440-248-3025 GET A QUOTE Services Materials Industries Resources About Contact Us Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) The SLS printing process that builds tough and durable prototype and production parts from thermoplastic material. SLS Technology Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is the 3D printing process of creating 3D objects with an expensive laser and plastic powders. SLS is very similar to the SLA process in that it uses a laser to make a 3D object except that it uses powder material instead of liquid material. Also, similar to HP MJF, SLS can build a whole chamber of parts at the same time without supports. 3D printed parts in SLS primarily use nylon materials like PA11, PA12 and glass-filled nylon materials. Because of the expensive lasers and the powdered materials, SLS printers are primarily used in industrial companies and service bureaus. Of all the 3D printing processes, SLS has been the most used one for production printed components for the last 20 years. SLS 3D Printing Process SLS works by creating a 3D model of a component from a 3D CAD file using a high-powered laser to sinter, or cure, tiny particles of powder (typically nylon) together layer by layer. After each layer is sintered, the bed of material is lowered and the next layer is started. Unlike other 3D processes, parts can be nested together for builds, without the need for supports as the powder acts as the support. After the print is finished, parts are cooled then moved to a breakout station for powder removal. SLS Advantages Tough and durable parts Thermoplastic materials (Nylon, GF Nylon) Economy of scale prints Print working assemblies Heat resistant UL94 rated Biocompatible SLS Best Uses Material testing End-use production parts Durable housings Snap Fits Living Hinges Not sure which additive process is best for your application? At The Technology House (TTH), we have the processes (e.g., Carbon DLS, stereolithography (SLA), PolyJet, fused deposition modeling (FDM), HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF)), and materials (metals, plastics/composites) to produce parts with custom finishes that are closer to production-ready. Ready to Get Started? From design to prototype and production, our team of engineers is ready to help bring your idea to life. GET A QUOTE SLS Materials SLS most common materials are Nylon PA12 and Glass-Filled Nylon. While these materials cover most project needs, there are other materials available too, just ask your project manager and they will help match the right material for your project. Nylon PA12 Nylon GF (Glass Filled) Learn more about the available SLS materials. SLS Printing Equipment There are many different laser sintering machines available, but most are supplied from equipment manufacturers 3D Systems and EOS, which have been in the industry for a very long time. SLS printers have different build volumes depending on the type of material required. Large platforms of 19” x 19” x 17” (480mm x 480mm x 430mm) can build parts in Nylon PA12 materials while the smaller platforms of 10.6” x 12.6” x 16” (270mm x 320mm x 410mm) can build the more specialized materials of glass-filled nylon, TPU and PA11. These are great printers for building large parts or loading up lots of smaller parts. SLS Design & Build Guidelines Each 3D printing technology is a little different, here are standard guidelines to consider when choosing SLS as your 3D printing process: Build Layers = 0.004” Minimum Wall Thickness & Feature Size = 0.030” Standard Finish = Level 2 Bead Blast Finish (see more available custom finishes) Standard Lead Time = 3-5 days Tolerances = +/- 0.005” for first inch then +/- 0.002” per inch thereafter Inserts = Install in post-processing with adhesives Holes = Drill, ream and tap What Our Partners Are Saying Most of my 30 year career has been spent finding vendors that meet my Cost, Service, and Quality requirements. The number of suppliers that can meet those criteria for a sustainable period of time are few. TTH is one of those companies. The management team at TTH is always willing to work with us to improve efficiency and offer solutions that exceed our expectations. If you are looking for a partner, not just a supplier, the team at TTH will not disappoint. - Tom C., NPI Materials Leader I have partnered closely with TTH for over a year, and working with them has been a wonderful experience. Their entire team is always pleasant to work with, their project managers are incredibly knowledgeable, and their attention to quality and timeliness is best in class. I simply cannot recommend them highly enough for any project big or small. - Jordan G., Additive Manufacturing Professional Design Without Restriction See how we partnered with Vitamix and Carbon to redefine what’s possible. We took a legacy, six-piece, injection-molded part design and turned it into a new, one-piece, 3D-printed part. We'd Love to Hear from You Our experts have a proven history of providing innovative solutions at every stage of product development—from product design through production. LET'S COLLABORATE Get Your Product to Market Our integrated approach to design, prototyping, and production allows you to bring your concept to market faster and more cost-effectively than virtually anyone else. Bring Your Idea to Life First Name* Last Name* Company* Email* Phone Number Process/Technology Material Quantity Per Part Finish Quality Additional Project Information Project Files Headquarters 10036 Aurora-Hudson Road Streetsboro, OH 44241 (440) 248-3025 (440) 248-3882 info@tth.com Machining Facility 30555 Solon Industrial Parkway Solon, OH 44139 Certifications & Awards © 2021 The Technology House | Website by SyncShow | Privacy Policy