What Is Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)?

When Dr. Carl Deckard was planning a research project at the University of Texas, he had a problem: he needed a way to create models and prototypes quickly and easily. So he made SLS—selective laser sintering. SLS is an additive manufacturing process that uses lasers to sinter powder-based materials into solid products and models, usually on a small scale. It's a rapid prototyping technique that can be used to build three-dimensional reliable prototypes and components. Selective laser sintering is a 3-D printing process that uses lasers to fuse tiny plastic, metal, or ceramic powder particles into complex solid objects. It's used to make prototypes and parts for products ranging from jewelry to aircraft engines. Dr. Carl Deckard invented the technology at the University of Texas in 1984. It didn't become commercially available until 1990 when DTM Corporation sold the first commercial system. You've heard of 3D printing. If not, here's a quick rundown: 3D printing is a process in which raw materials are joined together by a high-powered laser beam, such as a carbon dioxide laser, to create the desired product/model. The material can be plastic, metal, glass or ceramic in a powdered form. The whole process of 3D printing is additive (i.e., it builds up layers). So how does SLS differ from standard 3D printing? Well, instead of taking cross-section geometrical coordinates detail from a CAD drawing and adding the powder surface accordingly, with SLS, you use your hands to count the powder surface. It means you feel like an artist while creating something unique. Suppose you wonder how long it takes to make something using SLS technology. In that case, it depends on the size of your model; generally speaking, it takes 20 minutes and 2 hours, depending on how much detail there is on your model.