Which process uses laser to sinter polymer powders?

Which process uses laser to sinter polymer powders?

• A. Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
• B. Stereolithography (SLA)
• C. Direct metal laser sintering (DMLS)
• D. Fusion deposition modelling (FDM)

Answer: (A)

Understanding which process uses a laser to sinter polymer powders. Selective Laser Sintering fuses polymer particles in a powder bed with a laser, layer by layer, to build a solid part. The laser traces the cross-section to fuse the powder at those points, while the surrounding powder remains loose and supports the part. After each layer, a fresh layer of powder is spread over the bed and the process repeats until the object is complete. This is different from stereolithography, which cures a liquid resin with light; from direct metal laser sintering, which uses metal powders; and from fused deposition modelling, which extrudes melted thermoplastic filament. SLS is specifically about sintering polymer powders with a laser to form solid parts.

Understanding which process uses a laser to sinter polymer powders. Selective Laser Sintering fuses polymer particles in a powder bed with a laser, layer by layer, to build a solid part. The laser traces the cross-section to fuse the powder at those points, while the surrounding powder remains loose and supports the part. After each layer, a fresh layer of powder is spread over the bed and the process repeats until the object is complete. This is different from stereolithography, which cures a liquid resin with light; from direct metal laser sintering, which uses metal powders; and from fused deposition modelling, which extrudes melted thermoplastic filament. SLS is specifically about sintering polymer powders with a laser to form solid parts.