What is the role of powder layer in SLS?

The unfused powder supports the part during printing and eliminates the need for dedicated support structures. The platform then lowers by one layer into the build chamber, typically between 50 to 200 microns, and the process repeats for each layer until parts are complete.

What are the materials used in SLS system?

Commercially-available materials used in SLS come in powder form and include, but are not limited to, polymers such as polyamides (PA), polystyrenes (PS), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), and polyaryletherketones (PAEK).

What kind of 3D printing uses powder?

Selective laser sintering is an additive manufacturing (AM) technology that uses a high power laser to sinter small particles of polymer powder into a solid structure based on a 3D model. SLS 3D printing has been a popular choice for engineers and manufacturers for decades.

What is SLS 3D printing used for?

SLS 3D Printing is used for both prototyping of functional polymer components and for small production runs, as it offers a very high design freedom, high accuracy and produces parts with good and consistent mechanical properties, unlike FDM or SLA.

Who invented SLS?

Carl R. Deckard
Selective laser sintering/Inventors

How strong is SLS?

On the flip side, sintered nylon is surprisingly tough and holds detailed features well. Sintratec PA12 parts have a tensile strength of 47.8 MPa and an elastic modulus of 1.75 GPa. This places printed nylon around half as strong as fiberglass and half as rigid as PVC.

What is SLS plastic?

SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) is an additive manufacturing method. It creates parts additively by sintering fine polymer powder particles, to fuse them together locally. Your plastic part will be created layer by layer, according to your 3D model.

How does powder printing work?

Unlike FDM printing, which prints with filament, powder 3D printing uses powder as the primary print material. The liquid binds powder particles together to form each layer of the desired object. A fresh coat of powder is then added, and the process repeats layer by layer.