sla PROCESS and SLS PROCESS technologY IN RAPID prototypinG
What is Rapid SLA/SLS prototyping Process?
SLA is short for Stereolithography, and SLS is short for Selective Laser Sintering, they are the additive manufacture process similar to 3D printing, both of them are applied the laser technology to make parts, SLA and SLS are widely used for quick models in complex structures like medical models, skeleton models and pipe connectors, they are widely used in rapid prototyping and low volume production industrial much earlier than 3D printing, so they are a mature technology.
Thoutgh they are all laser technology in similar use, the products are made in different result by using different material and theories. SLA is using liquid material and cured layers by layers under the laser light while SLS is using the powder material and binding the material together by laser
SLA (Stereolithography) PROTOTYPE printing technology
How SLA prototype printing process works?
SLA prototype printing process is a process to convert the liquid resin material into solid objects by utilizes a UV laser light of the stereolithograph apparatus machine. The machine of SLA printing uses a single laser at a particular point to build a platform and cure the liquid resin material from upside-down and then solidify the work piece. SLA printing technology brings rapid prototype parts to life in a short schedule and low cost, it is an effective process for designers, marketers, engineers and entrepreneurs to get their parts and designs quick and cost effective.
SLA prototype printing process applied for opaque and clear parts
Most of the SLA prototype printed parts are used for irregular shape parts, fitting parts and functional prototypes, master patterns, trial parts and marketing samples. Post finish process such as painting, PVD coating, polishing and bonding are the finishing choice for SLA prototype printed parts, with the condition, the SLA printed products becomes a good option for design testing and production .
The material of SLA prototype printing is liquid resin, the opaque resin material is ABS property like and the translucent resin material is PC property like. Clear PC part produce by SLA printing is foggy, but after polish and spray the gloss oil it because clear.
SLS(Selective Laser Sintering)prototype printing technology
What is SLS printing prototype process ?
SLS printing prototype technology is to creat a 3D objects under the Selective laser with either powder plastic material PA and PA+GF or metal powders material. this process is one kind of technology similar to 3D printing technology and SLA printing technology . SLS PA printing prototype parts is more tough than SLA printing prototype parts as the material is Nylon, Nylon is tough in material property so that the SLS printing Products perform prefect in fitting and function for end use models.
What is the advantages for SLS printing prototype process?
the same as SLA Printing, one of the advantages of SLS printing process is that complex parts in geometrical structure and interlocking components can be made easy and fast, such as the jointing parts, pipe connectors and hollow products hard for CNC machining, easy for SLS printing. The other advantage is benefit from the PA material properties that SLS printing parts can be very strong and reliable.
What kind of post finish can SLS printing parts apply?
As the material for SLS printing process is powder, no matter it is PA Plastic parts or metal printing parts, the product surface after process is rough in powder touch feeling. that is the reason why most of the time SLS printing products are raw naked without post finish. The surface of SLS printing parts is on layers of powder material that get smooth and gloss polish is no possible, no to mention the secondard finish like painting, which the adhesive property between the powder layer and paint layer is bad,
But sometime when requires to make impossibles into possible for the apperance models, painting is possible for SLS printing parts. To increase the adhensive property and smoothness of the part, first of all spray the primer to cover the roughness, sanding the part smooth, and spay again and sanding again, this is the preparation for painting SLS printing parts, which layers will be thicker and thicker, appearance models without tolerance setting will be fine, only to make sure the assembly position. However with the functional parts, primer thickness will make the tolerance big. But after all ,we can do will follow the request from the product need and client need , SLS printing parts painting -able or not is up to clients.