3D Print End-Use Production Parts Using Our Advanced Technologies and Materials
Free Shipping on All US Orders
STEP | STP | SLDPRT | STL | DXF | IPT | 3MF | 3DXML | PRT | SAT files
All uploads are secure and confidential.
Xometry’s Instant Quoting Engine is covered by U.S. Pat. Nos. 11,086,292, 11,347,201, 11,693,388, 11,698,623, 12,099,341, and 12,189,361. Other patents pending.
With Xometry, you can access advanced 3D printing technologies such as Carbon DLS™ , Multi Jet Fusion, and others which offer industry-leading printing speeds and quality. Combined with a vast selection of materials from real thermoplastics to engineering-grade photopolymers, these technologies can create parts that will hold up to end-use applications and environments. With production printing, there is no need to invest in expensive tools or molds, which means economic parts are in your hands more quickly than traditional production processes like injection molding.
Our production viable proccesses are excellent choices for parts from various industries, including:
| Material Name | Description | Shore Hardness | Elongation at Break (%) | Impact Strength, Notched (kJ/m²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nylon 12 | Durable plastic, PA12, PA 2200 | 75D | 18% | 4.8 kJ/m² |
| Nylon 12, Glass-filled (GF) | Stiff plastic, PA12 GF, PA 3200 GF | 80D | 9% | 4.2 kJ/m² |
| Nylon 11 EX | Ductile plastic, PA11, Rilsan® Invent Natural | 77D | 45% | No break |
| Nylon 12, Carbon-Filled (CF) | High-performance plastic, carbon-filled PA12, PA 602-CF, carbonmide | N/A | 4% | 5.3 kJ/m² |
| Nylon 12, Aluminum-Filled (AF) | Metallic gray plastic, aluminum-filled PA12, alumide | 76D | 3% | 4.6 kJ/m² |
| Nylon 12, Mineral-Filled (HST) | Heat-resistant plastic, mineral fiber-reinforced PA12, PA 620-MF | 75D | 3-5% | N/A |
| Nylon 12, Flame Retardant (FR) | Meets the FAR 25.853 60 second burn specification, PA 606-FR | 73D | 24% | N/A |
Properties apply to US-based production. Not all options are available for Xometry’s international economy option.
Color options of dye black, blue, green, red, or yellow. Batch to batch consistency may vary slightly with black being the most consistent. Dye penetrates ~0.010″ deep.
An automated post-processing technology (AMT PostPro3D) that achieves a high-quality surface finish. Vapor smoothing brings most surfaces from a matte to a semi-gloss. Vapor smoothing also seals the surface, enhances mechanical properties, and provides a consistent cosmetic finish for production. Vapor smoothed parts can be dyed.
Standard finish with the addition of abrasive media tumbling. These parts will have reduced grow lines and sharp edges may be softened by the tumbling process. The parts are left with an eggshell finish.
Standard finish with a secondary copper + nickel plating processes adding 0.004″-0.006″ nickel coating. Nickel plating adds durability, stiffness, and wear resistance but is not considered cosmetic. Finish is rough nickel.
Xometry provides additional SLS finishing and customization options upon request.
Xometry can vapor smooth 3D printed parts to achieve an exceptional surface finish. Vapor smoothing, performed through AMT PostPro3D’s technology, is a batch-based automated smoothing process that achieves a high-quality surface. Combined with the low costs SLS, this surface finish can make parts competitive with injection molding from both form and function. Vapor smoothing creates a uniform, sealed surface with a semi-gloss appearance. SLS parts can be color-dyed. The enhanced surface also increases the overall performance of 3D printed parts including ultimate tensile strength, yield at flex, and percent elongation to break. Vapor smoothing can be applied to HP Multi Jet Fusion, selective laser sintering, and fused deposition modeling parts for both rigid plastics and elastomers.
Free shipping available for domestic 3D printing orders ; learn more!
Learn more about SLS 3D printing and how it works in this animation by Xometry:
The speed and versatility of FDM lets engineers create physical snapshots of their designs.
An FDM machine can be used to create durable prototypes that withstand thermal, chemical, and mechanical stress.
The high accuracy and consistency of SLS makes it an ideal way to build large quantities of discrete or customized parts.
Parts can typically be shipped in 3-4 days, allowing for faster design iterations and speed to market.
SLS is capable of producing end-use parts on-demand, increasing throughput.
Geometries can be built more easily due to the 3D printing process, adding complexity without additional cost.
SLS can make a single part or component as easily as dozens of production pieces.
We use the latest generation of SLS technologies to meet tolerances of +/- 0.010” or +/- 0.002” per inch, whichever is greater. Please see our Manufacturing Standards for more details.
| Description | Tolerance Notes |
|---|---|
| General Tolerances | SLS Nylon 12 and variants are ± 0.015”, or ± 0.002" per inch, whichever is greater.* SLS Nylon 11 and variants are ± 0.020”, or ± 0.003" per inch, whichever is greater.* *Results are typical. |
| Build Area | Build area up to 13" x 13" x 20". Glass filled can extend up to 26" x 15" x 23". |
| Minimum Feature Size | 0.030" or greater. |
| Standard Layer Thickness | 0.12 mm / .0047" |
This table depicts the general tolerances for selective laser sintering. Stresses during the build and other geometry considerations may cause deviation in tolerances and flatness. Part designs with thicker geometries, flat or broad parts, and parts with uneven wall thicknesses may be prone to significant deviations or warp. Improved tolerances may be possible with a manual quote review, after successful completion of a prototype build, and must be approved on a case-by-case basis. General tolerances apply before secondary finishing or post-processing unless otherwise specified. Please check out Xometry’s Manufacturing Standards for more information on tolerances per process.
Our quick reference guides let you quickly compare different 3D printing processes!
The Basics Of Selective Laser Sintering
Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a powder bed 3D printing technology that produces highly accurate and durable parts capable of being used directly in end-use, low-volume production. SLS is a newer 3D printing process that is often thought of as a cousin to the popular metal 3D printing technology direct metal laser sintering (DMLS). Both processes work by utilizing a laser to precisely fuse a bed of powder to construct a part from a 3D CAD file. SLS specializes in nylon or polyamide powder particles to create parts, while DMLS uses metal particles, and is extremely common for prototyping and low volume production.
The Benefits Of Working With Xometry’s Selective Laser Sintering Service
Xometry can always help you find the ideal supplier for your specific SLS needs. Our wide network of vetted machine shops contains a wide range of dedicated quick turn SLS partners with a variety of high-quality finishing and material capabilities and many types of sintering systems. Finishing options available include color dyeing, sanding, painting, and plating to meet your needs. From low-volume prototyping to high-volume production, Xometry can always help you source the parts you need on time and at a competitive price, from the U.S. machine shops best suited to the job.
It can be used to make parts using a variety of SLS materials, including plastic, metal, ceramic, or glass powder, making it a popular machining process. Since SLS doesn’t require a support structure like most other 3D printing tech, parts can be made in greater quantities, but with less labor and material expense. Additionally, because the support structure doesn’t need to be removed, there is less risk of damage to the complex internal geometries 3D manufacturing is capable of producing.
SLS can be useful for both rapid prototyping or low-volume production of functional end-use parts. Nylon, especially, is a durable material with great impact strength, medium flexibility, and high resistance to environmental factors. SLS nylon material is also FDA approved USP Class VI/121C certified for skin contact. This combination of complexity, design flexibility, material diversity, rapid turnaround, and overall durability makes SLS an increasingly popular choice in many industries.
Choose from millions of possible combinations of materials, finishes, tolerances, markings, and certifications for your order.
Get your parts delivered right to your door without the hassle of sourcing, project management, logistics, or shipping.
We are ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485, and AS9100D certified. Only the top shops that apply to become Suppliers make it through our qualification process.
All uploads are secure and confidential
