Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is a metal additive manufacturing process that uses a high-power laser beam to fully melt and fuse fine metal powders layer by layer to create complex and high-strength parts. The process takes place in a controlled environment to prevent oxidation, typically using materials such as stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, cobalt-chrome, and nickel-based superalloys. SLM is known for producing parts with excellent mechanical properties and high precision, making it suitable for industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical, and tool-making where strong, durable, and lightweight components are essential.
| Capability | Specification |
|---|---|
| Maximum Build Size | 250 x 250 x 325 mm |
| Standard Lead Time | From 7 business days |
| Dimensional Accuracy | ±0.05 mm |
| Layer Height | 20-100 μm |
| Minimum Feature Size | 0.1 mm |
| Material | Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Titanium, Cobalt-Chrome, Nickel-Based Superalloys |
| Tensile Strength | Stainless Steel: 520-700 MPa, Aluminum: 450 MPa, Titanium: 1100 MPa, Cobalt-Chrome: 900 MPa |
| Color | Metallic Gray |
| Resolution | 20-100 μm |
| Elongation at Break | Stainless Steel: 45%, Aluminum: 10-15%, Titanium: 14%, Cobalt-Chrome: 8% |
| Heat Deflection Temp. | Stainless Steel: 870°C, Aluminum: 550°C, Titanium: 1000°C, Cobalt-Chrome: 1150°C |
| Application | Functional prototypes, end-use parts, complex geometries, lightweight structures |
| Aerospace components, automotive parts, medical implants, tooling, high-performance engineering parts |
SLM 3D printing utilizes high-performance metal powder materials that are ideal for functional prototyping and low- to medium-volume production of end-use parts.
| Material | Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Titanium, Cobalt-Chrome, Nickel-Based Superalloys |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | Stainless Steel: 520-700 MPa, Aluminum: 450 MPa, Titanium: 1100 MPa, Cobalt-Chrome: 900 MPa, Nickel-Based Superalloys: 1000 MPa |
| Elongation at Break | Stainless Steel: 45%, Aluminum: 10-15%, Titanium: 14%, Cobalt-Chrome: 8%, Nickel-Based Superalloys: 20% |
| Heat Deflection Temperature | Stainless Steel: 870°C, Aluminum: 550°C, Titanium: 1000°C, Cobalt-Chrome: 1150°C, Nickel-Based Superalloys: 750°C |
| Color Options | Metallic Gray |
| Applications | Functional prototypes, end-use parts, complex geometries, lightweight structures, aerospace components, automotive parts, medical implants, tooling, high-performance engineering parts |
Materials Leading companies across many industries use SLM for its industrial-grade materials
| 3D Printing | Materials Cost | Price | Dimensional Accuracy | Strengths | Build Volume | Layer Thickness | Feature Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDM Industrial | $$$ | $$ | +0.5% with a lower limit on ± 0.5 mm | Low cost, wide range of materials | 500 x 500 x 500 mm (19.68"x19.68"x19.68") | 100-300μm | 2.0 mm (0.0787”) |
| FDM Prototyping | $$ | $$ | +0.3% with a lower limit of ± 0.3 mm (± 0.012") | High level of repeatability, engineering grade material | 406 x 355 x 406 mm (15.98"x 13.97"x 15.98") | 100-330um | 2.0 mm (0.0787”) |
| SLA | $$ | $$$ | + 0.3% with a lower limit of ± 0.3 mm (± 0.012") | Smooth surface finish, fine feature details | 145 x 145 x 175 mm (5.7"x 5.7"x 6.8”) | 50-100um | 0.2 mm (0.00787”) |
| SLS | $$ | $$ | + 0.2% with a lower limit of ± 0.13 mm (± 0.005”) | Smooth surface finish, fine feature details, big print area | 500 x 500 x 500 mm (19.68"x 19.68"x 19.68") | 50-100μm | 0.2 mm (0.00787”) |
| SLM | $$ | $$ | +0.3% with a lower limit of ± 0.3 mm (± 0.012”) | Design flexibility, supports not required | 395 x 500 x 395 mm (15.53"x 19.68"x 15.53") | 100um | 0.5 mm (0.0196”) |
Here’s a rephrased version: “MJF 3D printing offers notable advantages, particularly evident in the quality of part surfaces, especially after undergoing post-processing. Below are the surface finishes that can be achieved with MJF.
Gray color, smooth surface, without visible print layers, tiny powder texture
Use paint spraying and baking to achieve the desired surface finish, with color freely adjustable.
By spraying the surface with sand particles of varying sizes, different levels of surface roughness can be achieved.
By using tools such as sandpaper of varying grits, polishing wheels, and polishing wax, the surface of SLM metal parts can be polished to achieve a high-quality, smooth finish
1.High Precision and Complexity: SLM achieves very high precision and can handle complex geometries, making it suitable for manufacturing parts with intricate structures and high density.
2.Strength and Material Performance: Fully melting metal powders during printing results in parts with excellent mechanical properties and strength, meeting industrial-grade requirements.
3.Design Flexibility: Compared to traditional manufacturing methods, SLM allows engineers to flexibly realize complex structures and geometries, supporting innovation and customized production.
4.Partial Support Structures: While SLM minimizes reliance on support structures, they are still necessary for complex geometries or when specific surface quality requirements need to be met to prevent sagging or deformation of overhanging or cantilevered sections.
5.Prototyping and Rapid Delivery: SLM enables rapid manufacturing and prototyping, shortening product development cycles and facilitating quick validation of design concepts.
1.High Cost: The equipment and materials for SLM are relatively expensive, leading to high initial investments and production costs per part, limiting its use in large-scale production.
2.Surface Quality and Post-Processing: Despite producing parts with high strength, surface quality often requires further processing (e.g., polishing) to achieve specific surface finish requirements.
3.Design Constraints: Thermal deformation and material characteristics during the printing process may impose limitations on certain geometries, necessitating considerations during the design phase.
4.Energy Consumption and Environmental Impact: SLM printing involves high-power lasers and heating equipment, consuming significant energy and contributing to environmental impacts associated with energy consumption.
The following table outlines suggested and technically viable parameters for the most prevalent features found in SLM 3D printed components.
| Feature | Recommended Size Range |
|---|---|
| Unsupported walls | 1.0 – 2.0 mm |
| Supported walls | 0.6 – 1.5 mm |
| Minimum detail size | 0.3 – 0.5 mm |
| Minimum hole size | 1.0 – 2.0 mm |
| Moving parts | 0.6 – 1.0 mm |
| Assembly clearance | 0.3 – 0.5 mm |
| Maximum wall thickness | 5 – 8 mm |
SLM (Selective Laser Melting) is an advanced 3D printing technology that utilizes high-powered lasers to selectively melt and fuse metal powders layer by layer. It produces intricate and durable metal parts with excellent dimensional accuracy and mechanical properties, often surpassing other additive manufacturing methods. SLM is ideal for manufacturing end-use components, low-to-medium volume production runs, rapid prototyping, and as a pre-production step for injection molding. Post-processing of SLM parts commonly includes treatments such as heat treatment, machining, and surface finishing to achieve specific aesthetic and functional requirements.
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Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is a specific additive manufacturing (3D printing) technology that belongs to the powder bed fusion category. It is used to create complex and intricate metal parts directly from a digital 3D model by selectively melting and fusing fine metal powders layer by layer using a high-powered laser.
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