One-Stop Metal & Plastic 3D Printing for Industrial Electronics Manufacturing
80 sets delivered in 8-10 days with zero tooling — combining SLM 316L stainless steel and SLA white resin in a single production order.
1. Abstract
Industrial electronics manufacturers face a persistent sourcing challenge: their products often require both metal structural parts and plastic housings, yet traditional manufacturing forces them to split orders across separate supply chains — CNC for metal, injection molding for plastic. This increases lead times by 2-3x and multiplies coordination overhead. This case study presents how ChanHonTech delivered 80 sets of mixed-material components (50 sets SLM 316L stainless steel + 30 sets SLA white resin) in a single order, achieving 8-10 day metal delivery and 2-3 day plastic delivery with zero tooling investment.
2. Industry Background: The Dual-Material Challenge in Electronics Manufacturing
The global additive manufacturing market is projected to reach $XX billion by 2028 [est. based on industry growth rates]. Within this, the demand for multi-technology 3D printing services — combining metal and plastic capabilities — is growing disproportionately fast, driven by electronics manufacturers who need both structural and aesthetic parts for their products.
Shenzhen, as the world's electronics capital, is home to over 10,000 electronics manufacturing enterprises [est.]. These companies routinely need:
- Metal components (brackets, heat sinks, structural frames, connectors) — requiring strength, corrosion resistance, and durability
- Plastic components (enclosures, housings, covers, buttons) — requiring surface finish, dimensional accuracy, and aesthetic quality
Traditional sourcing means managing at least two separate supply chains, with average lead times of 3-5 weeks for injection molded plastic parts and 7-10 days for CNC machined metal parts — plus the overhead of multiple RFQs, supplier management, and logistics coordination.
In Vietnam and Indonesia, where electronics assembly is expanding rapidly, the same pain point exists with even fewer local suppliers capable of handling both metal and plastic 3D printing under one roof.
3. Technical Solution: Combining SLM Metal & SLA Plastic 3D Printing
ChanHonTech operates Farsoon-authorized industrial 3D printing equipment covering both powder bed fusion (SLM for metals) and vat photopolymerization (SLA for plastics), enabling true one-stop mixed-material production.
Technology Specifications
| Technology | Material | Layer Thickness | Max Part Size | Surface Finish | Typical Tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLM Metal | 316L Stainless Steel | 30-50 µm | 400 × 400 × 400 mm | Ra 6-10 µm (as-printed) Ra 1.6-3.2 µm (polished) | ±0.1 mm |
| SLA Plastic | White Resin | 50-100 µm | 600 × 600 × 400 mm | Ra 3-5 µm (polished) | ±0.1 mm |
In-House Post-Processing Capabilities
| Post-Process | SLM Metal | SLA Plastic |
|---|---|---|
| Surface polishing | ✅ Mechanical & chemical | ✅ Wet sanding & buffing |
| Thread tapping | ✅ M3, M4, M5, M6 | ❌ (SLA resin not suitable) |
| Heat treatment | ✅ Stress relief annealing | ❌ |
| Painting / coating | ✅ Optional | ✅ Primer + paint |
| Assembly | ✅ Fit-check & sub-assembly | ✅ Fit-check & sub-assembly |
All post-processing is performed in-house, eliminating the need for third-party finishing vendors and reducing total turnaround time by an estimated 30-40% [est.] compared to outsourcing post-processing separately.
4. Comparison: Traditional Manufacturing vs. 3D Printing
| Criteria | CNC Machining | Injection Molding | 3D Printing (SLM + SLA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead time (50 metal + 30 plastic parts) | 7-14 days | 4-6 weeks (tooling) | 8-10 days (metal) 2-3 days (plastic) |
| Tooling cost | Fixture cost: $200-500 [est.] | Mold cost: $3,000-15,000 [est.] | $0 — zero tooling |
| Unit cost (80 units total) | Moderate (fixture amortization) | Low (high volume only) | Competitive for 30-80 batches |
| Design iteration cost | High (reprogramming + refixturing) | Very high (mold modification) | Low (file change only) |
| Material options | Wide (metals + plastics) | Wide (thermoplastics) | 316L, AlSi10Mg, Ti64 (metal) White resin, clear resin, tough resin (plastic) |
| Geometric complexity | Limited (tool access) | Limited (draft angles, undercuts) | Unlimited (no tooling constraints) |
| Supplier coordination | 2+ suppliers (metal + plastic) | 2+ suppliers (molder + metal shop) | 1 supplier, 1 order |
5. Real Case: Yamafeng Electronics — 80-Set Mixed-Material Delivery
Client: Shenzhen Yamafeng Electronics Co., Ltd. — Industrial electronics equipment manufacturer
Location: Guangming District, Shenzhen (same district as ChanHonTech)
Contract: CHSC260514-003 | Date: 2026-05-14
Order Breakdown
| Item | Part Reference | Material | Process | Post-Processing | Qty | Lead Time | Unit Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AB901b-316-0514 | 316L Stainless Steel | SLM | Polishing | 30 sets | 8-10 days | ¥246.35 |
| 2 | AB901b-B-316-0514 | 316L Stainless Steel | SLM | Polishing + Tapping M3×20, M4×40 | 20 sets | 8-10 days | ¥118.52 |
| 3 | AB901b-SLA-0514 | White Resin | SLA | Polishing | 30 sets | 2-3 days | ¥6.76 |
Results
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total quantity | 80 sets |
| Total cost | ¥9,963.70 (~$1,400 USD) |
| Tooling investment | $0 |
| Metal lead time | 8-10 days (vs. CNC 7-14 days) |
| Plastic lead time | 2-3 days (vs. injection molding 4-6 weeks) |
| Suppliers managed | 1 (vs. 2-3 in traditional model) |
| Payment terms | 60-day account (supporting client cash flow) |
The key advantage: parallel production. While the SLM metal parts ran on Farsoon industrial equipment (8-10 day cycle), the SLA white resin parts were completed in just 2-3 days — all coordinated to deliver as a complete set. The client received a single shipment with all 80 sets across both materials, ready for assembly.
As both companies are located in Shenzhen's Guangming district, local delivery eliminated cross-city logistics, saving an estimated 1-2 days in transit time [est.].
6. Why ChanHonTech: Localized Service Across China, Vietnam & Indonesia
ChanHonTech differentiates through three core pillars:
🔹 Authorized Industrial Equipment
All parts are produced on Farsoon-authorized industrial 3D printers, ensuring consistent quality, certified build parameters, and traceable production. Unlike desktop 3D printing services, ChanHonTech's industrial-grade equipment delivers ISO-standard dimensional accuracy suitable for functional end-use parts.
🔹 One-Stop Multi-Technology
With SLM metal, SLA plastic, and SLS nylon capabilities under one roof, ChanHonTech eliminates the supply chain fragmentation that electronics manufacturers routinely face. A single RFQ, single PO, single shipment — across materials.
🔹 ASEAN Local Presence
| Facility | Location | Service Area |
|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳 Shenzhen HQ | Guangming District, Shenzhen | Greater China — R&D, rapid prototyping |
| 🇻🇳 Binh Duong | Vsip II, Binh Duong Province | Vietnam — production, local delivery |
| 🇮🇩 Tangerang | Tangerang, Banten | Indonesia — production, local delivery |
For clients in Vietnam and Indonesia, ChanHonTech offers same-country production and delivery, local-currency invoicing, and native-language technical support — removing the timezone and language barriers of cross-border manufacturing.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
SLM (Selective Laser Melting) uses a laser to fuse metal powder into solid parts, ideal for functional metal components like 316L stainless steel. SLA (Stereolithography) cures liquid resin layer by layer, best for high-detail plastic prototypes and visual models.
Yes. ChanHonTech offers both SLM metal and SLA plastic 3D printing under one roof, eliminating the need to manage separate suppliers for different materials.
For SLM metal parts like 316L stainless steel, typical lead time is 8-10 days including post-processing (polishing, tapping). SLA plastic parts can be delivered in 2-3 days.
Yes. For small-to-medium batches (30-80 sets), 3D printing eliminates mold tooling costs entirely, often resulting in 40-60% cost savings compared to injection molding and competitive pricing vs CNC machining.
Common post-processing includes surface polishing, thread tapping (M3, M4, M5 etc.), heat treatment, and surface coating. ChanHonTech provides all in-house.
Yes. ChanHonTech has facilities in Shenzhen (China), Binh Duong (Vietnam), and Tangerang (Indonesia), serving clients across ASEAN.
8. References
Ready to Combine Metal & Plastic 3D Printing in One Order?
Send us your CAD files and get a combined quotation for SLM metal and SLA plastic parts — zero tooling, single shipment, one point of accountability.
Contact ChanHonTechFacilities: Shenzhen · Binh Duong · Tangerang