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Selective laser melting (SLM)


Selective Laser Melting (SLM) allows the manufacture of functional components with high structural integrity at a low cost and is compatible with various materials, including biocompatible titanium alloys. 

Selective laser melting uses a laser to melt successive layers of metallic powder. The laser will heat particles in specified places on a bed of metallic powder until completely melted. The CAD 3D file dictates where melting will occur. Then, the machine will successively add another bed of powder above the melted layer, until the object is completely finished.
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SLM is a powder bed AM technology in which parts are fabricated layer by layer using the action of a high-energy beam on a powder bed. In this process, the powders are fully melted and solidified. The process is very similar to the SLS process but the energy of the beam is much higher and the process is performed under a controlled atmosphere. SLM is currently very popular for the fabrication of metallic parts 
The most common applications for this technology are in the aerospace industry, as complex parts can be made with additive manufacturing, which overcomes the limitations of conventional manufacturing. It can also result in the reduction of parts needed. It also has applications in the medical field where some prosthetics are created with this technology, allowing the model to be customized to the patient's anatomy.
The main difference between these two technologies is the degree to which the particles are melted; they are not completely melted with DMLS. Different materials are available with this technology, namely steel, titanium, aluminum, cobalt-chromium, and nickel alloys.

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