SLS (Selective Laser Sintering)
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is an industrial additive manufacturing technology that utilizes a high-power laser to selectively sinter microscopic particles of thermoplastic polymer powder (most commonly Nylon PA11 or PA12) layer upon layer inside a heated chamber.
SLS parts are priced by build volume and powder reuse, not filament grams. The platform models FDM and resin economics, so treat SLS costs as procurement context rather than a calculator output.
Estimate it in the 3D printing cost calculator →The Powder Bed Process & Support-Free Geometry
In an SLS machine, a laser sinters cross-sections of pre-heated nylon powder. Because the surrounding unsintered powder bed physically supports the part throughout the build, SLS requires zero support structures, allowing impossible interlocking geometries, nested assemblies, and dense 3D nesting.
Industrial Part Properties & Surface Textures
SLS prints exhibit isotropic mechanical strength, meaning tensile durability is nearly equal across the X, Y, and Z axes. The parts have a characteristic slightly porous, matte sugar-cube tactile finish.
Post-Processing: Depowdering & Vapor Smoothing
Once cooled, parts undergo bead-blasting and vacuum depowdering to remove excess dust, followed by chemical vapor smoothing or dyeing for a sealed, glossy industrial finish.
Cite This Page
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APA 7
TryAR Labs. (2026, August 25). SLS (Selective Laser Sintering). MakerWorld Estimator. https://estimator.tryar.in/glossary/slsBibTeX
@misc{tryarlabs2026sls,
title = {{SLS (Selective Laser Sintering)}},
author = {{TryAR Labs}},
year = {2026},
month = {aug},
url = {https://estimator.tryar.in/glossary/sls},
note = {MakerWorld Estimator}
}Calculate 3D Print Costs in Real Time
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