Selective Laser Sintering

Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a generative process in which thin layers are connected to create a finished product. SLS is similar to stereolithography, however SLS uses polyamide powder as a medium instead of the liquid photopolymers used in stereolithography. Selective laser sintering can be used to create any three dimensional object efficiently and flexibly without having to resort to tools or having to program paths for the milling machines.

In the selective laser sintering process a powder forms the basic raw material for the later model. The powder is melted and connected locally by a laser that sketches out a cross section obtained from the converted CAD or STL data. After a cross section has been formed it is lowered by the thickness of the cross section (0.15mm) and coated with new powder. Then the laser traces out the next cross section, which adheres to the one below it and thus allows the process to repeat itself until a finished model is created.

Due to the granularity of the powder the surfaces produced are rough. SLS prototypes are stronger and less affected by temperature changes than SLA