Selective Laser Melting (SLM)

For metal components with high density

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) or Laser Beam Melting (LBM) describe the selective melting of metal powders. This generative manufacturing process features excellent material properties which are equal to conventionally manufactured metal components in all aspects. For selective laser melting, metal powder is applied in layers and melted into a component with the laser. This processes generates components with a density of over 99 %.

Also known as: Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF oder L-PBF), Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), Laser Metal Fusion (LMF), Direct Metal Printing (DMP)

Process advantages

Very good material properties
High accuracy
High component complexity and delicate structures possible
Highly developed technology
Wide industrial distribution and large selection of powder materials

Applications

Prototypes, pilot series, small batches
Individual parts / obsolete components
Lightweight construction / bionic lightweight design
Medical technology, dental technology
Aerospace
Toolmaking, machine tool manufacturing, plant engineering
Automotive and racing
Oil and gas industry
Energy industry

Available materials

All weldable materials:

Aluminium and titanium alloys:
aluminium AlSi10Mg, titanium Ti6Al4V and many more
Nickel-based alloys:
Inconel In718, Inconel 625 and many more
Cobalt-chrome-alloys
Steel alloys:
tool steel 1.2709, austentic stainless steel 1.4404 (stainless steel), hardenable stainless steel 1.4542, hot work steel 1.2344, high temperature resistant steel 4835 and many more
Copper CuCr1Zr
Precious metal: gold Au, silver Ag
Bronze-alloy PM-BR101P

A detailed overview of the qualified materials we use to manufacture your components can be found here.