SLS: same build, more uniform cross-section
In SLS, parts are not stacked on supports. They are packed into a volume of powder, and how they are arranged along the height of the build decides how much material is sintered in each layer.
The labels inside the chart are in Serbian. Every value in the chart is repeated in the table below.
What was compared
200 parts, the same orientations available for each, the same build height and the same packing density. Only the arrangement along the height differed: a dense basic packing against a packing arranged for an even cross-section. The cross-section of a layer is the sintered area of all parts at that height.
Results
| Measure | Dense packing | Even cross-section |
|---|---|---|
| Spread of the cross-section over height | 53 % | 25 % |
| Largest cross-section relative to the average | 2.10 | 1.35 |
| Largest change of cross-section over 2 mm, relative to the average | 1.84 | 0.51 |
| Build height | 357 mm | 357 mm |
| Packing density, same number of parts | 29.5 % | 29.5 % |
Why it matters
A layer with a large sintered area holds more heat than a layer with a small one, and the heat leaves through the same powder. Large differences between layers therefore mean uneven cooling. The aim of an even cross-section is less warping and more consistent dimensions. This study measures the cross-section, not the dimensions of printed parts.
- Look at the cross-section over height, not only at how many parts fit in the build.
- The same build height and the same packing density can carry a very different thermal load.
- Single parts have the same effect on a smaller scale, see the guide on warping and thick sections.
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