Watch our video on SLS 3D Printing:
Xometry offers Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) to make durable, chemical resistant, and accurate models. SLS works by fusing nylon via a laser, layer by layer, in a powder bed. SLS can produce parts with high complexity and excels at building everything from electromechanical housings to organic shapes. The surface finish is matte, like a sugar cube, but can be finished with media tumbling.
Here are the basic tolerances:
- +/- 0.010” for the first inch is typical, plus +/- 0.002” for every inch thereafter. Build area up to 13 x 13 x 20" (13" max dimension preferred)
- Note that thicker geometries, large broad parts, and parts with uneven wall thicknesses may deviate due to thermal shrinkage and stress. This can look like warping or twisting. Even wall thicknesses and similar design guidelines as injection molded parts are encouraged. Very small gaps and holes may be tighter than designed, a 0.006" offset of small gaps and holes will help these features achieve closer to CAD results. SLS prints in 0.0047" (120 um) layers.
Other great options for SLS prints is dyeing colors, which penetrate about 0.25mm into the surface, nickel plating for strength, or adding threaded inserts.
To learn more about SLS, check out Xometry's SLS Design Guide.
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