Laser Sintering Machines
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3D printing is a rapidly evolving field penetrating various industries and applications, such as automotive, aerospace, medical, semiconductors, military. 3D printing is based on different technologies, some of which use a laser. One of such technologies is normally called powder bed fusion which is used for 3D printing polymer materials or metals. Selective laser sintering or SLS is typically used for printing polymers while direct metal laser sintering or DMLS is used for printing metals. Laser sintering machines may be based upon one of these technologies, a combination of the two, or laser selective laser melting (SLM). Without going into the intricacies of each of these techniques, suffices to say that all of them find usage in a wide range of industries and applications. Nowadays, one can find a 3D laser printing machine in more and more academic and corporate industrial settings for rapid prototyping, low or high volume manufacturing of components made of polymers or metals. If you want to learn more about the technological differences and challenges associated with 3D printing using laser sintering machines, follow the links below.
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Frequently Asked Questions
SLS stands for selective laser sintering. SLS is one of the power bed fusion technologies. It is based on a powder 3D printing technique which uses a laser to fuse material layers into a final piece. The laser traces the pattern of each cross section of a 3D design onto a bed of powder. SLS is used in laser sintering machines for 3D printing of polymer materials. After the first layer is built, the build system lowers and another layer gets built on top of the previous one. This process continues until every layer is built and the part is completed.
Today, a growing number of polymers are supported by SLS machines as the demand for accurate and high-resolution 3D printing grows.
Indeed, SLS is the technology of choice for a wide range of applications involving snap fits, living hinges and other mechanical joints. The material range and platform sizes available for SLS also make it a great option for the direct production of products requiring strength and heat resistance. Laser sintering machines based on SLS provide good balance between high accuracy, resolution of and the build speed.
Laser sintering machines may be based upon selective laser sintering, or SLS, direct metal laser sintering, or DMLS. The latter is also known as SLM, or selective laser melting. While SLS is widely used for printing polymers, DMLS is the technology of choice for 3D printing metals.
SLS atomically fuses powdered industrial materials together using a high-power laser, without liquifying the materials. In contrast, SLM fuses powdered materials together by heating them, with the help of laser, until they reach the melting point.
What is better or worse depends on your application needs. Selective laser sintering, or SLS, and direct metal laser sintering, or DMLS, are the prevailing technologies in today's 3D laser printers. These methods are very competitive with the more standard 3D printing technologies which don't utilize lasers. Laser sintering machines offer accurate and fast 3D printing of high-quality products for rapid prototyping and more. With the introduction of compact and low cost laser sintering machines, customers now have more options for selecting the machine based upon their printing dimensions, throughput, accuracy and cost.
Benchtop SLS systems are typically good for printing volumes not exceeding 200mm x 200mm x 300mm or so. Industrial systems, on the other hand, can be used for printing volumes around or exceeding 600mm x 600mm x 800mm. Additionally, the throughput of the industrial laser sintering machines is higher than that of benchtop models. The main disadvantage of the industrial systems is the higher cost and the larger footprint. So, based upon your budgetary constraints, available space, and technical requirements, you can choose which model fits your application.