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Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a powerful 3D printing technology that produces highly accurate and durable parts that are capable of being used directly in end-use, low-volume production, or for rapid prototyping. SLS is one of the most inexpensive options for industrial 3D printing services because it can build parts in bulk without support structure requirements.
An additive manufacturing layer technology, selective laser sintering involves the use of a high-power laser (for example, a carbon dioxide laser) to fuse small particles of plastic powders into a mass that has a desired three-dimensional shape. The laser selectively fuses powdered material by scanning cross-sections generated from a 3-D digital description of the part (for example from a CAD file or scan data) on the surface of a powder bed. After each cross-section is scanned, the powder bed is lowered by one layer thickness, a new layer of material is applied on top, and the selective laser sintering process is repeated until the part is completed.
| Material Name | Other Common Names | Shore Hardness | Elongation at Break (%) | Impact Strength, Notched (kJ/m²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nylon 12 | Durable plastic, PA12, PA 2200 | 75D | 18% | 4.8 kJ/m² |
| Nylon 12, Glass-filled (GF) | Stiff plastic, PA12 GF, PA 3200 GF | 80D | 9% | 4.2 kJ/m² |
| Nylon 11 EX | Ductile plastic, PA11, Rilsan® Invent Natural | 77D | 45% | No break |
| Nylon 12 CF | High-performance plastic, carbon-filled PA12, PA 603-CF, carbonmide | N/A | 4% | 5.3 kJ/m² |
| Nylon 12 AF | Metallic gray plastic, aluminum-filled PA12, alumide | 76D | 3% | 4.6 kJ/m² |
| Nylon 12 HST | Heat-resistant plastic, mineral fiber-reinforced PA12, PA 620-MF | 75D | 3-5% | N/A |
More SLS materials are available upon request. Review more information about our materials here.
SLS parts are de-powdered with a sandblasting process and manual powder removal. Internal holes may be drilled to size if accessible. The finish is white matte (fine sugar-cube).
Color options of dye black, blue, green, red, or yellow. Batch to batch consistency may vary slightly with black being the most consistent. Dye penetrates ~0.010" deep.
Standard finish with the addition of abrasive media tumbling. These parts will have reduced grow lines and sharp edges may be softened by the tumbling process. The parts are left with an eggshell finish.
Our most popular finish with a good blend of smoother satin finish and black color.
Standard finish with a secondary copper + nickel plating processes adding 0.004"-0.006" nickel coating. Nickel plating adds durability, stiffness, and wear resistance but is not considered cosmetic. Finish is rough nickel.
Xometry provides additional SLS finishing and customization options upon request.
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The speed and versatility of SLS lets product developers create physical snapshots of their designs through the iterative process.
SLS can be used to create fully-functional prototypes, complete with moving parts, as well as all-in-one assemblies.
The high accuracy and consistency of SLS makes it an ideal way to build large quantities of discrete or customized parts.
Nylon is a durable material with great impact strength, medium flexibility, and high resistance to environmental factors.
Parts can typically be shipped in 3-4 days, allowing for faster design iterations and speed to market.
SLS is capable of producing end-use parts on-demand, increasing throughput.
Geometries can be built more easily due to the 3D printing process, adding complexity without additional cost.
SLS can make a single part or component as easily as dozens of production pieces.
We use the latest generation of SLS technologies to meet tolerances of +/- 0.005” or +/- 0.002” per inch, whichever is greater. Please see our Manufacturing Standards for more details.
| Description | Tolerance Notes |
|---|---|
| General Tolerances | +/- 0.005” for the first inch is typical, plus +/- 0.002” for every inch thereafter. |
| Build Area | Build area up to 13" x 13" x 20". Glass filled can extend up to 26" x 15" x 23". |
| Minimum Feature Size | 0.030" or greater. |
| Standard Layer Thickness | 0.0045" |
This table depicts the general tolerances for Selective Laser Sintering. Stresses during the build and other geometry considerations may cause deviation in tolerances and flatness. Part designs with thicker geometries, flat or broad parts, and parts with uneven wall thicknesses may be prone to significant deviations or warp. Improved tolerances may be possible with a manual quote review, after successful completion of a prototype build, and must be approved on a case-by-case basis. Please check out Xometry's Manufacturing Standards for more information on tolerances per process.
The Basics Of Selective Laser Sintering
Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a powder bed 3D printing technology that produces highly accurate and durable parts capable of being used directly in end-use, low-volume production. SLS is a newer 3D printing process that is often thought of as a cousin to the popular metal 3D printing technology direct metal laser sintering (DMLS). Both processes work by utilizing a laser to precisely fuse a bed of powder to construct a part from a 3D CAD file. SLS specializes in nylon or polyamide powder particles to create parts, while DMLS uses metal particles, and is extremely common for prototyping and low volume production.
The Benefits Of Working With Xometry For Selective Laser Sintering
Xometry can always help you find the ideal supplier for your specific SLS needs. Our wide network of vetted machine shops contains a wide range of dedicated quick turn SLS partners with a variety of high-quality finishing and material capabilities and many types of sintering systems. Finishing options available include color dyeing, sanding, painting, and plating to meet your needs. From low-volume prototyping to high-volume production, Xometry can always help you source the parts you need on time and at a competitive price, from the U.S. machine shops best suited to the job.
Selective Laser Sintering can be used to make parts using a variety of materials, including plastic, metal, ceramic, or glass powder, making it a popular machining process. Since SLS doesn’t require a support structure like most other 3D printing tech, parts can be made in greater quantities, but with less labor and material expense. Additionally, because the support structure doesn’t need to be removed, there is less risk of damage to the complex internal geometries 3D manufacturing is capable of producing.
SLS can be useful for both rapid prototyping or low volume production of functional end-use parts. Nylon, especially, is a durable material with great impact strength, medium flexibility, and high resistance to environmental factors. SLS nylon material is also FDA approved USP Class VI/121C certified for skin contact. This combination of complexity, design flexibility, material diversity, rapid turnaround, and overall durability makes SLS an increasingly popular choice in many industries.
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