What type of 3D printing do you need?

Based on your answers, it sounds like Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) best suits your 3D printing needs. FDM is the most common and affordable type of 3D printing technology used for applications such as prototyping, mock-ups, and producing final products to a good quality. You can use acrylic paint to add color to your prints. The most common materials for FFF/FDM are different types of plastic including PLA, ABS, wood-like, and many others.

Judging by your responses, it seems that SLA (Stereolithography) or DLP (Digital Light Processing) best suits your 3D printing needs. SLA and DLP use UV light to solidify liquid plastic (resin) via a process called photopolymerization and build objects layer by layer. It is much more accurate than FFF/FDM, and the final product can be transparent depending on the material. This type of 3D printing technology is ideal for high-quality prototyping, jewelry, and medical applications such as dentistry.

Based on your answers, we recommend using an industrial full-color printer for your 3D printing needs. These professional 3D printers are capable of making objects both in full color and in multiple materials to an incredibly high quality. The main drawback, however, is the relatively high price that comes with it. Nevertheless, many companies use industrial full-color printers for presentations and even for testing prototypes before launching into mass-production. The most common types of materials are sandstone (gypsum) and paper.

Judging by your responses, an industrial metal printer is what you are looking for. There are several types of industrial metal printing technologies with the most popular being Direct Metal Laser Sintering and Selective Laser Sintering. They are usually used for making fully-functional prototypes by industrial companies and engineers. Large corporations such as NASA and Boeing are actively using this technology, but the costs involved are quite high.