What defines the process of Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)?

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is a 3D printing technology that utilizes a focused laser beam to selectively fuse powdered materials together, layer by layer, to create a solid object. The term "sintering" refers to a process where particles of powder are bonded together by heat without melting completely, allowing for the creation of durable and complex shapes.

In SLS, a bed of heat-fusible powder is spread across a build platform, and the laser melts specific areas of the powder according to the cross-sectional shape of the object being created. Once the laser moves away, the unfused powder supports the printed structure, which allows for high design flexibility and the ability to produce intricate geometries that traditional manufacturing techniques may not achieve.

This understanding is crucial in distinguishing SLS from other additive manufacturing processes. For instance, methods like Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) involve extruding melted filament rather than using a laser to fuse powder particles. Similarly, processes that use liquid plastics involve hardening a liquid medium, which is not characteristic of SLS. Finally, techniques that layer and bond material from sheets pertain more to laminated object manufacturing rather than the powder-sintering method used in SLS.