In Binder Jetting, a binder is selectively deposited onto the powder bed, bonding these areas together to form a solid part one layer at a time. The materials commonly used in Binder Jetting are metals, sand, and ceramics that come in a granular, powder form.

Digital Light Processing (DLP) starts with a vat of liquid photopolymer or resin that is cured by a digital light source as it repeats this process to build parts layer by layer.

Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) begins with a thin layer of powdered material being deposited across the build platform. Droplets of fusing and detailing agents are applied along with thermal energy on top of the powdered material to define the part’s geometry.

Material Jetting operates in a similar fashion to 2D printers. In material jetting, a printhead (similar to the printheads used for standard inkjet printing) dispenses droplets of a photosensitive material that solidifies under ultraviolet (UV) light, building a part layer-by-layer.

Selective laser sintering (SLS) uses a laser as the power source to sinter powdered material, aiming the laser automatically at points in space defined by a 3D model, binding the material together to create a solid structure.