Metal Plating
Metal plating is a process that can be performed on rapid prototypes produced using stereolithography, laser sintering or FDM techniques. Depending on the surface requirements of the final component, the part will be finished smooth and then undergo the metal plating process. The process consists of the application of a layer of copper and optionally nickel to the rapid prototype. The thickness of these layers can be controlled and are in the order of magnitude of 0.05 mm each. A particularly unique metal plating service which Materialise offers, is to metal plate parts produced on the patented Mammoth stereolithography machines. This enables parts over 2m to be metal plated such as automotive B-pillars.

Glass/carbon fibre reinforcement
This involves carefully adhering thin sheets of glass/carbon fibre sheets, usually to the non-visual face of components. This can drastically increase the durability and mechanical strength of rapid prototypes and R.I.M. components and is typically used for large parts such as car bumpers, dashboards and trunks. This reinforcement process provides the perfect tailored solution for projects that require the superior surface finish provided by some of the less durable materials but also requires a high degree of strength and durability.

Honeycomb reinforcement
Using our internally developed 3-matic software, we can semi-automatically apply a honeycomb structure directly to .STL files, which saves costs by minimising the volume of the component while maximising the strength.