Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
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What is Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)?
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is an industrial additive manufacturing process that fuses together powdered thermoplastic polymers using a high powered laser. The laser selectively sinters the particles of the powder and binds it together to create a solid structure, layer by layer. SLS offers fantastic part throughput with its unique ability to nest thousands of parts within the boundaries of the machine without the need for support structures. This allows it to be used not only for rapid prototyping, but also for high volume manufacturing of end-use parts. SLS offers 5 high performance 3D printed materials that offer durability, electric static dissipation, temperature resistance, USP Class VI Biocompatibility, and/or Flame, Smoke Toxicity (FST) UL-94 ratings.
Manufacturing using Selective Laser Sintering 3D printing services is ideal for producing parts that look, feel and perform like end-use parts. They offer a uniform matte finish with little to no visible layer lines. Functionally they perform exceptionally well in demanding applications, offering consistent mechanical properties, abrasion resistance and excellent impact resistance. This makes SLS 3D printing a great substitute for injection molding or functional rapid prototyping at low to mid sized production volumes.
26" x 22"
Max X/Y Build Volume
± 0.25
MM Part Tolerances
5
High Performance Materials
2-5 Day
Average Lead Time
Engineering Materials| Selective Laser Sintering
White PA12
Black PA12
ESD
Glass Filled
TPU
Nylon PA12
Durable Polymer for Prototyping & Production
Nylon PA12 (PA 2200) is a highly functional polyamide material that provides a consistent surface finish, excellent resolution and feature detail. PA 2200 is ideal for both functional prototyping as well as end use applications that require complex thin wall parts, chemical resistance, snap fits and/or low vibration resistance. PA 2200 is biocompatbile according to EN ISO 10993-1 and USP/Level VI/121 °C
MEASUREMENT | VALUE | STANDARD |
Tensile Strength, Yield | 50 MPa | ISO 527 |
Tensile Modulus | 1,700 MPa | ISO 527 |
Elongation at Break | 24 % | ASTM D638 |
Izod Impact Strength | 32 kJ/m² | ISO 180 |
Heat Deflection Temperature | 154°C @ 0.65 MPa | ASTM D648 |
Black Nylon PA12
Durable Black Parts for Prototyping & Production
Black PA12 is a highly functional polyamide material impregnated with black dye to offer a uniform matte black surface finish, along with excellent resolution and feature detail. Black Nylon PA 12 is ideal for both functional prototyping as well as end use applications that require complex thin wall parts, chemical resistance, snap fits and/or low vibration resistance in a black finish.
MEASUREMENT | VALUE | STANDARD |
Tensile Strength, Yield | 50 MPa | ISO 527 |
Tensile Modulus | 1,700 MPa | ISO 527 |
Elongation at Break | 24 % | ASTM D638 |
Izod Impact Strength | 32 kJ/m² | ISO 180 |
Heat Deflection Temperature | 154°C @ 0.65 MPa | ASTM D648 |
Nylon ESD
Electrostatic Dissipative Nylon 12
Nylon ESD is a functional Nylon12 polyamide impregnated with a permanent electrostatic dissipative coating to minimize the risk of electrostatic charge. The material is coated with a 844AR Aerosol by MG chemicals which is cured at room temperate and will not crack peel or chip during typical use.
MEASUREMENT | VALUE | STANDARD |
Tensile Strength, Yield | 50 MPa | ISO 527 |
Tensile Modulus | 1,700 MPa | ISO 527 |
Elongation at Break | 24 % | ASTM D638 |
Izod Impact Strength | 32 kJ/m² | ISO 180 |
Heat Deflection Temperature | 120°C @ 0.65 MPa | ASTM D648 |
Nylon Glass Filled
High Rigidity Glass Filled Nylon
Nylon GF is a glass filled polyamide material ideal for creating exceptionally stiff & hard parts for both prototyping and functional end-use applications. Glass Filled Nylon is best for applications that require high heat resistance and dimensional stability. The unique glass filled infill helps prevent warping and breaking making it a great material for creating large functional parts.
MEASUREMENT | VALUE | STANDARD |
Tensile Strength, Yield | 51 MPa | ISO 527 |
Tensile Modulus | 3,200 MPa | ISO 527 |
Elongation at Break | 9% | ISO 527 |
Izod Impact Strength | 35 kJ/m² | ISO 179 |
Heat Deflection Temperature | 179°C @ 0.45 MPa | ISO 75 |
TPU 88A
Flexible & Resilient Thermoplastic Polyurethane
TPU 88A is a strong, flexible, and durable properties, combined with its excellent surface quality and level of detail, make it a versatile material for various applications. Its stable white color facilitates easy finishing processes, and its suitability for sports protection equipment, footwear, orthopaedic models, car interior components, and industrial tools highlights its adaptability across different industries.
MEASUREMENT | VALUE | STANDARD |
Tensile Strength, Yield | 20 MPa | ISO 527 |
Flextural Modulus | 72 MPa | ISO 527 |
Elongation at Break | 520% | ISO 527 |
Compression Strength | 40 MPa | ISO 604 |
Heat Deflection Temperature | 90°C @ 0.45 MPa | ISO 75 |
Material Surface Finishes | Selective Laser Sintering
Support structures removed and part is media blasted to offer a uniform finish
Support structures removed and part is deep colour dyed black
Design Guidelines | Selective Laser Sintering
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is a 3D printing process that uses a high-powered laser to selectively fuse powdered materials into a solid object. The laser melts the powder at the desired points, layer by layer, until the object is complete. SLS is known for its ability to produce complex and durable parts with a high degree of accuracy. This design guidelines covers specific design parameters, which will need to be followed to prevent part failures from occurring which may delay orders. We have set minimum allowed tolerances to ensure your parts are built successfully and perform to the the highest standards of the technology.
Maximum Build Volume
700mm x 380mm x 580mm (28” x 15” x 23”)Our SLS machines by EOS have a building volume of: 700 mm x 380 mm x 580 mm (28 x 15 x 23 in.), a standard layer thickness of 100 um, and a laser diameter of 0.4mm with a laser offset of 0.25mm. SLS offers excellent part accuracy and repeatability with most parts being within +/- 0.25mm. Tighter tolerances are achievable upon request.
Tolerances
Layer Height
60 - 100 MicronsThe layer height is the overall Z resolution of the part; we avoid stepping artifacts on important features of your models by orienting the part(s) along the Z plane or at a 20 degree angle on all sides. Unless otherwise specified, all SLS parts are printed at a 100 micron layer height.
Surface Finish
Uniform, MatteOptimizing your designs for Selective Laser Sintering will help keep manufacturing costs down. Price is primarily based upon the X, Y, & Z extents of your part. Small, dense parts are priced the most competitively in this technology. Wall thickness has less of effect on the cost of manufacturing your part than the overall size of it.
Why Use Selective Laser Sintering?
Selective Laser Sintering is capable of producing parts with high geometric complexity, including internal features and complex shapes, which would be challenging to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods. This makes it suitable for lightweight structures, custom medical implants, and other intricate designs. The batch production capability of SLS allows multiple parts to be produced simultaneously, making it suitable for small-scale manufacturing and rapid prototyping. It can also be easily scaled up for larger production volumes.
SLS-produced parts closely mimic the mechanical properties of the final product, making them suitable for functional prototyping. This enables designers and engineers to test the form, fit, and function of a part before committing to mass production. The material properties of SLS-produced parts, including mechanical strength, durability, and heat resistance, are exceptional. The resulting parts exhibit excellent isotropic properties, meaning they have consistent material characteristics in all directions.
Aerospace
Automotive
Healthcare
Film & TV
Design
Architecture
Case Studies | Selective Laser Sintering
COVID relief efforts supported by Forge Lab's 3D Printing services. See the technologies & materials we offer for medical-end use applications.
How Forge Labs used a combination of 3D scanning & SLS 3D printing to reconstruct a 12,500 year old fossilized skeleton of bison occidentalis.
A comprehensive guide to the 3D Printing Automotive Industry on the East Coast. How 3D printing has become an integral part of the factory of tomorrow
