We attach great importance to customers' needs for product quality and rapid production.
We always insist that meeting customers' needs is to realize our value!
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+86 133 9281 9446
+86 133 9281 9446
Dec. 26, 2025
Leo Lin.
I graduated from Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, majoring in Mechanical Manufacturing Automation.
SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) is a polymer powder bed fusion process that uses a laser to fuse nylon powder layer by layer inside a heated chamber. It produces durable, support-free parts suited for rapid prototyping and small-batch end-use, aligned with the ISO/ASTM 52900 terminology and practical guides like Hubs’ SLS overview.
Workflow: Preheat → recoat powder → laser sinter → lower Z → repeat; unsintered powder supports features.
Typical numbers: Layer ≈ 100–120 μm; tolerance often ±0.3% or ±0.3 mm; as-printed finish is matte/grainy.
Materials: PA12, PA11, glass/mineral-filled nylon, and TPU cover most needs.
Fit: Fast functional prototypes and economical small batches; plan for cooling and finishing.
A recoater spreads thin powder layers; a CO2 laser selectively sinters each cross-section; the platform lowers and repeats. The chamber is preheated to reduce warping, and parts cool slowly before depowdering. Because the surrounding powder acts as a natural support, complex interiors and nested assemblies print without dedicated supports, as described in Hubs’ SLS guide.
Properties vary by machine, powder, and processing; treat values as typical ranges. See Protolabs’ SLS materials for deeper specs.
Material | Typical properties (indicative) | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|
PA12 (Nylon 12) | Tensile ~45–50 MPa; E ~1.8–2.0 GPa; elongation ~11–13%; good chemical resistance | Functional prototypes, enclosures, snap-fits |
PA11 (Nylon 11) | More ductile/tough; high impact resistance; often black | Hinges, impact-prone parts, wearables |
Glass/mineral-filled PA12 | Higher stiffness/stability; lower impact | Stiff brackets, mounts, plates |
TPU (elastomer) | Flexible, abrasion-resistant; rubber-like response | Seals, bellows, flexible couplings |
Tip: For short runs, print an SLS master and duplicate via silicone tooling in urethanes using vacuum casting; for tighter tolerances or production materials, move validated designs to CNC machining.
Tolerances & features: Many providers cite ±0.3% or ±0.3 mm for well-designed nylon parts; robust minimum walls are ~0.8–1.0 mm. Treat these as typical, not guaranteed (design and packing matter).
Finish options: As-printed surfaces are matte/grainy. Media/bead blasting and dyeing are common. Vapor smoothing can seal and significantly reduce roughness for PA12/PA11/TPU, per Protolabs’ vapor smoothing guidance.
SLS is ideal when speed and cost per batch matter and you need functional nylon parts. You can nest many parts in one build, avoid support removal, and test snap-fits, ergonomics, and light functional loads. When time is critical, some packs may favor MJF; see Hubs’ MJF vs. SLS comparison for trade-offs.
Disclosure: Kaierwo is our product. One-stop prototyping providers such as Kaierwo often combine SLS for quick functional models with vacuum casting for short runs or CNC for tighter tolerances, keeping early iterations fast and economical while preparing for scale-up.
Technology | Supports | Material behavior | Surface/finish | Speed & cost (typical) | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SLS (nylon PBF) | No dedicated supports | Tough nylons; good isotropy | Grainy as-printed; dyes/smooths well | Efficient for nested batches; cooling adds time | Functional prototypes, small-batch end-use |
MJF (nylon PBF) | No dedicated supports | Similar to SLS; consistent | Matte; dyes well | Often faster for certain packings | Time-sensitive batches |
SLA (resin) | Supports required | Stiff/brittle; high detail | Smoothest as-printed | Fast per-part; more post ops | Aesthetic models, fine detail |
FDM (filament) | Supports required | Layered anisotropy; varied plastics | Visible layer lines | Low cost per part | Basic prototypes, fixtures |
Need durable, support-free prototypes quickly? Start with PA12 or PA11; add glass-fill for stiffness or TPU for flexibility. Plan for cooling and finishing, and consider hybrid workflows (SLS → vacuum casting or CNC) so your prototypes transition smoothly to pilot or production.
References: ISO/ASTM 52900 (ISO OBP); Hubs (process and comparisons); Protolabs (materials, vapor smoothing).
We attach great importance to customers' needs for product quality and rapid production.
We always insist that meeting customers' needs is to realize our value!
