SLS - Selective Laser Sintering

Duraform Polyamide & Duraform GF 30%

The Duraform Polyamide and Duraform 30% GF Nylon materials used in the SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) system offers the most durable prototype parts from any RP system. The tough Nylon 12 is heat resistant up to 150ºC and is the obvious choice for functional prototypes that are to be used in working situations.

The Duraform Polyamide material still offers the only effective solution to living-hinges direct from an RP machine. With an improved accuracy and smoother surface quality this system now suits all manufacturing sectors. The GF 30% material offers a much stiffer and slightly higher HTD, to where a more rigid structure is required. Please refer to the CRDM Tolerance Standards for SLS tolerances.
 
SLS - Selective Laser Sintering prices are generally lower than SLA modeling due to the reduced post finishing required from this powder based system. The self supporting powder system also has the advantage of a multiple build option where large numbers of the same component can be built in one build, drastically reducing the individual part cost. This has applications for direct manufacturing and low-volume prototype runs.

High Spec SLS Materials

CARBONMIDE

CRDM has introduced a new generation of structural SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) material to complement the Duraform materials.

One of these is Carbonmide. A naturally black, carbon filled, light weight, material which was originally designed for wind tunnel usage. The 0.05mm long carbon strand makes up 50% of the total density, the remainder being Duraform Polyamide (Nylon 12).

Its strength and stability under wind-load and vibration makes this the preferred SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) material for F1 and aerospace use. Coupled with its high heat deflection temperature of 175°CCarbonmide is well suited to the most arduous task.

Carbonmide's light weight, high UTS characteristics, excellent surface finish, and resistance to wear, compared to standard SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) Duraform and SLS GF Duraform, also lends the technology to the low-volume direct manufacture of parts for race-cars and motorcycles, without the weight penalty.

Carbonmide offers an alluring, black, sparkling look, appreciable in many design applications. Carbonmideis particularly suited to applications which require superior mechanical properties, extremely high performance.

Alumide

A Typical application for Alumide is the manufacture of stiff parts of metallic appearance for applications in automotive manufacture (e.g. wind tunnel tests or parts that are not safety relevant), for tool inserts for injection moulding small production runs, for illustrative models (metallic appearance), and for jig manufacture, among other aspects.

The surfaces of parts made from Alumide can be finished by grinding, polishing, or coating. An additional advantage is that low tool-wear machining is possible, e.g. milling, drilling, or tuning.
One major advantage of Alumide over the standard Duraform materials is, like Carbonmide, it’s high heat deflection temperature, which in the Alumide’s case.

Duraform EX

This impact-resistant plastic offers the toughness of injection-moulded polypropylene and ABS. Duraform EX’s  finer powder grain size results in a much smoother surface finish and the extra strength makes Duraform EX perfect for ‘living hinges’ and functional prototypes that require end-use performance properties, and is suitable for Rapid Manufacturing.   

Available Technology

CRDM Ltd now operates 6 X SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) machines.

With this large capacity we are now offering a lead time of just 2-3 days and a maximum build area of 380mm X 350mm X 400mm.

Available Finishes

Chemical Dying – 86 colours to choose from

Chrome Plating & Vacuum Metalising – Bright, Satin, Silver or Gold

Full Painting and Graphics Service - References to Pantone, NCS, Ral, and VDI or Moldtech specified by you.


How SLS - Selective Laser Sintering works