What is Selective Laser Sintering?
One of the many revolutionary types of 3D printing is known as SLS or Selective Laser Sintering. 3D is a comparatively new type of printing method that enables three-dimensional object creation and prototyping. The process of SLS is fast and efficient, yet it is simple. SLS or Selective Laser Sintering creates 3D objects using powder materials and CAD or computer-aided designs. SLS has brought rapid prototyping to a much-advanced stage. Selective Laser Sintering has become extremely popular among the manufacturing industries as a tool to make prototypes of production components.
How It Works or the Process of Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)?
Selective laser sintering uses a variety of powdered materials such as fused particles of metal, glass, plastic or ceramic. Like in other 3D printing processes, the process of SLS also involves following a computer-aided design that specifies how the object will be created layer by layer. The intense laser beam throws the powdered material on to the platform placed under the powder container. The laser draws patterns and cross-section of the prototype layer by layer following the design.
After completing a sheet, the printing platform drops down to 0.1 millimeters and spreads another layer of the powdered material. This process continues until the object is fully grown. Once the purpose is complete, it is separated from the platform. It requires minimal cleaning as the un-sintered or excessive material can easily be brushed away. This process may take a few hours or more.
Selective Laser Sintering Materials to Build Prototypes
There is a wide range of powdered material that can be used in SLS or Selective Laser Sintering. Some of these materials are:
PA 3200 GF:
This material is a combination of glass and nylon and it provides high-temperature resistance and mechanical wear resistance. You can use it where you need high stiffness.
PA 2200:
Provides exceptional durability. It is also a nylon based substance.
PEEk:
This material is based on a high-performance polymer and provides high chemical and temperature resistance.
There are other materials like Alumide, Prime Cast and Prime Part FR and materials for SLS prototype are growing because of the development and research in rapid prototyping techniques. The prototype creation through SLS or Selective Laser Sintering takes very little time, but it depends on the size of the object being created. Because of the availability of sturdy materials to create functional prototypes, SLS is becoming popular in manufacturing industries.
It is one of the best ways to gain some time to improve the design and product quality, is also save the resources from getting wasted. Conventional prototyping takes weeks or even months, depending on the product and the methods used to make it. Rapid prototyping is a method to make these prototypes much quicker and cost-efficiently. Moreover, this process is capable of producing parts with the least internal cavity and complex geometries.
It is possible to see the real product in its early stage of the process of bringing a new product to the market. Through the internet, you can find the best 3d printing company, who are experts in prototyping. They have all the latest technologies and tools to create the best samples for their clients, which helps them to save many essential resources and protects the wastage of money.