Selective Laser Sintering is a layer additive production process that creates three dimensional objects using a CO2 laser to melt, or sinter, and fuse selective powder molecules based on information supplied by a computer aided design (CAD) file.
The powder material that is fused during the selective laser sintering (SLS) process is commonly called thermoplastic material or, in some cases, thermoplastic binders for use in metals. The selective laser sintering (SLS) technology allows for these materials to be fused together in tiny layers ranging between .003" and .006". This allows selective laser
sintering (SLS) to create parts with accurate details and tolerances comparable to stereolithography (SLA).
However, selective laser sintering (SLS) has an added benefit in that the strength and durability of the parts it creates is much better. Additionally, the selective laser sintering (SLS) process makes parts that have longer stability than stereolithography (SLA) and selective laser sintering (SLS) parts won't lose their shape or post cure over time.
There are a variety of different types of materials available for use in the selective laser sintering (SLS) process. The most beneficial characteristic of selective laser sintering (SLS) is how durable and functional the materials are.
These durable and functional selective laser sintering (SLS) materials include DuraForm and DuraForm glass-filled (GF) which are nylon based materials that create plastic prototypes. Other selective laser sintering (SLS) materials are CastForm used for investment casting patterns, selective laser sintering (SLS) Flex for elastomeric, rubber-like parts, and selective laser sintering (SLS) LaserForm which makes metal prototypes.
Each of these materials requires little to no post build processing to be ready to use which cuts out several steps in post processing of selective laser sintering (SLS) parts as compared to stereolithography (SLA). However, all of the selective laser sintering (SLS) materials can be finished in multiple ways to meet the desire or needs of selective laser
sintering (SLS) users.
Among other types of post processing, selective laser sintering (SLS) parts can be sanded, painted, plated, tapped, or even machined. This allows for a higher grade of smoothness and appearance to selective laser sintering (SLS) parts and assemblies and also gives users an unlimited number of ways to use selective laser sintering (SLS) parts.
Selective Laser Sintering Standard Tolerances: +/- 0.005" for the first inch, +/- 0.002” on every inch thereafter.
The article comes from China injection mold manufacturer - Mold Best Assurance Company Limited, website is www.mbamoldanddesign.com
