# Series - 3D Printing - Process & Materials

**Author:** kinlane  
**Canonical:** https://apievangelist.com/2011/05/18/series3d-printingprocess-amp-materials/

Once in production, a 3D model will be printed layer by layer using one of four potential 3D printing processes and corresponding materials:

*   **[Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_laser_sintering)** - SLS is an additive manufacturing technique that uses a high power laser to fuse small particles of plastic, metal, ceramic, or glass powders into a mass that has a desired 3-dimensional shape.
*   **[Stereolithography (SLA)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereolithography)** \- Stereolithography is an additive manufacturing process using a vat of liquid UV-curable photopolymer resin and a UV laser to build parts a layer at a time. On each layer, the laser beam traces a part cross-section pattern on the surface of the liquid resin.
*   **[Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fused_deposition_modeling)** - FDM works on an additive principle by laying down material in layers. A plastic filament or metal wire is unwound from a coil and supplies material to an extrusion nozzle which can turn on and off the flow.
*   **[Laminate Object Manufacturing (LOM)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laminated_object_manufacturing)** - LOM is a rapid prototyping system that layers adhesive-coated paper, plastic, or metal laminates are successively glued together and cut to shape with a knife or laser cutter.

These are four of the common 3D printing methodologies and since the introduction of metal, 3D printing has moved past prototyping and art and has become a viable manufacturing technology.

3D printing processes and materials are the link that allows virtual to become physical in the [3D print and manufacturing supply chain](http://www.kinlane.com/2011/05/3d-printing-and-manufacturing-supply-chain/ "3D print and manufacturing supply chain").