What rapid prototyping technique fabricates parts layer-wise using a laser beam?

The rapid prototyping technique that fabricates parts layer-wise using a laser beam is Selective Laser Sintering (SLS).

Selective Laser Sintering works by using a high-powered laser to fuse small particles of material, typically plastic, metal, or ceramic, into a solid structure, layer by layer. This process begins with a thin layer of powder spread across a build platform. The laser selectively scans across the powder, melting the particles in the targeted areas to create the desired shape. After each layer is completed, the platform lowers, and a new layer of powder is applied, allowing the process to repeat until the part is fully formed. This technology is notable for its ability to create complex geometries and functional parts directly from digital data.

While Stereolithography (SLA) and 3D Printing also work with layer-based construction, SLA uses a liquid photopolymer cured by UV light, and 3D Printing can encompass various methods, not limited to those that utilize a laser. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), on the other hand, extrudes thermoplastic filament material through a heated nozzle, which is fundamentally different from the laser-driven process of SLS. Hence, the unique attribute of using a laser beam