Fused filament fabrication, also known as fused deposition modelling, or called filament freeform fabrication, is a 3D printing process that uses a continuous filament of a thermoplastic material. Filament is fed from a large spool through a moving, heated printer extruder head, and is deposited on the growing work.

Stereolithography belongs to a family of additive manufacturing technologies known as vat photopolymerization, commonly known as resin 3D printing. These machines are all built around the same principle, using a light source—a laser or projector—to cure liquid resin into hardened plastic. The main physical differentiation lies in the arrangement of the core components, such as the light source, the build platform, and the resin tank.

Selective laser sintering (SLS) is an additive manufacturing technique that uses a laser as the power source to sinter powdered material (typically nylon or polyamide), aiming the laser automatically at points in space defined by a 3D model, binding the material together to create a solid structure.

Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) is a technology that HP has specifically developed. MJF and SLS are very similar printing methods as they both belong to the powder bed fusion family. However, MJF typically provides strong, more flexible parts which are more comparable to injection moulded properties. In contrast, SLS offers a broader range of materials and colour finishes.