Selectice laser sintering: state-of-the-art

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is a rapid prototyping process that allows to progressively produce (build) complex geometrical parts by fusing and solidifying successive layers of fine powder material deposited on top of each other. Fusion is induced by heat delivered by a laser beam that melts or sinters the powder grains together and to the previous solidified layer. The paper describes the state-of-the-art of SLS one decade after its first appearance (First SLS machine sold in 1990). It deals with progresses in terms of SLS machines (hardware, optics, lasers, ... ), SLS processible materials (polymers, metals, ceramics, foundry sand, composites, cermets, ... ) and applications (prototypes, tooling, moulds and dies, functional parts, ... ).