Comparative Stereolithography (SLA) Laminated Object Fused Deposition Modeling Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) Selective Laser Melting

ctive Laser Sintering (SLS) Selective Laser Melting Binder Jetting

Table Additive Manufacturing (FDM) (SLM) Technology
Manufacturing (LOM)
Principle Photopolymerization of liquid Layer-by-layer bonding and cutting Extrusion of thermoplastic filament Laser sintering of powdered Full melting of metallic Selective binding of
resin using UV light. of sheet material (paper, plastic, or layer by layer. material (polymers or powder using a high- powdered material using a
metal). composites). powered laser. liquid binder.
Construction - UV laser - Material supply roll - Extruder assembly - Laser source - High-powered laser - Print head
- Mirror galvanometer - Heated roller - Filament spool - Scanning system - Scanning system - Powder bed
- Liquid resin tank - Laser or cutting tool - Heated nozzle - Powder bed - Powder bed - Powder delivery system
- Build platform - Build platform - Build platform - Powder delivery system - Inert gas system - Binder supply
- Recoating blade
Working - UV laser cures resin layer by - Sheets are bonded and cut layer - Filament is extruded through a - Laser sinters powder layer by - Laser fully melts metal - Binder is selectively
layer. by layer. heated nozzle. layer. powder layer by layer. deposited onto powder.
- Platform lowers after each - Excess material is removed. - Layers are deposited and fused. - Unsintered powder acts as - Unsintered powder acts - Layers are bonded and
layer. support. as support. stacked.
Advantages - High accuracy and resolution. - Low cost. - Low cost. - No support structures. - High density and - High speed.
- Smooth surface finish. - Fast prototyping. - Easy to use. - High strength. strength. - Cost-effective.
- Wide range of resins. - No support structures needed. - Wide material variety. - Wide material variety. - Complex geometries. - No support structures.
- No toxic chemicals. - Wide material variety. - Full-color printing.
Disadvantages - Brittle parts. - Limited accuracy. - Rough surface finish. - Rough surface finish. - High cost. - Lower strength.
- Limited material properties. - Material waste. - Anisotropic properties. - High cost. - Residual stress. - Rough surface finish.
- post-processing required. - Manual post-processing. - Support structures needed. - Limited material options. - Limited build size. - post-processing required.
- Powder handling.
Applications - Prototyping. - Prototyping. - Prototyping. - Functional prototyping. - Aerospace. - Prototyping.
- Medical and dental models. - Architectural models. - Functional parts. - End-use parts. - Medical implants. - Sand casting.
- Jewelry and art. - Sand casting patterns. - Education. - Medical devices. - Automotive. - Metal parts.
- Custom tooling. - Tooling. - Tooling. - Full-color models.
Process - Layer thickness (25-100 µm). - Layer thickness (0.05-0.5 mm). - Layer thickness (0.1-0.3 mm). - Layer thickness (0.06-0.15 mm). - Layer thickness (20-100 - Layer thickness (50-200
Parameters - Laser power. - Laser power. - Nozzle temperature. - Laser power. µm). µm).
- Scan speed. - Heated roller temperature. - Print speed. - Scan speed. - Laser power. - Binder droplet size.
- Resin properties. - Infill density. - Powder material. - Scan speed. - Print speed.
- Inert gas atmosphere. - Powder material.

Material Type Photopolymer resins. Paper, polymer, metal foils, Thermoplastics (PLA, ABS, PETG, Polymers, metals, ceramics. Metals (Titanium, Stainless Metals, ceramics, sand.
composites. etc.). Steel, Aluminum).
Layer Thickness 25-100 µm 50-200 µm 100-400 µm 50-200 µm 20-100 µm 50-200 µm
Build Speed Moderate Fast Moderate Moderate Slow Fast
Surface Finish Smooth, high resolution. Moderate, depends on material. Layered texture, rougher than SLA. Moderate, post-processing Good, but requires post- Moderate, post-processing
needed. processing. improves it.
Strength Brittle, moderate mechanical Low to moderate, depends on Good for thermoplastics, lower Strong, but slightly porous. Very strong, dense metal Moderate, post-processing
strength. bonding method. than SLS/SLM. parts. required.
Post-Processing Yes, UV curing, polishing. Yes, lamination sealing, surface Minimal, support removal, sanding. Yes, post-sintering, surface Yes, heat treatment, Yes, sintering/infiltration.
Required? finishing. finishing. machining.