Which additive manufacturing technique uses a laser to fuse small particles of material into a mass that has a desired 3D shape?

Which additive manufacturing technique uses a laser to fuse small particles of material into a mass that has a desired 3D shape?

• A. Stereo-lithography
• B. Selective laser sintering (SLS)
• C. Sketches
• D. Top-down modelling

Answer: (B)

Selective Laser Sintering is an additive manufacturing process where a laser fuses small particles of powder to form a solid layer of the part. The laser scans the powder bed according to the cross-section of the 3D model, heating the particles just enough for them to bond as they cool. After each layer solidifies, the build platform lowers and a new layer of powder is spread, repeating until the object is complete. The unfused powder remains as support and can be recycled, which is a key advantage for complex geometries. This differs from stereo-lithography, which cures liquid resin with light rather than fusing powder.

Selective Laser Sintering is an additive manufacturing process where a laser fuses small particles of powder to form a solid layer of the part. The laser scans the powder bed according to the cross-section of the 3D model, heating the particles just enough for them to bond as they cool. After each layer solidifies, the build platform lowers and a new layer of powder is spread, repeating until the object is complete. The unfused powder remains as support and can be recycled, which is a key advantage for complex geometries. This differs from stereo-lithography, which cures liquid resin with light rather than fusing powder.