Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a 3d printing process (additive manufacturing) that uses high-powered lasers to sinter, or bind, finely powdered material together into a solid structure. SLS can produce large or geometrically complex, intricate, and highly accurate parts from a variety of materials.
What is SLS 3D?
Selective laser sintering (SLS) is an industrial 3D printing process that produces accurate prototypes and functional production parts in as fast as 1 day.
What is Laser Sintering used for?
Today, sintering is used to produce everything from gears and connecting rods to sprockets and bearings. It's also used to 3D print parts. Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a close cousin to direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), but builds parts made of plastic rather than metal.
What is SLS 3D printing used for?
A SLS 3D printing service is used for both prototyping of functional polymer components and for small production runs. Its versatility makes SLS a great alternative to injection molding for low-production runs.
Is selective laser sintering expensive?
Until now, industrial SLS 3D printers have been prohibitively costly for most businesses, with a single machine running over $100,000.
How much does laser sintering cost?
It costs about $150,000 and maybe twice as much if you get all the cool stuff needed to recycle powder and clean parts. It's meant for production environments with HVAC and the like.20 Sept 2017
What are the advantages of selective laser sintering?
Selective Laser Sintering Advantages Best for producing strong, functional parts with complex geometries. High level of accuracy (though not as high as stereolithography). Doesn't require supports, saving printing and post-processing time.21 Nov 2019
Is SLS printing expensive?
Despite its advances, SLS printing is still relatively expensive and the powder handling can be messy when done by hand (although some vendors offer enclosed solutions).20 Sept 2021
What is SLS used for 3D printing?
Selective laser sintering (SLS) is an additive manufacturing (AM) 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.
How is SLS different from 3D printing?
Only industrial SLS systems are currently widely available, so lead times are longer than other 3D printing technologies , such as FDM and SLA. SLS parts have a grainy surface finish and internal porosity that may require post processing, if a smooth surface or watertightness are required.
How does a SLS 3D printer work?
The SLS 3D printer uses a laser as a energy source which selectively melts powdered plastic material, fusing them together into a 3D printed part. Using 3D data from a CAD model, the laser melts the plastic material exactly at the predifined areas in the powderbed of the additive manufacturing system.
SLS machines can print objects in a variety of materials, such as plastics, glass, ceramics and even metal (which is a related process known as direct metal laser sintering). This makes it a popular process for creating both prototypes as well as final products.13 Aug 2013
How does laser sintering work?
Plastics 3D printing How does SLS work in detail? The SLS 3D printer uses a laser as a energy source which selectively melts powdered plastic material, fusing them together into a 3D printed part. After the melting process is completed, the building platform is lowered, and a new layer of powder is added.