Selective laser melting slm also known as direct metal laser melting dmlm or laser powder bed fusion lpbf is a rapid prototyping 3d printing or additive manufacturing technique designed to use a high power density laser to melt and fuse metallic powders together.
Metal laser sintering.
Direct metal laser melting offers short lead times ideal in situations where repeated testing of functional metal prototypes is necessary.
Many major valuable 3d printing companies including 3d systems slm solutions concept laser and eos sell dmls metal 3d printers that are able to create incredibly intricate metal parts and 3d printed jewelry from precious metals.
Gpi prototype is a service provider of direct metal laser sintering dmls also commonly known as metal 3d printing or selective laser melting slm.
As rapiwith fused deposition modeling the part is traced layer by layer to gradually create the finished part.
Direct metal laser sintering is the most widely used metal 3d printing technology.
In fact it is possible to achieve close to 100 percent density.
As one of the first dmls rapid prototyping service providers in the usa gpi produces metal parts for applications ranging from prototypes to production manufacturing.
Enterprises can reuse the valuable unmelted metal powders.
The direct metal laser melting process minimizes the porosity common with sintering.
Selective laser sintering sls is an additive manufacturing am technique that uses a laser as the power source to sinter powdered material typically nylon or polyamide aiming the laser automatically at points in space defined by a 3d model binding the material together to create a solid structure it is similar to selective laser melting.
The two are instantiations of the same concept.
Direct metal laser sintering dmls is a direct metal laser melting dmlm or laser powder bed fusion lpbf technology that accurately forms complex geometries not possible with other metal manufacturing methods.
A range of metals produce final parts that can be used for end use applications.
To many slm is considered to be a subcategory of selective laser sintering.
Sls 3d printing involves plastic polymer powders which are sintered using a laser inside the sls 3d printer.
Dmls parts are stronger and denser than investment casted metal parts and they can help you get to market first.
Direct metal laser sintering dmls is an industrial metal 3d printing process that builds fully functional metal prototypes and production parts in 7 days or less.
Learn all about direct metal laser sintering one of few 3d printing technologies capable of making parts directly from metal.
3d printing isn t just confined to plastic.