A Comprehensive Guide to the Types of 3D Printing
This guide explains the core categories of 3D printing under the ISO/ASTM 52900 standard, comparing how they work, their materials, strengths, weaknesses, and ideal applications.
Published 2025-11-12
What's inside
- Vat Polymerization: Curing Resin with Light
- Stereolithography (SLA)
- Digital Light Processing (DLP)
- LCD Masking (mSLA)
- Material Extrusion: The Familiar Fused Deposition
- Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) / Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)
- Powder Bed Fusion: Fusing Powder with Energy
- Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
- Multi Jet Fusion (MJF)
- Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) / Selective Laser Melting (SLM)
- Material Jetting: Printing with Photopolymers
- Binder Jetting: Gluing Powder Together
- Conclusion: Choosing the Right Technology
Who it's for
- Product designers and engineers selecting an additive manufacturing process
- Manufacturing professionals comparing prototyping and production options
- Hobbyists and newcomers exploring 3D printing technologies
About this resource
3D printing, or Additive Manufacturing (AM), covers a family of technologies that build objects layer by layer from digital files. This guide walks through the most prominent types grouped under the ISO/ASTM 52900 standard.
Vat Polymerization
SLA, DLP and mSLA cure liquid photopolymer resin with light to produce high-detail parts ideal for jewelry, dental work and smooth prototypes.
Material Extrusion
FDM/FFF melts thermoplastic filament and is the most affordable option for functional prototypes, jigs, fixtures and hobby projects.
Powder Bed Fusion
SLS and MJF fuse polymer powder for strong, complex plastic parts without supports, while DMLS/SLM melts metal powder for fully dense aerospace and medical components.
Material Jetting
Photopolymer droplets are jetted and cured on the fly, enabling full-color, multi-material models with fine detail.
Binder Jetting
A binder glues powder layers together for fast, low-cost sand, metal or ceramic parts, though post-processing is usually required.
The guide concludes with practical advice on matching technology to application, from cheap FDM prototypes to high-performance DMLS metal parts.