3D-printing / 3D printing - selective laser sinting (SLS)Selective laser sintering (SLS) describes the process of melting powdered base material using a CO2 laser beam. The material is built up in layers on parts platform. The component is constructed step-by-step in a powder bed on the basis the data specifics of the 3D CAD model in STL format.
The data guides the laser beam along the component outline. Each layer is processed in this way in 0.1mm steps. When the parts plattform is lowered, the container supplies powder for another layer. The laser's energy is absorbed by the powder and brings the local hardering of the material.
Advantages:
- Optimised testing of mechanical components and trial series
- Extremly stable material
- Optional varnishing of the finished product
- Easy manual processing of the finished product by hand or using milling techniques, for example
Machine:
- SLS-machine HQ (3D-Systems)
Materials:
- PA 650
- PA 615 (contains fibreglass)
Layer thickness:
3D-printing - Stereolithography (SLA)
In stereolithography, a rapid prototyping or rapid manufacturing process, a light-curable plastic material (photopolymer) is hardened layer by layer with a laser. The fixation of the item to the construction platform is typically achieved with a support structure.
Stereolithography allows precise production with fine structural details and smooth surfaces, and is often used to create exact models for the testing of components.As STL part surfaces are of superior quality, models can be easily varnished and lacquered.
Advantages:
- Good model precision
- High detail precision
- Good surface finish
- Easy to process
Layer thickness:
Machine:
- Viper Si2 (3D-Systems)
- Type 250/50 (3D-Systems)
- ProJet 6000 (3D-Systems)
Materials:
- Accura Extreme (grey)
- Watershed XC 11122 (transparent)
- VisiJet Tough (grey)