worse — hand you test results that do not reflect your actual production intent. This guide compares SLA versus SLS for prototypes across dimensional accuracy, tolerance, strength, material behavior, surface finish, geometry freedom, cost, and lead time. The aim is to give engineering teams a grounded basis for…
Plastic Prototype Manufacturing Methods: How to Choose the Best Process for Plastic Housings
When you pick a plastic prototype manufacturing method for housings, you affect your project’s success in a big way. The right method helps you stop problems like warping, bending, and bad surface finish. You should think about a few things: how you will use the part, its shape and size, how fast you need it, what material you want, and how much money you can spend. Some problems you may face are: Prototypes can change shape from heat or stress Warping and twisting can happen during machining The surface can melt if it gets too hot Knowing these things can…
