Robust functional parts made from plastic – with maximum speed.

Make optimum use of development times – with maximum efficiency.

Benefit from 3D printing expertise – with priomold.

Your 3D printing service provider – SLS additive manufacturing with priomold

  • Communication, collaboration and flexibility ensure the most rapid, efficient and cost-effective manufacturing solution for your innovation
  • With the priomold SLS 3D printing service, even the most complex projects can be completed in record time
  • We can manufacture laser-sintered components from 8 plastics with dimensions of up to 700 × 380 × 580 mm
  • priomold offers you a choice of 7 post-processing methods
  • Delivery of fully functional plastic parts in as little as 1 to 3 working days
  • Our exceptional service includes comprehensive advice on materials, additive-compatible design and post-processing

Felix Parsch
Head of Additive Manufacturing

Phone: +49 7084 976969 51

Arrange a consultation appointment today!

Enquiry now

 

Overview – selective laser sintering (SLS)

Car seat structural component made from PA12
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Selective laser sintering (SLS) is the most efficient and widely employed additive manufacturing method for prototypes and small series made from plastic. With this 3D printing procedure, a laser is used to sinter plastic powder layer by layer, thereby creating the finished component. In terms of thickness, the layers applied using the SLS procedure measure in the region of 0.1 mm.

Car seat structural component made from PA12

Car seat structural component made from PA12

Material: PA12 (PA2200)
 

Post-processing: Vapour smoothing
 

Dimensions: 121 x 209 x 42 mm
 

Weight: 72 g
 

Product purpose: structural component in the backrest of a car seat

Gearwheel made from PA12 + aluminium
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Since selective laser sintering – just as plastic injection moulding – uses thermoplastic materials, fully functioning and high-quality components can be produced by means of additive manufacturing without any toolmaking. SLS 3D-printed components possess similar mechanical properties to injection-moulded parts.


In the case of selective laser sintering, the complexity of a component has no impact on its price. It thus serves as a cost-effective means of creating 3D-printed components with complex geometries, such as topology-optimised or undercut parts.

Gearwheel made from PA12 + aluminium

Gearwheel made from PA12 + aluminium

Material: PA12 + aluminium (Alumide)
 

Post-processing: reaming of the central hole using a reamer
 

Dimensions: 46 x 46 x 22 mm
 

Weight: 19 g
 

Product information: reaming of the central hole using a reamer

Applications – selective laser sintering (SLS)

Motor housing made from PA12 + glass
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Selective laser sintering is now well established in our industry and is used in a wide range of applications, including:

  • Electrical engineering and electronics
  • Automotive industry
  • Furniture industry
  • Medical technology
  • Architecture and construction industry
  • Mechanical and plant engineering
  • Aerospace
  • Chemical industry
  • Sanitary engineering

Motor housing made from PA12 + glass

Motor housing made from PA12 + glass

Material: PA12 + glass (PA3200GF)
 

Post-processing: reaming of the central hole using a reamer
 

Dimensions: 116 x 140 x 147 mm
 

Weight: 217 g
 

Product information: housing of an electric motor with integrated cooling coil

Seal made from TPU
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SLS 3D-printing is suitable for manufacturing all manner of prototypes, single items, replacement parts and functional components, including:

  • Structural components
  • Housings, covers and screens
  • Gearwheels
  • Brackets
  • Hose and pipe connectors
  • Containers and vessels
  • Seals
  • Fan wheels
  • Prosthetics
  • Bone models
  • Design and architectural models
  • 2K components

Seal made from TPU

Seal made from TPU

Material: TPU (TPU1301)
 

Post-processing: Keine
 

Dimensions: 62 x 62 x 5 mm
 

Weight: 3 g
 

Product purpose: seal for a flange joint in a pipe system

With the correct choice of materials and post-processing methods, components manufactured using laser-sintered 3D printing can easily satisfy specific requirements relating to watertightness, UV resistance, abrasion resistance and suitability for food contact.

We can also easily implement two-component parts (2K plastic components) comprising a soft and hard component (e.g. PA12 + TPU) with SLS 3D printing by means of subsequent bonding.

Very large components can be laser-sintered in multiple parts, which we then bond together. To ensure the necessary stability of these parts, we equip the joints with a dovetail connection.

 

Materials – SLS 3D printing

PA12 laser sintering powder

To create your SLS 3D-printed components, priomold offers a choice of 8 materials as standard:

90% of our customers opt for the material PA12 white (PA2200). Parts made from this substance offer well-balanced material properties and are suitable for all types of functional components.

A material overview describing the main properties of our standard SLS materials can be found here:

SLS material overview

Is your preferred material not included? We are also happy to discuss your special requests. Simply get in touch!

Post-processing and finish – SLS 3D printing

priomold employee blasting a component with glass beads

With priomold, you can choose from an extensive range of surface technologies and post-processing methods. As a rule, all SLS 3D-printed components are media-blasted and can be post-processed as follows:

  • Vapour smoothing
  • Vibratory polishing or grinding
  • Dip dyeing
  • Water- or gas-tight infiltration
  • Mechanical post-processing (e.g. thread cutting, threaded insert pressing, drilling)
  • Pad printing
  • Painting

Vapour-smoothed SLS components made from PA12 (nylon) possess a surface quality similar to injection-moulded parts and are 100% waterproof. This makes them ideal for fully functional pump casings or pipe fittings, for example.

We are also able to produce initial sample test reports and measurement reports in our in-house measuring lab. With our GOM ATOS Capsule 3D scanner, we can create target/actual comparisons of potential colour deviations.

We are also happy to advise you on the right post-processing method(s) for your specific application.

Component delivery in as little as 1 to 3 working days – SLS 3D printing

priomold has established a fast lane for laser-sintered components made from PA12 (PA2200), which allows us to deliver parts measuring less than 200 × 250 × 330 mm within 1 to 3 working days.

priomold employee working on an SLS 3D printer

Your fast lane benefits at priomold:

  • A fast lane without delivery reliability is meaningless: We keep our word and always deliver on schedule
  • By using small, cutting-edge manufacturing systems, we can minimise the construction and cooling times, thus allowing us to manufacture at very high speeds
  • We offer the fast lane service as standard for all suitable components at no additional cost
  • We can also dip-dye fast lane components and process them with water- or gas-tight infiltration
  • We deliver SLS 3D-printed small series via our fast lane under the prerequisite that all parts of the small series fit into a box measuring 200 × 250 × 330 mm

Contact us today to obtain a rapid, no-obligation quote.

Design analysis – our consulting service for your SLS 3D-print-compatible design

priomold employee conducting the DFM analysis of a SLS component

Before any quotations are produced, every part that is requested from us is subjected to a comprehensive analysis with regard to its manufacturability using SLS 3D printing. In this free DFM analysis (Design for Manufacturability), we investigate the component to establish any process-related effects, e.g. warping, and assess the following:

  • Wall thicknesses
  • Hole diameters and gap dimensions
  • Presentation of details, e.g. the size of inscriptions
  • Tolerances and clearances
  • Joints and hinges
  • Residual powder removal

An overview of the main design guidelines for selective laser sintering can be found here:

SLS construction guidelines

Support rail made from PA12
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The main design guidelines for SLS 3D-printed components at a glance:

  • Reinforce large surfaces, e.g. with ribs, to avoid warping
  • Where possible, use geometries that allow the components to be nested one inside the other; this will save space and thus also minimise costs
  • Note the applicable tolerance ranges: 0 to 30 mm approx. ± 0.2 mm, 30 to 100 mm approx. ± 0.3 mm, over 100 mm approx. ± 0.3% of the nominal dimension
  • Ensure that your components have a minimum wall thickness of 0.8 mm

Support rail made from PA12

Support rail made from PA12

Material: PA12 (PA2200)
 

Post-processing: dip-dyeing in black + water- or gas-tight infiltration
 

Dimensions: 162 x 19 x 9 mm
 

Weight: 11 g
 

Product purpose: support rail in a in container crane

We are happy to provide you with free, no-obligation advice on your additive-compatible design.

Personal and individual support – free and without obligation

Do you have any unanswered questions?

We are happy to arrange an appointment with you for a free and no-obligation consultation. During the consultation, we can answer any questions you may still have on the subject of SLS manufacturing and address all your individual requirements.

Arrange your appointment today

 

SLS procedure vs. injection moulding

When it comes to manufacturing plastic parts in small quantities, we frequently encounter the question of which manufacturing process is the most economical.

If you are unsure whether SLS 3D printing or plastic injection moulding is the most suitable process for your component or assembly, we would be happy to create a comparison quotation for you.

SLS vs. injection moulding graph

In the graph on the right, you can see the unit costs for the fan wheel shown below in relation to the quantity for both manufacturing methods, i.e. SLS 3D printing and plastic injection moulding.


For this component, the point at which the initial investment in a tool is worthwhile is as of quantity of 870.


For larger components, this point is reached at a lower quantity, while a higher number applies for smaller or undercut parts.

Fan wheel made from PA12
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Fan wheel:

  • Diameter: 73 mm
  • Material: PA12 (PA2200)
  • Mass: 13 g

Fan wheel made from PA12

Fan wheel made from PA12

Material: PA12 (PA2200)
 

Post-processing: none
 

Dimensions: 73 x 73 x 22 mm
 

Weight: 13 g
 

Product purpose: fan wheel for a ventilated car seat

If you require plastic parts made from injection moulding materials or need larger quantities, we recommend our rapid tooling process for the production of prototypes and small series using injection moulding.

 

Enquire today or get in touch!

Felix Parsch
Head of Additive Manufacturing

Phone: +49 7084 976969 51