Selective Laser Sintering, SLS

In SLS manufacturing, powdered material [1] is heated to just below its melting point and then spread out into an even layer over the building platform [2] using a roller [3]. A pulsating laser [4] draws a cross section of a CAD model in the powder, which causes the powder particles to adhere to each other by sintering. The building platform is then lowered down corresponding to a layer thickness, usually less than 0.1 mm.

The process is repeated until the model is completed. Non sintered powder material can be reused and unlike many other additive manufacturing methods, very little finishing work, such as grinding, is required.

When sintering metal powder, the method is usually called Direct Laser Metal Sintering, DMLS.