{"id":193523,"date":"2021-01-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-29T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/news\/the-importance-of-a-broad-sls-powder-range-3d-printer-hardware\/"},"modified":"2021-01-29T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-01-29T00:00:00","slug":"the-importance-of-a-broad-sls-powder-range-3d-printer-hardware","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/news\/the-importance-of-a-broad-sls-powder-range-3d-printer-hardware\/","title":{"rendered":"The importance of a broad SLS powder range 3D Printer Hardware"},"content":{"rendered":"

As 3D printing<\/a> evolves and matures, so to do the expectations surrounding it. In order to meet these growing expectations and to address an increasing number of use cases for 3D printing<\/a>\u2014in prototyping and end-use production\u2014it is important to recognize that the 3D printer itself is just part<\/a> of the equation. A key element is also material selection, in this case SLS<\/a> powder materials.<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking specifically at selective laser sintering (SLS<\/a>), the technology was initially associated with a wide range of materials, as well as high-accuracy prints and the ability to produce complex geometries without supports. This was when SLS<\/a> was a highly exclusive process\u2014largely because of its high cost and industrial nature. However, this start<\/a>ed to change in 2014, when the SLS<\/a> patent expired and companies, such as <\/span>Sinterit<\/span>, entered the market with more affordable benchtop systems. These new systems, while over ten times cheaper compared to industrial SLS<\/a> printers, did not have the same degree of material compatibility. But why?<\/span><\/p>\n

How laser type influences SLS<\/a> powder choice<\/b><\/h2>\n

One of the main things to note, right off the bat, is that benchtop SLS<\/a> systems were not developed by simply scaling down industrial SLS<\/a> machines; new configurations had to be designed. CO2 lasers in industrial systems, for instance, typically measure over a meter in length, which precludes them from being used in desktop systems. Industrial SLS<\/a> machines also integrate a complex system of mirrors to control the laser beam\u2019s direction. <\/span><\/p>\n

Sinterit\u2019s end-to-end SLS<\/a> 3D printing<\/a> solution <\/p>\n

On the other hand, in small- and medium-sized SLS<\/a> 3D printers, a more compact infrared laser diode is used instead of a CO2 laser. This type of laser, while capable of achieving the same precision as CO2 lasers, is not compatible with white materials. (Those familiar with industrial SLS<\/a> will know that many powder materials used are white.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA few years ago, when we developed our first SLS<\/a> 3D printer, <\/span>Sinterit Lisa<\/span>, customers were constantly asking if they could use a white PA12 powder,\u201d explains Konrad Glowacki, Co-Founder and Chief Business Development Officer at Sinterit. \u201cBlack and grey printouts were a novelty at that time so for someone who was used to SLS<\/a> 3D printing<\/a> it could be weird.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

PA12 Smooth, the king of small SLS<\/a> powders<\/b><\/h2>\n

The first material available for small SLS<\/a> 3D printers was PA12, known for its excellent surface quality and details as well as its stiffness. Today, the material is broadly used for functional prototypes and final part<\/a>s with lots of detail, complex shapes and mechanic<\/a>al elements. The material, as many will know, is characterized by a dark grey or black color. As Sinterit points out, these hues come with some advantages. For one, the color never changes and does not wear out. White part<\/a>s made using CO2-laser-based systems, by contrast, begin to yellow when exposed to UV. <\/span><\/p>\n

Further, the dark color of PA12, achieved by adding a tiny amount of absorber to the polymer, doesn\u2019t influence the material\u2019s original properties. Laboratory tests found that any differences were within the margin of statistical error. From the user perspective, the expectations also seem to be adapting. As Glowacki elaborates: \u201cAs years go by, we receive fewer questions about the white color, but the demand for a wide range of different types of materials is rising significantly.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

What are material options for benchtop SLS<\/a>?<\/b><\/h2>\n

While diode laser 3D printers are not compatible with white materials, it does not mean that they are limited in terms of material diversity. For instance, it is possible to print PA, TPU and TPE materials, among others, using a benchtop SLS<\/a> system. There are, however, certain factors that influence how well a system can print various materials. To improve material selection and freedom for end users, 3D printers must be easy to clean and have adjustable print settings\u2014especially to switch between a lower melting point material like TPE and one with a higher melting point like PA.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo produce an SLS<\/a> 3D printer which can work with various materials, you need to develop hundreds of iterations,\u201d says <\/span>Michal Grzymala-Moszczynski, Operations Manager and Co-Founder of Sinterit. \u201cA small change in one area may result in changing other parameters, which will finally affect the printing process. This is why our R&D depart<\/a>ment works simultaneously on mechanic<\/a>s, hardware and software. Having over a thousand working Lisa and <\/span>Lisa PRO<\/span> printers around the world proves that our idea works.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A material for every need<\/b><\/h2>\n

Not only is SLS<\/a> a popular 3D printing<\/a> solution for those seeking part<\/a>s with dimensional accuracy and durability: the technology can also address other properties like insulation, electric conductivity, flexibility and tightness. End users need an array of materials to choose from in order to match the properties they require for their prototyping or end-use application<\/a>. Sinterit recognizes the importance of material choice and today offers the widest selection of materials for small SLS<\/a> printers. Its current material portfolio consists of the following:<\/span><\/p>\n

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