Industrial Grade

SLS 3D Printing

Selective Laser Sintering - Powder-based technology for strong, functional parts with complex geometries. No support structures required, enabling designs impossible with other methods.

What is SLS Printing?

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) uses a high-powered laser to sinter powdered material (typically nylon) into solid structures. The surrounding unfused powder acts as support, allowing for complex geometries without the need for dedicated support structures.

Best For

  • Complex geometries and interlocking parts
  • Functional end-use parts
  • Small to medium batch production
  • Parts requiring isotropic strength
  • Living hinges and snap-fits
  • Nested assemblies and moving mechanisms

Limitations

  • Grainy, slightly porous surface texture
  • Limited colour options (natural/black, dyeable)
  • Higher cost than FDM
  • Longer lead times
  • Minimum feature constraints

Specifications

Build Volume
Up to 340 × 340 × 600mm
Layer Height
0.1mm - 0.15mm
Tolerance
±0.3mm or ±0.3%
Min Wall Thickness
0.7mm (1mm recommended)
Min Feature Size
0.8mm
Lead Time
5-10 business days

Available Materials

High-performance nylon powders for demanding applications.

PA12 Nylon

Most Popular

Excellent all-around material with good strength and flexibility.

  • Strength: High
  • Heat Resistance: 176°C
  • Chemical Resistance: Good
Learn More

PA11 Nylon

Bio-based

More ductile than PA12, excellent fatigue resistance. Bio-based.

  • Elongation: Very High
  • Impact: Excellent
  • Eco-friendly: Yes

Glass-Filled Nylon

Stiff

PA12 reinforced with glass beads for increased stiffness.

  • Stiffness: Very High
  • Heat Resistance: 176°C
  • Dimensional Stability: Excellent

TPU Powder

Flexible

Rubber-like flexibility for gaskets, seals, and soft-touch parts.

  • Shore Hardness: 88A-95A
  • Elongation: 300%+
  • Tear Resistance: High

SLS Design Guidelines

Leverage SLS's unique capabilities with these guidelines.

Wall Thickness

Minimum: 0.7mm
Recommended: 1-2mm

Walls under 0.7mm may be too fragile to survive handling.

No Support Needed!

Overhangs: Fully supported by powder
Bridges: Unlimited

SLS's key advantage: design freely without worrying about support structures.

Holes & Escape

Min Hole: 1.5mm
Escape Holes: Required for enclosed voids

Enclosed cavities need 3.5mm+ escape holes to remove trapped powder.

Clearances

Moving parts: 0.5mm minimum
Assemblies: 0.3mm

Print-in-place assemblies and hinges are possible with proper clearance.

Fine Details

Min Feature: 0.8mm
Text: 2mm height minimum

Small details can fill with powder. Design for slightly larger features.

Hollowing

Wall Thickness: 2-3mm
Save: Up to 50% cost

Hollow large parts to reduce weight and cost. Include powder escape holes.

Post-Processing Options

Powder Removal & Cleaning

Media blasting to remove all trapped powder for a clean finish.

Included

Dyeing

Colour dyeing in black or custom colours for a uniform finish.

From £3/part

Smoothing

Chemical or mechanical smoothing to reduce surface porosity.

From £10/part

Sealing

Infiltration to seal porosity for water/air tightness.

From £8/part

Painting

Professional painting in custom colours.

From £20/part

Lead Times

SLS parts are produced in batches for efficiency. Standard lead time is 5-10 business days.

Standard 5-10 business days Base price
Priority 3-5 business days +35%

Rush orders subject to availability. SLS requires batch processing for efficiency.

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