3D printing process plastics

How SLS - Selective Laser Sintering works

Fascination, requirements, fields of application

How does SLS (selective laser sintering) work in detail?

The SLS 3D printer uses a laser as an energy source. This melts a powdered plastic material at specific points (“selectively”), creating a 3D-printed component layer by layer. SLS belongs to the field of laser melting and is one of the most advanced and reliable 3D printing technologies in the field of additive manufacturing with plastics.

SLS technology in three steps:

  • Based on the CAD data, the laser melts the plastic material in the SLS 3D printer precisely at the predefined points.
  • After the melting process, the building platform lowers and a new layer of powder is added and melted.
  • This process is repeated until the component is completed layer by layer.

Selective laser sintering is very widespread in the field of plastic-based additive manufacturing. This is mainly due to the superiority of SLS technology in terms of design freedom, high productivity and low unit costs. In contrast to other 3D printing technologies such as stereolithography (SLA) or fused deposition modeling (FDM), the SLS 3D printer does not require any additional support structures for component production. This produces particularly complex, almost impossible 3D printing results. Only powder and energy are required for the production of SLS 3D components and no binding agents.

4 Advantages of selective laser sintering

  • Function integration

    SLS enables the production of lightweight, functionally integrated components. They can be produced in a customer-specific and cost-efficient manner – ideal for prototypes, robotic components or gripper systems.

  • Filled 3D printing materials

    SLS is used to create robust molded parts using additives such as glass beads, aluminum or flame retardants. Typical applications include gear wheels, pump impellers or drive wheels in industrial use.

  • Biocompatibility

    It is also possible to manufacture medical devices and patient-specific implants from sterilizable and biocompatible materials. These are more cost-efficient than metal implants.

  • High-mix & low-volume production

    SLS offers a cost-effective alternative for small and medium-sized series production of 3D-printed plastic components. These include plastic housings or spare parts from the SLS 3D printer, for example.

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