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What is Selective Laser Sintering?
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is an industrial 3D printing process ideal for manufacturing end-use parts.
In SLS, a laser selectively sinters polymer powder particles, fusing them together and building a part layer-by-layer.
SLS produces functional plastic parts with isotropic mechanical properties that can be used for detailed prototyping or end-use low-volume production.
Our SLS 3D printing service
From prototyping to small-batch production, our global network of certified SLS 3D printing facilities will allow you to produce highly accurate parts with quality and strength comparable to injection molding.
Upload your CAD file for a free quote and manufacturability review and get your parts into production in less than 5 minutes.
| Standard capabilities | Description |
|---|---|
| Maximum build size * | 420 x 500 x 420 mm (11.8” x 11.8” x 11.8”) |
| Lead time * | 33 business days |
| Dimensional accuracy | ± 0.3% with a lower limit of ± 0.3 mm (± 0.012”) |
| Layer thickness | 100 μm |
* For expedited lead times or parts that exceed the maximum build size contact sales@hubs.com.
Upload your parts to get a free quote
Available materials for SLS 3D Printing
SLS produces parts from a very wide range of engineering thermoplastics. Here is a list of the SLS materials available on Hubs.
| Material | Description |
|---|---|
| Nylon 12 (PA 12) | SLS nylon is a robust thermoplastic with all-around excellent physical properties, ideal for functional prototypes and end-use applications. |
| Glass-filled Nylon (PA 12 GF) | Glass-filled SLS nylon is reinforced with glass beads creating parts with higher stiffness and thermal stability than standard nylon. |
Available surface finishes for SLS 3D printing
Additional post processes can be applied to improve the appearance or mechanical properties of parts produced with SLS. Learn more about the post-processing option for SLS in our Knowledge Base article.
| Finish | Description | |
|---|---|---|
 |
As printed | As printed SLS parts are typically white or stone grey in color with a smooth surface and a powder texture and without visible layers. |
 |
Tumble smoothing * | The parts are placed in a tumbler that contains small ceramic chips, gradually eroding its surface down to a polished injection molding-like finish. |
* These finishes are available by contacting sales@hubs.com.
Get your 3D printed parts shipped in 4 business days
Ideal SLS applications
Our in-house manufacturing experts recommend using SLS for the following use cases.
Functional prototyping
SLS is ideal for fabricating functional prototypes from durable, chemically resistant engineering thermoplastics.
Requirements
Strength: Medium/High
Appearance: Smooth surface
Quantity: 1-5 parts
Low-volume production
SLS is cost-competitive to injection molding for low-volume manufacturing of end-use plastics parts for quantities up to 300 units.
Requirements
Strength: Medium/High
Appearance: Injection molding-like
Quantity: 10-300 parts
High-performance components
SLS can produce optimized parts from advanced polymer composites that can be used as replacements to metal components.
Requirements
Strength: High
Appearance: Smooth surface
Quantity: 1-50 parts
Design guidelines for SLS
The table below summarizes the recommended and technically feasible values for the most common features encountered in 3D printed parts.
| Feature | Recommended size |
|---|---|
| Unsupported walls | 1.0 mm (0.040'') |
| Supported walls | 0.8 mm (0.031'') |
| Minimum detail size | 0.8 mm (0.031'') |
| Minimum hole size | 1.0 mm (0.040'') |
| Moving parts | 0.5 mm (0.020'') between moving surfaces |
| Assembly clearance | 0.4 mm (0.016'') between mating surfaces |
| Maximum wall thickness | 20 mm (0.8''). Thicker parts must be hollowed with and at least two escape holes for powder removal with a min. diameter of 8 mm (0.3''). |
Learn how to design for SLS in our Knowledge Base article.
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