Is Selective Laser Sintering expensive? Many companies starting to implement 3D Printing technology are asking themselves this question.
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is an advanced 3D printing method engineers, entrepreneurs, and product designers often use. Although SLS processes are complex and involve sophisticated equipment, the technology has become increasingly affordable in recent years.
ARRK Asia has participated in Rapid Prototyping projects with this 3D Printing technology. SLS works by using lasers to build complex objects layer-by-layer from powdered materials. But, how much does this process really cost?
What determines the cost of SLS?
With SLS there is no need for support material, and it comes with a wide range of a variety of powders and plastics. However, the cost is always an important factor when considering any manufacturing process. The cost of SLS printing depends on several factors, such as the materials used to achieve the project’s complexity.
If you’re considering using Selective Laser Sintering for your next 3D Printing project, we’ll look at the different factors determining the cost of SLS 3D Printing.
Low Material Cost: Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is an increasingly popular 3D Printing technology because of its low material costs compared to other technologies. SLS uses a powerful laser that sinters powdered thermoplastics to quickly and accurately create components. Even if these parts require additional support structures like scaffolds, using plastic powders helps reduce waste and makes this type of printer more cost-effective than other techniques.
Minimized Post-Printing Steps: Unlike some 3D printing processes where post-production steps are necessary for finishing the product, SLS does not require additional pieces or parts to finish it after it has been built. This eliminates the additional labor costs that come with secondary operations like sanding or painting–meaning projects can move quickly from manufacturing to finished product.
Timely results: On top of the cost-efficiency associated with SLS, this kind of printing also has one major advantage when it comes to turnaround: speed! Complex designs can be printed fairly rapidly, reducing both time and labor costs. You’ll be sure to get quick results while cutting back on expenses associated with long wait times for product completion.
Precise Lighting: The laser used in SLS is able to deliver precise lightings, which ensure consistency between every successive layer that’s deposited during the printing process giving a higher accuracy and better surface finishes results are produced compared with other technologies such as Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), SLA or Multi Jet Fusion (MJF). There is no need for extra support structures and residues don’t build up throughout subsequent layers – making post-processing much simpler and faster.
Easy Assembly: Also, since there are no support structures needed with SLS technology, assembly components can be added easily before or during the printing process reducing overall complexity of assembly saving teams time while keeping costs low
High Quality Parts at Lower Price Points: As an end result, companies are able to produce high quality durable parts at lower price points than ever before possible – making them better suited for mass production runs, without requiring a high production contract, such as those found in other manufacturing processes.
Increased Design Versatility: SLS technology has enabled greater design versatility, providing access to materials with different densities, flexibilities, colors and textures that can fulfill various application responsibilities. This offers great customization options for customers seeking top quality parts.
Get Fast Turnaround Times For Your Short Run Production
Therefore, is selective laser sintering expensive? Due to its fast production times compared to other Additive Manufacturing technologies in Asia, Selective Laser Sintering can produce parts faster than its competitors do, and when you value time and production quality, contacting ARRK Asia can give a better understanding of the real costs of your project using SLS technology.
SLS makes perfect sense where turnaround time is a critical factor, as well as determining value-added profit margins within operations. When managed correctly by the manufacturing team, throughout an entire job life cycle from queue up until delivery date & beyond, the advantages outweigh the costs.
