Selective Laser Sintering

Posted March 27, 2017

Another option for rapid prototyping is SLS, or Selective Laser Sintering. In SLS, prototypes are made by fusing (or “sintering”) powdered materials together with an infrared laser.

SLS produces a less smooth finish on a prototype than SLA does (which uses liquid resin instead of powder), but it is very durable. Because it is so durable, it is often easier to machine prototypes created using SLS than those created using SLA. Selective Laser Sintering can also be used with a wider variety of materials than SLA, including glass and some metals – anything from a flexible plastic to a food-grade ceramic. During the printing process, no additional supports are required to hold the object up, so SLS is one of the faster methods of 3D printing.

Aaron Moncur