By utilising a laser to sinter powdered metal, ceramic, or glass, selective laser sintering machines are able to create solid components. Used for both production and prototyping purposes, selective laser sintered components can often be found in aerospace and automotive applications, with the medical sphere also adopting SLS techniques.
Within the selective laser sintering process, a 3D CAD file is used to instruct the laser to focus on predetermined points, through which it coheres the material into the required design.