Selective Laser Sintering – The Materials

At LPE we are committed to offering you the widest range of part functionality through the ongoing development of our materials range. A cost effective additive manufacturing technology Selective Laser Sintering offers exceptional functionality, and has proven popular as a tool for the low volume production of jigs, fixtures and electronic enclosures.

PA2200 Colour:          White Simulates:   Nylon Properties:  Flexible, Snap Fits/Living Hinges PA2200 produces tough, functional prototype models suitable suitable for the production of living hinges and snap fits. Selective Laser Sintering can also be water sealed for use in fluid handling applications. View the PA220 datasheet.

PA3200 GF Colour:          Off White Simulates:   Glass Filled Nylon Properties:  High temperature, Rigid A glass reinforced Selective Laser Sintering material, PA3200 GF is suitable for the production of rigid component requiring thermal resistance. View the PA3200 GF datasheet.

PrimeCast Colour:          Grey Simulates:   Polystyrene based material Properties:  Low ash residue A polystyrene based material PrimeCast has been formulated especially for the production of patterns for investment casting burnout. View the Primecast datasheet.

Alumide Colour:          Metallic Simulates:   Aluminium filled nylon Properties:  Metallic appearance A aluminium filled Selective Laser Sintering material producing models with a metallic appearance, Alumide is an exceptionally tough Selective Laser Sintering material. View the Alumide datasheet.

PrimePart FR Colour:          White Simulates:   Flame Retardant Nylon Properties:  High Temperature, Flame Retardant Suitable for electronic housings and popular within the Aerospace industry PrimePart FR passes 12s burning testing at wall thickness 1.5 and 2mm View the PrimePartFR datasheet.

http://www.laserproto.com/services/selective-laser-sintering/selective-laser-sintering-materials-used

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), SLS Prototype

The use of selective laser sintering prototyping (commonly called SLS prototyping or 3D SLS prototyping) is ideal for product prototypes that require exceptional strength, or must closely approximate the properties of thermoplastics. ProtoCAM is a premier selective laser sintering bureau, specializing in the creation of SLS prototypes through the use nylon, metals and elastomers. Our advanced selective laser sintering and SLS equipment allows for the rapid product prototype creation, in complex shapes and forms. Why selective laser sintering (SLS) prototypes? In selective laser sintering (SLS), three-dimensional parts are created by fusing (“sintering”) powdered thermoplastic materials with the heat from an infrared laser beam. Thin powder layers are repeatedly laser sintered, creating the desired 3D piece based on a 3D CAD model. Selective laser sintering is an additive manufacturing sequence process, as parts gradually increase in size until they reach prescribed dimensions. SLS or SLA? There are several key differences between prototypes created using selective laser sintering (SLS) and prototypes created with stereolithography (SLA). These include: Prototype strength: SLS prototypes are generally stronger and more durable than SLA prototypes. Material properties: Selective laser sintering allows product prototypes to be created with material properties similar to those of injection molded prototypes. Surface finish: SLS prototypes have a powdery finish, unlike stereolithography/SLA prototypes, which are smoother. Machining properties: It is easier to machine prototypes created using selective laser sintering than those created using stereolithography or SLA. Metal product prototypes: ProtoCAM has the ability to use selective laser sintering to create metal prototype parts. This is accomplished by using metallic powder in the laser sintering process. Material choice: Selective laser sintering/SLS allows for product prototypes in many different thermoplastic or metal materials. With two decades of experience in the rapid prototyping industry, ProtoCAM specializes in helping customers select the best material for their prototype. Post-completion processing: There is typically very little (if any) processing required after the selective laser sintering process is completed. SLS Materials SLS Equipment Tech Specs Get a Quote ProtoCAM offers clients many choices for selective laser sintering/SLS prototypes. Several popular SLS material choices include: DuraForm Best for functional plastic parts. Download datasheet (PDF) DuraForm GF Best for glass-filled functional plastic parts. Download datasheet (PDF) Somos 201 Best for durable elastomer parts. Download datasheet (PDF) LaserForm A6 Best for metal prototypes and tooling. Download datasheet (PDF) CastForm PS Best for casting patterns. Download datasheet (PDF)

http://www.protocam.com/html/sls.html

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)

DTM Corporation introduced Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) to the commercial world in 1992.  SLS uses a laser to sinter powder based materials together, layer-by-layer, to form a solid model. The system consists of a laser, part chamber, and control system. The part chamber consists of a build platform, powder cartridge, and leveling roller.

A thin layer of build material is spread across the platform where the laser traces a two-dimensional cross section of the part sintering the material together. The platform then descends a layer thickness and the leveling roller pushes material from the powder cartridge across the build platform, where the next cross section is sintered to the previous. This continues until the part is completed.

Once the model is complete, it is removed from the part chamber and finished by removing any loose material and smoothing the visible surfaces

Materials
NECO Inc. is capable of providing a variety of materials, each having a unique set of properties to fulfill a wide range of applications. The materials offered by NECO Inc. currently include Duraform, DuraformGF, and Somos 201.

Duraform
This material is a hard plastic that provides fine detail, good strength, durability and flexibility while being resistant to solvents, chemicals and fuels. It is ideal for form, fit, and function testing especially on parts with snap fits and living hinges, as well as for other visual aids and as patterns for tooling. In its finished form it is white in color with standard tolerances of ± 0.005″ on small features and +/-0.3% overall. Duraform is also capable of high temperatures with a heat deflection temperature around 350ºF@66psi.

DuraformGF
This material is a hard plastic that provides good detail, strength, durability, and detail while being resistant to solvents, chemicals, and fuels. It is ideal for form, fit, and function testing. It is also good for other visual aids and as patterns for tooling. In its finished form it is Grey in color with standard tolerances are ± 0.005″ on most parts and features. DuraformGF is also capable of high temperatures with a heat deflection temperature around 340ºF.

Somos 201
This material is a rubber like elastomeric polymer that is comparable to a Shore 75A material and offers high flexibility and ductility while being resistant to some solvents. It is excellent for simulating parts that such as hoses, seals, grommets, etc. It is off-white in color with standard tolerances of ± 0.010″ on small features and +/- 0.1% overall on most parts and features. Somos 201 is also capable of high temperatures with a melting temperature around 300ºF.

SLS Material Properties

Mechanical Properties	Test Method	Units	Duraform	Duraform GF	Somos 201
Tensile Strength	ASTM D638	psi	6,380	5,500
Tensile Modulus	ASTM D638	psi	230,000	855,000	2902
Tensile Elongation at Break	ASTM D638		9%	2%	130%
Flexural Modulus	ASTM D790	psi	186,000	478,600	2040
Izod Impact – Notched	ASTM D256	(ft-lb)/in	4	1.8
Heat Deflection Temp	ASTM D648	degF	350	345
Hardness	ASTM D2240	Shore A			75
Initial Tear Resistance	ASTM D624	lb/in			132
Melting Point	DSC	degF			310

http://necoinc.com/3d-technologies/3d-printing/selective-laser-sintering-sls/

FABRICATION OF ZIRCONIUM DIBORIDE PARTS USING SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING

FREEFORM FABRICATION OF ZIRCONIUM DIBORIDE PARTS
USING SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
Ming C. Leu, Erik B. Adamek, Tieshu Huang, Greg E. Hilmas and Fatih Dogan
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Department of Material Science and Engineering
Missouri University of Science and Technology
http://edge.rit.edu/edge/P10551/public/SFF/SFF%202008%20Proceedings/Manuscripts/2008-18-Leu.pdf


OPTIMIZATION OF SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING PROCESS FOR
FABRICATION OF ZIRCONIUM DIBORIDE PARTS
Ming C. Leu, Shashwatashish Pattnaik, Gregory E. Hilmas
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Missouri University of Science
and Technology, Rolla, Missouri, USA
Department of Materials Science, Missouri University of Science and Technology,
Rolla, Missouri, USA
http://utwired.engr.utexas.edu/lff/symposium/proceedingsArchive/pubs/Manuscripts/2010/2010-41-Leu.pdf

Selective Laser Sintering ofZirconium Silicate
F. Klocke, H. Wirtz
Fraunhofer Institute ofProduction Technology IPT
Steinbachstr. 17
52074 Aachen
Germany
http://utwired.engr.utexas.edu/lff/symposium/proceedingsArchive/pubs/Manuscripts/1998/1998-69-Klocke.pdf


Rapid Manufacturing of Ceramic Components for Medical and Technical Applications via Selective Laser Melting
Jan Wilkes, Konrad Wissenbach
Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT
Steinbachstr. 15, 52074 Aachen, Germany
http://www.rm-platform.com/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=438&Itemid=1

3D Printing And Additive Manufacturing-Extending your printing capability in true 3D
Dr. Phil Reeves
Managing Director, Econolyst Ltd, UK
http://www.dezignstuff.com/SolidEdge/306%20-%203D%20Printing%20And%20Additive%20Manufacturing%20Extending%20your%20printing%20capability%20in%20true%203D%20-%20Dr%20Phil%20Reeves.pdf

Focus SLS printer

by dragonator, published Feb 10, 2013

Focus is a 3D printer that is designed to print using Selective Laser Sintering. Focus can also be adapted for FDM, 3DP and lasercutting/engraving.

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:33697


http://focussls.blogspot.nl/


http://www.instructables.com/id/Focus-an-experimental-powder-printing-platform/

An Open Source Selective Laser Sintering 3D Printer for Rapid Manufacturing in Wax

Motivation:
The current leading open source 3D printers print only in ABS or PLA and are restricted both by the limitations inherent in these materials and by the limitations of the FDM process. Though these printers are entirely capable of self-replication and of producing parts for a variety of light-duty applications, they cannot produce pieces that can replace the cast aluminum parts found in power machinery, CNC equipment, or in numerous other high-strength applications.

Goals:
The goal of this project is to provide a method for rapidly manufacturing complex pieces in metal by manufacturing a wax "positive" of the object, which is then used to make a mold for the lost wax casting process. Current metal rapid manufacturing techniques rely on high-power lasers, plasma jets, or electric arcs to sinter metal powder. This approach sidesteps the higher costs and dangers of these high-power systems in favor of a relatively low power laser-sintering technique.

A complete report on the project with more technical details can be found here. A summary of this project can also be found on the RepRap Wiki

 



Open Source Selective Laser Sintering 3D Printer for Wax by Andreas Bastian is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.andreasbastian.com/3dp/3dp.html.

http://andreasbastian.com/3dp/3dp.html