SLM 3D Printing Services

High-quality metal parts for prototyping and production easily using selective laser melting (SLM) 3D printing as fast as 3 days.

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What is selective laser melting?

Selective laser melting (SLM) is one of many proprietary names for metal additive manufacturing (AM) technology that uses a bed of powder with a source of heat to create metal parts. Also known as direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) and laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), the ASTM standard term is powder bed fusion (PBF). Selective laser melting is a rapid prototyping, or additive manufacturing technique designed to use a high-power-density laser to melt and fuse metallic powders.

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SLM 3D Printing Materials

Aluminum

AISi10Mg

Stainless Steel

316L

Die Steel

MS1

Titanium

TC4

Copper

SLM 3D Printing Finishes

Standard

The surface finish of the final melted part is rough.

Sandblasting

Parts can be media blasted for a uniform matte finish.

Polishing

The rough surface can be polished

Custom

CNC machining of features and polishing is evaluated on a case-by-case basis and can be requested for quoting.

SLM 3D Printing Tolerance

Maximum Build Size Standard Lead Time Dimensional Accuracy Layer Thickness Minimum Feature Size
320x320x400mm 7 business days  ± 200μm or 0.2%mm 200μm 1 mm

SLM 3D Printing Application

Aerospace Landing Gear

Safran Landing Systems and SLM Solutions worked together to improve a previously forged nose landing gear part for private jets.

Automotive Tools

Audi uses the EOS M 400 printer to manufacture hot forming segments and high-pressure die casting tool inserts.

Medical Titanium Implants

GE Additive produces an additively manufactured option made from titanium powder using LPBF printing. 

Energy  Steam Distribution Block

Orano and AddUp created several copies of a 3D printed material transfer bridge and a steam distribution block.

3D Printing Technologies Comparision

Materials Dimensional accuracy Strengths Build Volume Layer Thickness Min. Feature Size
FDM 3 ± 0.5% with a lower limit on ± 0.5 mm Low cost, wide range of materials 500 x 500 x 500 mm 100-300μm 2.0 mm
SLA 3 ± 0.2% with a lower limit of ± 0.127 mm Smooth surface finish, fine feature details, big print area 500 x 500 x 500 mm 50-100μm 0.2 mm
SLS 2 ± 0.3% with a lower limit of ± 0.3 mm Design flexibility, supports not required 395 x 500 x 395 mm 100μm 0.5 mm
MJF 3 ± 0.3% with a lower limit on ± 0.3 Design flexibility, supports not required 380 x 285 x 380 mm 80μm 0.5 mm
SLM 5 ± 0.2% with a lower limit of ± 0.127 mm Metal parts 320x320x400mm 200μm 1 mm

3D Printing Technologies

Stereolithography (SLA)

A high resolution, production grade technology.

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)

Ideal for functional testing, low to mid volumes.

Multi Jet Fusion (MJF)

Ideal for functional testing, low to mid volumes.

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)

Low cost process for early state prototypes.

Selective Laser Melting (SLM)

Produce metal parts for prototyping or production quickly.

SLA 3D Printing FAQs

SLM,DMLS,PBF,LPM all refer to the same 3d printing technology, which uses a bed of powder with a source of heat to create metal parts. Selective laser melting (SLM) is one of many proprietary names for a metal additive manufacturing (AM) technology that uses a bed of powder with a source of heat to create metal parts. Also known as direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) and laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), the ASTM standard term is powder bed fusion (PBF). PBF 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.

SLM 3D printers use high-powered lasers to selectively melt a metal powder. The melted parts fuse together layer-by-layer on a molecular basis until the homogenous model is complete.

Let's get your projects started, together.