SLS 3D Printing

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is an additive manufacturing technique using laser beam to sinter powder-based engineering grade materials nylon binding them together in order to create a solid 3D model. This versatile technology uses versatile polymers as materials and is widely used for rapid prototyping. Due to the powder which surrounds the part, complex parts can be easily built without the requirement of support material.

The Process:

A thin layer of powered material is coated over the build platform which is pre heated below the melting point of the polymer material used. High power laser is used to fuse powdered particles in order to build a solid part layer by layer. The laser fuses the material together by scanning the entire cross section from the 3D model. After this process, build platform lowers and the object surface is re coated repeating this process until the part is complete.

Benefits of SLS:

• High strength
• Flexible material
• Great for complex parts
• Excellent for prototypes
• Functional prototyping
• Low volume production
• High performance component

SLS is very good for producing prototypes which require strength. Selective laser sintering consists of functional plastic part which contains mechanical properties and used in prototyping or low volume production. SLS printing produces highly accurate parts with strength comparable to injection molding. It finds application in various industries. This technique can produce complex parts with great accuracy.

Materials:

• Polyamide 12 (PA 12): Commonly known as plastic, this material is prepared from polyamide powder. This material has good mechanical properties like strength and stiffness and high chemical resistance due to less moisture absorption. This material offers high accuracy and lower cost. This is a granulated white material when unpolished. It can be further modified by polishing or dyeing process. A relatively faster process and can be used for rapid prototyping or for the production of finished products.
• Polyamide 11 (PA 11): Highly elastic and displays isotropic behavior.
• Aluminium filled nylon (Alumide): This 3d printing material is recommended whenever there is a need for metallic appearance. Alumide is a mixture fine aluminium particles and polyamide powder. The physical properties of alumide are highly similar to polyamide. This material is highly stiff and has a shiny look with a matte surface. This material is very durable and offers a good flexibility also, it is relatively cheaper. Both raw and polished finishing is available for alumide.
• Glass filled nylon (PA-GF): This material is a mixture of polyamide powder and glass fibers with a white slight porous surface. This material is high stiffness and has high temperature resistance combined with good chemical resistance. This material also has excellent strength and also offers higher material consistency. This material can also be used for complex designs. This material is highly used in the automotive industry due to the ability to create complex parts using it and excellent strength. An engineering grade material that can be used for creating parts requiring high stiffness, low abrasion, robust and that will be used under elevated thermal temperatures.
• Carbon fiber filed nylon (PA-FR): This material displays high weight strength ration and excellent stiffness.

(Nylon) SLS Printing Methods