Buying guide
A practical guide to choosing the right Raplas system, planning your setup, and selecting the best route to purchase.
Plan the right purchase
Whether you’re bringing production SLA in-house for the first time or upgrading an existing fleet, this guide helps you define requirements, compare options, and pick a route to ownership that fits your business.
Quick links
- Finance options for flexible payments
- Rental services for lower upfront cost
- Trade-in programme to offset an upgrade
1
Start with requirements
Parts & throughput
- Largest part size (X/Y/Z) and typical batch quantity
- Do you print single large parts, or a packed build plate?
- Target lead time (same-day, 24–48 hours, weekly batches)
- Peak vs typical demand (steady production or seasonal spikes)
Quality & materials
- Surface finish expectations (cosmetic, functional, mould-ready)
- Critical tolerances and inspection method
- Material needs: stiffness, temperature, impact, biocompatibility, etc.
- Any compliance requirements (customer specs, internal standards)
Use case
- Prototype, production, tooling patterns, or resin development
- Repeatability expectations across operators and shifts
- Traceability needs (jobs, resin batches, settings, QA records)
- Integration with your existing workflow (CAD, QA, finishing)
2
Choose your route to ownership
Finance options
Spread the cost with flexible payment structures, designed for production environments.
Rental services
Lower the barrier to entry with full-maintenance rentals from 12 to 48 months.
Trade-in programme
Offset the cost of upgrading by trading in a used machine as part-exchange.
3
Next steps checklist
Prepare the basics
- Part examples (or drawings) and target tolerances
- Material requirements and any compliance needs
- Expected weekly/monthly throughput
- Preferred timeline for installation
Confirm practical setup
- Space, handling, and safe resin storage
- Power and environmental conditions
- Installation access and positioning
- Support expectations and uptime requirements
Get a recommendation
We’ll suggest a suitable system configuration and the best way to buy based on your goals and constraints.
Plan your workflow end-to-end
A good buying decision includes more than build volume. Consider pre-processing, post-processing, quality checks, and operator time so your system delivers predictable throughput from day one.
Workflow checklist
- Job setup: orientation, supports, nesting
- Cleaning & curing capacity for your throughput
- Finishing steps (sanding, blasting, coating)
- QA method (callipers, CMM, gauges, visual checks)
Ready to upgrade your production?
Get in touch with our team to discuss custom configurations and pricing tailored to your business needs.