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Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printing is a widely used Additive Manufacturing technology, ideal for producing industrial rated, end-use parts on demand
“We have used SGD 3D a few times now. Each time they dealt with our queries promptly, giving us all the information and help we needed as a new user of Additive Manufacturing” – Howmet Aerospace
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is an industrial 3D printing process that is ideal for manufacturing end-use parts. In SLS, a laser selectively sinters polymer powder particles, fusing them together and building a part layer-by-layer.
Our machines are locked into one material, this is to ensure maximum quality, reduced lead times and zero cross-contamination. Our Nylon PA12 GF material is a functional material rated for end-use applications.
SLS machines can produce functional plastic parts with isotropic mechanical properties for detailed prototyping or low-volume production of end-use parts. SLS is a cost-efficient production method, which our customers regularly choose for the most complex parts and those requiring extensive customization.
Did you know you can apply your own custom surface textures onto SLS parts? Check out our blog post on applying custom textures using the free-to-use Formlabs PreForm software
We specialise in high-quality Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printing for both prototypes and production parts. Our UK-based service combines industrial-grade equipment with expert knowledge, giving you parts that are strong, accurate, and production-ready.
Key reasons to choose our SLS 3D printing service:
Local expertise – Based in Nottinghamshire, we provide fast lead times and responsive support for businesses across the UK.
Engineering-grade materials – We work with tough nylon powders and performance polymers, ideal for functional prototypes and end-use components.
No support structures – Unlike other 3D printing methods, SLS allows complex geometries to be produced without support material, reducing post-processing and cost.
Flexible production – Whether you need a single prototype or low-volume manufacturing, our quoting system gives instant prices and lead times.
Optional finishing – Choose from vapour smoothing, painting, or Cerakote coating for a professional finish tailored to your application.
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) has the following limitations to the process:
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Price | £££££ |
| Tolerance | ± 0.30 mm below 100mm / ± 0.40 % above 100mm |
| Minimum feature size | 0.2 mm |
| Lead time | 2 - 4 working days |
| Layer height | 110 µm |
| Max X | 165 mm |
| Max Y | 165 mm |
| Max Z | 300 mm |
Check out our blog post on top 5 design mistakes to ensure your models meet our recommended criteria.
We manufacture your custom parts according to strict manufacturing standards and ensure all parts and processes adhere to the clear guidelines.
A thorough verification of these requirements is included in our inspection report that we ship with every order.
After printing, parts are bead blasted and then air blasted to get rid of the excess powder on the surface.
Additional post-processing can be done to improve part’s appearance, such as dyeing, vapor smoothing or tumbling.
Parts are sintered simultaneously as our fibre laser forms parts layer by layer, without support material
Powder is reclaimed and mixed with fresh powder on a 50:50 ratio to ensure maximum quality
Parts are blasted with a glass-based media to remove any loose powder and contaminants
For a small additional cost, we offer in-house vapour smoothing to give “injection mould” finished parts
Well-suited for large production runs, without effecting quality
Parts are isotropic and have similar mechanical properties to moulded parts
Our materials perform at operating temperatures up to 171°C
Nylon PA12 GF has excellent chemical and weather resistance
Nylon PA12 is biocompatible certified & sterilisable
Below is a list of our standard materials for SLS 3D printing. To instantly compare material prices, upload your parts to our online platform
Upload Your Designs - Get a Free Instant Quote
SLS 3D Printing is well suited for end-use applications, high performance prototyping, jigs, fixtures, tooling and low-volume production runs.
We operate a parallel costing structure for our SLS 3D printing service, where you simply upload your 3D files to our instant quote tool.
Selective Laser Sintering doesn’t require support structures because un-sintered powder surrounds the parts during the printing process and is simply brushed / blasted away when post-processing the parts. SLS 3D printing can produce complex geometries (such as interlocking and moving parts, parts with interior compartments / channels) that are unsuitable for other additive manufacturing processes such as; FDM or SLA
Our PA12 GF Nylon material is biocompatible and can be food-safe under certain conditions. We’re unable to certify it food-safe as SLS parts are porous and require specific post-processing (vapour smoothing)
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