The Layer-by-Layer Bulletin
Ready to look beyond the surface? Whether you want to geek out on additive manufacturing nuances or simply figure out who we are, consider this your official home base. The Layer-by-Layer Bulletin serves as your clear, no-fluff guide to deciding if Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printing makes real sense for your next big project.
Layer-by Layer Bulletin
Real-World 3D Printing Insights
Welcome to the Layer-by-Layer Bulletin, where we turn complex 3D printing concepts into clear, actionable advice. Selective Laser Sintering moves fast, but finding solid information shouldn't feel like sifting through a mountain of technical manuals. Whether you need a simple SLS material selection guide to compare glass filled vs carbon filled polyamide options or want practical advice for designing snap fit joints, we've got you covered. We break down functional prototyping, rapid prototyping, and aerospace-grade FAR 25.853 fire retardant materials without the usual corporate fluff. Dive into the articles below to level up your additive manufacturing knowledge and build better parts today. If you're new to SLS 3D Printing these articles are a good place to start.
If you're looking for engineers who help you design smarter, manufacture faster, reduce costs, and avoid expensive mistakes, you've found your team. Upload your CAD files, request an SLS 3D printing quote, or contact us today. Let's solve your next manufacturing challenge—one layer at a time. (Pun absolutely intended.)
Getting Started: From Zero to Printed
Your SLS 3D printing crash course. Let's be honest. Learning new manufacturing tech usually involves a few migraines and a trash can full of ruined plastic. Not today. We pull back the curtain to show you exactly how the printing process works. You will discover how to select durable materials that survive actual stress instead of snapping like a dry twig. We also teach you to prep designs perfectly right out of the gate. Skip the frustrating guesswork. Dive into the collection below to turn those brilliant ideas into tangible reality.
Functional Prototyping with SLS 3D Printing
You can stare at a CAD model all day. Eventually, you need to hold the part in your hands, put it where it belongs, and find out what happens when reality gets involved. That’s where a functional prototype…
Step 3: Hang on—What are You Planning to do With Your Prototype?
Business plan? Done. CAD drawing? Done. You’re probably itching to scream, “Let’s print this thing!” Before firing up the machines, we need to nail down exactly what your rapid prototyping goals are…
A Different Kind of 3D Printing Service
Most 3D printing companies do exactly what you ask. Upload the file. Pick a material. Approve the quote. Receive the part. Simple? Sure. Effective? Not always. That's where we're different. We don't just run printers—we solve problems…
Build Almost Anything with SLS 3D Printing
When your project is waiting on a part, every day matters. NW Rapid Manufacturing provides professional SLS 3D printing services that help engineers, designers, and manufacturers move from concept to finished part in days…
Step 1: From idea to prototype
Prove the Concept Before You Build. Every breakthrough product starts the same way: a persistent idea scribbled in a notebook or on the back of a crumpled receipt. You know it solves a real problem, but turning that spark into reality requires a clear strategy…
How to Talk to Your Kids About 3D Printing (A Parent’s Survival Guide)
It’s time for a quick chat with Northwest Rapid Manufacturing! To help you introduce your children to the world of additive manufacturing, here is a friendly, stress-free 3D printing guide for kids straight from our engineering team…
Ditch the Breakroom Jammer: Real Additive Power it's More than a Printer
While home machines pump out brittle trinkets, selective laser sintering manufacturing uses high-powered lasers to fuse polymer powder layer by layer, delivering rock-solid, production-grade components…
The 3D Printing Process: What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Part
Need flawless 3D prints without expensive surprises? Industrial additive manufacturing relies on one golden rule: we print strictly to your file. Our quick guide breaks down CAD file prep, spot-on 3D printing workflows, and simple habits…
Why Every Architect Should Switch to 3D Printed Models
Blueprints work wonders for structural engineers, yet standard floor plans look like ancient hieroglyphics to everyday clients. Utilizing 3D printed architectural models bridges that gap instantly, translating complex spatial concepts…
Print Smart: Your SLS 3D Printing Playbook
Stop guessing and start building better parts. From choosing between Nylon 11 and Nylon 12 for flexible living hinges to dialing in design guidelines for flawless production, our guides break down SLS 3D printing into quick, actionable steps. You will learn how to cut B2B manufacturing costs, select the ideal material for your performance specs, decipher complex MIL-Spec paint requirements versus standard Pantone colors, and decide when to use carbon-filled over glass-filled polyamides. Explore the insights below to streamline your workflow, avoid costly design missteps, and get reliable, high-performing 3D printed components off the build plate every single run.
Designing SLS Living Hinges & Snap-Fit Joints: Nylon 11 vs. Nylon 12
Designing living hinges and snap-fit joints for Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) doesn't have to feel like crossing your fingers and hoping for the best. The secret is choosing the right material from the start…
How SLS 3D Printing Lowers B2B Production Costs
Spend Less. Build More. Worry Less. Every manufacturer wants to lower production costs. The trick is knowing where the real money goes. It's rarely the cost of a single part. Tooling, inventory, long lead times, engineering changes…
How to Choose the Best SLS 3D Printing Material for Your Design
Choosing the right SLS 3D printing material can make the difference between a prototype that looks good on a screen and a part that performs in the real world. Strength, flexibility, heat resistance, dimensional stability…
MIL-Spec Paint, What? Decoding MIL-Spec vs. Pantone for 3D Printing
You sent us a custom 3D printing project with a specific color attached, feeling confident and ready to roll. Then we sent back a message asking if you had a preferred MIL-Spec paint code, leaving you scratching your head. It is completely fair…
Essential Guidelines for Flawless SLS 3D Printing
One of the powerful aspects of 3D printing is its ability to print almost anything. Let's discover some simple design tips for intricate SLS 3D printing. Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) feels a bit like magic. Unlike traditional manufacturing…
The Engineers Guide to Glass-filled vs. Carbon-filled Polyamides in SLS
Choosing the right material for high-stakes 3D printing shouldn't feel like playing roulette with your engineering budget. When standard nylons lack the grit for your most demanding applications, filled polyamides step up to do the heavy lifting…
Creative Engines: Hiring Design Experts
Designing for additive manufacturing demands a unique skill set that generic CAD drafting simply doesn't cover. This quick guide breaks down how to spot true 3D printing talent, assess real-world portfolios, and secure the exact technical expertise required to protect your project timeline and bottom line. Whether you are searching for The Perfect Match: Finding the Right Industrial Designer for Your Next SLS Prototype or ready for Step 2: Turn Your Idea Into a 3D Printed Prototype, you will gain the practical framework needed to hire with total confidence.
The Perfect Match: Finding the Right Industrial Designer for Your Next SLS Prototype
Most people searching for someone to design their Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) prototypes immediately look for an engineer. But another pool of eligible professionals is waiting to optimize your CAD for SLS printing. Meet the industrial designer…
Step 2: Turn Your Idea Into a 3D Printed Prototype
Now that you have a solid business plan for your prototype (missed that? Jump back to Step 1), it’s time for the fun part. You need to translate your concept into a digital format ready for rapid prototyping. In other words, you need a CAD design for 3D printing. And that means…
Looking to the Future: What's Next in SLS
Industrial printing moves fast, but staying ahead of the curve doesn't require a crystal ball—just better materials and smarter gear. From flame-retardant powders that keep flight safety regulators and design engineers on the same team to medical breakthroughs straight out of sci-fi, the next wave of additive manufacturing is already transforming production floors, saving precious dev cycles, and driving real profit.
Meet Nylon 12 PA 606-FR: Flame Retardancy That Keeps the FAA (and Your Engineers) Happy
Because “almost fireproof” isn't a strategy when you're 40,000 feet in the air. When your 3D printed components must handle heat and pass the FAA FAR 25.853 60-second burn specification, standard thermoplastics…
The Future of 3D Printing and Medicine Is Mind-Blowing (and Real)
Let’s be honest. The idea of growing new bone sounds like straight-up science fiction. But engineering and medicine have teamed up, and they are turning tissue regeneration through medical 3D printing into everyday science fact. Doctors and engineers spent years…
Printed Proof: Real-World Case Studies
Talk is cheap, but actual results speak volumes. Dive into real-world engineering challenges our clients brought to the table and see how we turned tricky specifications into high-performing, printed reality—slashing manufacturing costs, saving weight, and bringing complex designs to life faster than traditional methods ever could.
How Custom 3D Printing Cut Tooling Costs from $8,000 to $35 for a West Coast Screen Printer
Bottleneck: Expensive Tooling and Long Lead Times. High-speed container decoration requires a flawless fit. The primary printing line relies on custom base cups and nose cones to secure bottles during printing and curing. Because container dimensions vary wildly…
An Out-of-the-Box Solution for a Heavy-Metal Problem at The Schnitz
Bottleneck: Vintage Charm Meets Heavy-Metal Plumbing Headaches. Updating a 1920s venue requires constant upkeep. Back in 1928, lead was the standard material for plumbing fixtures, including the front-of-house lobby drinking fountains. Unsurprisingly modern health standards…
Rapid Prototyping a Better Ride with Custom 3D Printing
Bottleneck: Engineering a Custom Bracket Solution. Logan faced a unique mechanical challenge. He needed someone to design and manufacture a lightweight oxygen tank bracket for Beau’s Radio Flyer wagon. The request traveled through a fascinating network. President of SAMPE…
Designing the First Commercial Delivery Drone of Its Kind
Bottleneck: Building a flying delivery service takes more than strapping a propeller to a plastic box. Designing an unmanned aerial vehicle requires precision, rigorous planning, and an obsession with the details. When the visionary team at Matternet in Menlo Park asked NW Rapid Manufacturing…
Manufacturing Wearable Technology for the Military
Bottleneck: High-Spec Engineering Meets Complex Material Needs. Building a rugged, lightweight device capable of surviving military field tests isn't something you pull off with off-the-shelf plastic. The design called for custom Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printing using specialized…
NWUAV Unmanned Vehicle Engine Component “Puck”
Bottleneck: Squeezing Complex Geometry into Tight Schedules. Building multi-fuel UAV engines means creating hardware that fits seamlessly across multiple aircraft frames. To streamline their builds, engineers created the Puck, a custom UAV engine housing that slides into various…
Propelling the Beavers with SLS 3D Printing OSU Global Formula Racing Fuel Tank
Bottleneck: Squeezing Big Performance into Tight Spaces. Oregon State University students in the Global Formula Racing, Formula Student Program needed a custom Formula Racing fuel tank for upcoming competitions in Austria and Germany. They required lightweight automotive parts…
SLS Rapid Prototyping for the Next Evolution in Fitness
Bottleneck: Taking the Leap from Concept to Reality. We needed to transform an ambitious digital design into a durable, functional prototype ready for rigorous athletic testing. The goal was to build a piece of jump training equipment that could handle real-world stress before…
Ready, Aim, Fire… With Custom 3D Printed Firearm Parts
Bottleneck: Rescuing Obsolete Firearm Components. The mission was straightforward but crucial. We needed to manufacture replacement components for classic guns featuring parts abandoned by traditional manufacturers decades ago. This total lack of available hardware…
Replacing Obsolete Automotive Parts with SLS 3D Printing
Bottleneck: A Snap-Happy Honda Climate Control Knob. The original temperature control knob on a client's trusty 1996 Honda Accord finally gave up the ghost after nearly three decades of loyal service. Every cheap aftermarket replacement the owner tried snapped under pressure…
COVID-19 and the Unlikely Hero — 3D Printing
Bottleneck: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed weaknesses in global supply chains almost overnight. Hospitals faced shortages of N95 masks, face shields, ventilator components, and other essential medical supplies. While traditional manufacturing struggled to keep pace, 3D printing…
NW Rapid Manufacturing News & Announcements
NW Rapid Manufacturing is constantly pushing the boundaries of 3D printing, turning ambitious concepts into production-ready parts right here on the shop floor. From collaborating with local Oregon State visionaries to showing future engineers what happens when high-powered lasers meet real-world problem solving, we thrive on making the impossible feel routine. Consider us the friendly neighborhood shepherds of the nerd herd, bridging the gap between wild design ideas and durable, high-precision manufacturing.
Fueling Passion: Why We Love Collaborating with Local Creators and Oregon State Innovators
Every great build starts with a spark, whether it is on a high-speed track or a custom workbench. We teamed up with an Oregon State University senior … We brought that same collaborative energy home to Hillsboro, Oregon, partnering with TREKKER Design…
Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers (With Lasers and “Cake”)
Back in 2018, Chantelle, one of our stellar former engineers, snagged her mechanical engineering technology degree from Portland Community College. She didn't just grab her diploma and run. Instead, she spent two years chairing the college's advisory committee…
Shepherds of the Nerd Herd Guiding the Next Generation of Innovators
Keeping innovation alive isn't just a lofty ideal; it depends entirely on inspiring the next generation of builders, coders, and makers. Passing down expertise to inquisitive minds is how industries survive and evolve. That is precisely why hosting young tech enthusiasts and opening doors…