Rapid Selective Laser Sintering Service

| AS9100D | ISO9001 | ISO14001 | IATF 16949

Rapid Prototype SLS 3D Printed Part Moxperts-min

About Selective Laser Sintering

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is a powder-based 3D printing process that uses a laser device to fuse powder materials of plastic, glass, ceramic, and a range of different material powders by heating, rather than melting, to print a hardened three-dimensional object. The laser traces the pattern of each cross-section of a 3D design onto a bed of powder. After one layer is built, the build platform lowers, and another layer is built on top of the previous layer. This process continues until every layer is built and the part is complete.

It was one of the first additive manufacturing (AM) techniques developed in the mid-1980s. All selective laser sintering 3D printers are built around similar processes. The main differentiators are the type of laser, the size of the build volume, and the complexity of the system. Different machines use different solutions for temperature control, powder dispensing, and layer deposition.

Advantages of Selective Laser Sintering

SLS 3D printing has been a popular choice for engineers and manufacturers for decades. Low cost per part, high productivity, and established materials make the technology ideal for a range of applications from rapid prototyping to small-batch, bridge, or custom manufacturing.

It is used to print any complex designs, functional parts, living hinges, and interlocking parts. It is popularly used for creating rapid prototypes and for final production. Industries that need high-quality parts in a small quantity, such as aeroplane parts, hearing aids, prosthetics, and dental retainers, usually prefer this process.

  • It is very good for prototypes that require strength.
  • It consists of the functional plastic part, which contains mechanical properties and is used in prototyping or low volume production.
  • It is a self-supporting additive manufacturing technology. Because the product lies in a bed of powder as it builds, no supplementary support structures are required, making SLS capable of producing geometries that no other technology can.

Design Freedom

It does not require support structures because unsintered powder surrounds the parts during printing. SLS printing can produce previously impossible complex geometries, such as interlocking or moving parts, parts with interior components or channels, and other highly complex designs.

High Productivity

SLS printing is the fastest additive manufacturing technology for functional, durable prototypes and end-use parts. The lasers that fuse the powder have a much faster scanning speed and are more accurate than the layer deposition methods used in other processes.

Proven, End-Use Materials

The key to SLS 3D printing’s functionality and versatility is the materials. Nylon and its composites are proven high-quality thermoplastics. Laser-sintered nylon parts have close to 100% density with mechanical properties comparable to parts created with conventional manufacturing methods like injection molding.

Material options

Moxperts offer a wide variety of certified alloys for rapid selective laser sintering services. If the material is not listed, feel free to contact us for a customized solution.

The most common material for SLS is Polyamide 12 (PA 12), also known as Nylon 12, a highly capable engineering thermoplastic for both functional prototyping and end-use production. Nylon is ideal for complex assemblies and durable parts with high environmental stability.

Polyamide powder can be filled with various additives (such as carbon fibers, glass fibers or aluminum) to improve the mechanical and thermal behavior of the produced SLS part. Materials filled with additives are usually more brittle and can have highly anisotropic behavior.

  • Polyamide 12 (PA 12)

  • Polyamide 11 (PA 11)

  • TPU-88A

  • Aluminium-filled nylon (Alumide)

  • Glass-filled nylon (PA-GF)

  • Carbon-fiber filled nylon (PA-FR)

Prototype
Finishing Services

Moxperts team wants to offer you a prototype that will look like the final product. Talk to one of our project managers to get your project started.

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