How to convince

your boss to buy

SLS 3D printer?
 How to convince your boss to buy SLS 3D printer?
• Why do I need a 3D printer? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Faster time to market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Searching for the right 3D printer for your purposes may
• Freedom of design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Shorter supply chain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . be time-consuming pursuit. But sometimes it is just the
• Easy customization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Low-volume production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . beginning of a long journey to convince others in your or-
• Faster ROI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Why do I need SLS 3D printer? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ganization, that what’s good for you is also the right choice
•
•
Highly isotropic properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
No support is needed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
for the company, lab, or university. In most cases, those
• Perfect for low-volume production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . who pay are not the ones who use the equipment.
• Reusable material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Dimensional accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Complex internal geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Easy post-processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . This ebook will guide you step-by-step through the whole SLS
• Easy-to-operate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Most typical applications of SLS 3D printers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3D printer buying process. No matter if you need to convince
• The most common objections related to the purchase of an SLS printer �������������������������������������������������������
your boss or the whole buying committee, on the next few pa-
• Cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• 3D printers are expensive to buy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ges we address the most common concerns, debunk myths,
• Costs of 3D printing materials are high . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Costs of 3D printed parts are high . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and we provide specific knowledge about SLS technology and
• It is cheaper to print with a service provider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• I don’t know how to calculate printing costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . all stages of purchasing - from the decision, through delivery,
• Why are your powders so expensive? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Maintenance of SLS 3D printer is expensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . installation to after-sale service and maintenance.
• Efficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• 3D printing is not efficient enough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• I don’t need a change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Will SLS technology give me benefits? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• 3D printing is not for our company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Is it possible to use multiple materials with one device? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• I don’t know how to arrange models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Arranging models takes to long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• I don’t have time to research for all needed accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• I am not sure if the printouts will be good for my application? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• SLS technology is time consuming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• How long do I need to wait for my order? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Safety issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Breathing hazard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Skin contact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Explosives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Is SLS dirty technology? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• After-sales support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• My team is not trained with SLS 3D printers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• What if my printer breaks down? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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 Why do I need Faster time to market
According to Statista.com, the most popular use of additive manufacturing is proto-

a 3D printer?
Additive manufacturing revolutionized production processes in almost every in-
dustry but in Sinterit we don’t like to think about 3D printing as a revolution itself.
When 3D printing was born in the mid-eighties of the XX century, some, of cour-
se, believed that the model of production would change completely. But just as the
invention of the motion picture did not eliminate photography or books, additive ma-
nufacturing doesn’t eradicate traditional manufacturing methods. It complements
them by providing new opportunities that were previously unattainable. It supple-
ments – not replaces.
typing (68%) chased by proof of concept (59%). This is not a coincidence. Before the
invention of 3D printing, prototyping was a long and expensive process. Thanks to
functional prototyping available with 3D printing, companies can develop their new
products faster and easier. Previously you needed to anticipate a lot before ordering
a prototype. With 3D printing, you can make new iterations the same day you print
your prototype. Instead of thinking about what may go wrong, you print, test, and then
adjust. This benefit of additive manufacturing shortens time-to-market which is the
ultimate goal of prototyping.
Freedom of design
Another benefit of 3D printing is that you get more design options compared to tra-
ditional production methods. 3D printouts could be more complex, and this complexity
is something that comes as standard, without the need to make special molds or tools.
If you need inner geometries and movable parts - additive manufacturing is unbeata-
ble. For all those mesh structures, strong in one and flexible in the other direction,
you should consider a 3D printer. The same with lattice structures. You can get both
strong, and light parts. Hard to achieve without 3D printing. As an example, athletes

FDM SLA SLS use 3D printers to make customized bike parts that increase aerodynamics while ke-
eping weight as low as possible.

The most basic benefits of additive

manufacturing are:
• Fast time to market,
• Freedom of design,
• Shorter supply chain,
• Easy customization,
• Low-volume production,
• Faster ROI.

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 Shorter supply chain
The possibility to have a part printed on-site in comparison with a long and costly
logistics process to get it from another part of the world is also a game-changer. You
don’t have to be a scientist stationed at the South Pole base to appreciate this benefit.
The advantage of having spare parts printed on demand shortens supply chains and
reduces the cost of maintaining inventory. The advantage of the Make to Order model
over Make to Stock reduces waste, as the level of production is equal to the demand.
It is more frequently used with products that are customized.
Faster ROI
3D printers are usually less expensive than traditional production machines, being also
more versatile. If you specialize in designing new products, you could achieve ROI in
your first or second project made with a 3D printer. Just check how much you pay for
molds each time you start prototyping a new product. How many iterations and molds
version do you need? That cost could be almost completely reduced with additive
manufacturing.

Low-volume production
Some products, especially professional or niche ones, are produced in small capa-
cities. No matter if it is a specialized trekking pole or general aviation aircraft – if your
production is small, you have even more reasons to reach for cost-optimization with
3D printing. It doesn’t mean that making the whole product with your 3D printer is a
solution, but if you can print a few parts of it, that otherwise need to be produced with
traditional methods, you could do it a lot cheaper.

Easy customization 240 parts 480 parts 847 parts 1584 parts
in 224 h 54 min in 447 h 20 min in 44 h 3 min in 53 h 18 min
One of the most obvious benefits of 3D printing is the possibility of customization.
Popular car makers, like Mini (a brand of BMW) use 3D printers to customize their
cars according to clients’ needs. It is especially important in the luxury segment.
But it is just one, marketed side of it. The most important benefit of easy custo-
mization comes with tooling, making special devices used in
specific, unique production line,

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 Why do I need Highly isotropic properties
If you are used to traditional manufacturing methods, you probably demand parts to be

SLS 3D printer? accurate, detailed, and strong. Subtractive manufacturing methods make it possible.
You start with a block of high-quality, dense material, and just like you were a compu-
ter-aided Michelangelo, carve your model, being sure that in the end, it will be sharp
While the decision to try additive manufacturing is step number one, the rest of the
and sturdy.
journey acquires a lot of knowledge and consideration, as there is not one 3D prin-
ting solution. With seven main types of 3D printing technology, SLS (selective laser
On the other hand, additive manufacturing works by adding a new layer to the previous
sintering) is considered the most versatile. Based on the powder bed fusion 3D prin-
one. You don’t have to be a theoretical physicist to notice that your model will be we-
ting process, SLS uses a laser as a thermal energy source needed to melt powder
aker at layer junctions. It is especially visible in most common 3d printing technologies
particles in a closed print chamber. For greater precision, the laser supplies only as
such as FDM (FFF), which is anisotropic. But SLS 3D printing technology has almost
much energy as is needed to sinter the powder, which is already preheated by he-
isotropic properties.
aters placed inside the printer. If you want to learn more about the
SLS technology itself, read our post on SLS 3D printing.
The SLS process produces strong, durable parts,
with high accuracy, very precise, and resistant.

The most basic benefits

of additive manufacturing
are:
• Highly isotropic properties,
• No support structures is needed,
• Perfect for low-volume production, Isotropy is a term used in materials science where “isotropic” means having identical
values of a property in all directions. For example, parts made with injection molding
• Reusable material,
or thermoforming have isotropic properties, so they are equally strong in X, Y, and Z
• Dimensional accuracy,
directions. Minimizing anisotropy is important for manufacturers to build parts in any
• Complex internal geometry,
orientation without affecting the mechanical properties of the produced part.
• Easy post-processing,
• Easy to operate, In additive manufacturing, model orientation is important. It is not any different with
• Even faster ROI. SLS 3D printing, although you got stronger, dense parts easier than in other AM me-
thods. If you are interested in this topic, we covered it in more detail in an FDM vs SLS
comparison blog post.

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 No support is needed
In SLS technology, the unsintered powder acts as a natural support. As you don’t have
to print any supports, you gain more design freedom. It has a lot of additional benefits.
It is easier to fit more parts or models into one print job. All of them will be individual
parts, ready to use after getting out of the printer. You don’t have to cut supports,
which could be time-consuming and in the case of tiny, fragile elements, sometimes
devastating. Because cutting off supports may not be enough. You will still need to
level the surface, e.g. with a file, which is already an invasive action.
Perfect for low-volume production
SLS technology gives you repeatability. If you design a printing batch, with the best mo-
del position, and distances, you can easily repeat the printing process just by adding
powder and selecting the printing file from your printer’s history. Depending on your
part’s size, you can print hundreds of small elements in one go.
Dimensional accuracy
Positioning your models according to SLS 3D printing positioning rules will give you
above-average dimensional accuracy. With a minimum layer thickness of 75 µm, Sin-

SLS SLA terit’s SLS 3D printers offer excellent detailed printouts. With such a thick layer you are
capable of printing even the smallest parts with sharp edges.
no support is needed supports are required

Cad model
Reusable material
In SLS 3D printing some powder is melted by laser and becomes your final parts, while
the rest act as a natural support. The latter is called unsintered powder and can be
used for other prints. Sometimes you should refresh it with a new powder, but the
addition is not significant which makes your printing process highly economical. Here
you can learn more about the refresh rate.

An example of refresh ratio

calculated for PA12 smooth
Print ready
Fresh
+ Used
= powder

22% 78% 100% Printed on Lisa X

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 Complex internal geometry
With SLS, you can achieve more complexity and even design complicated inner geo-
metries. All you need to do is get rid of spare, unsintered powder after the printing. With
SLS 3D printer you could print medical phantoms or other complicated structures, that
have a lot of internal geometries that needed to be hollow.
Easy post-processing
Getting rid of spare, unsintered powder is basically all you need in terms of SLS po-
st-processing. No supports to cut, no toxic resin to cure. You don’t even need special
tools to do so, but if you print a lot, using Powder Handling Station (PHS) will speed up
your work.

Cleaning
Initial Precise Printouts
Printing the printer
depowdering depowdering sandblasting
& work area

Easy-to-operate
SLS 3D printers are designed to proceed without the constant presence of the ope-
rator. You just fill the printer with powder, start the printing job, and after the printout
is ready - take it out of the printer and post-process. All of those activities are easy to
learn in just a few hours of training. As Sinterit specializes mostly in a compact line of
SLS 3D printers, this easiness of operation is not always so obvious with big industrial
SLS machines. In those cases, you need well-trained operators, and sometimes have
printer maintenance done by an external specialist. But it is not the case with Sinterit’s
printers.

Powder
refreshing

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 Most typical applications A lot of different materials to print with, open the
list of applications almost endlessly.
of SLS 3D printers The most common ones are:
• Fast Prototyping,
SLS 3D printers are used across multiple industries. It plays a major role in education
• Production parts,
and research, you can spot SLS 3D printers in big sectors, such as aerospace, auto-
• Snap-fits / Living Hinges,
motive, healthcare, medical, electronics, and all kinds of customers’ products. Since
2004, the date of the SLS patent cliff, this technology become available for small • Automotive design,
companies from all business sectors. • Aerospace parts and ducting,
• Medical applications,
• Jigs, fixtures, grippers, tools,
• Jacketing, boots, flexible connectors,
• Brackets, mounts, structures,
• Gaskets, seals, and hoses,
• Clips, buckles, sockets,
• Ducts, pipes, aero,
• Enclosures, containers,
• Investment, casting patterns,
• Footwear,
• Visual aid,
• Mold Parts,
• Parts for Visualisation,
• Pre-Production Prototype,
• Replacement Parts,

• Wearable Parts.

In education you can also use SLS printers for

studies on ergonomics or materials:
• Exposed to Chemicals,
• Exposed to Electricity,
• Exposed to High/Low Temperature.

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 The most common
objections related to the
purchase of an SLS printer
As with every key purchase, the list of potential objections could be broad. Especially
when the technology is new, and decision-makers have no experience with it. We
spent countless hours talking with engineers, educators, and CTOs who asked us to
support them in convincing their bosses or purchasing committee that the acquisition
of the SLS 3D printer will be beneficial for the company. In this chapter, you will find
the most common objections sorted into four categories: costs, efficiency, safety,
and after-sales support.
16 How to convince your boss to buy SLS 3D printer? sinterit.com
Cost
Questions from this category are very common. Companies that are interested in
acquiring the whole SLS 3D printing solution, which contains not only an SLS 3D prin-
ter, like Lisa X, but also Powder Handling Station equipped with ATEX Vacuum Cleaner,
Powder Sieve, and SLS-ready Sandblaster. The expenditure of almost 40k EUR (in EUI)
is not a problem for medium and big companies, but micro and small ones need to
consider such purchases carefully. Here are some false statements we would like to
cover.
3D printers are expensive to buy
SLS 3D printers from the Sinterit portfolio are ready for professional use, so when
you compare the price of printers with other production tools, you should look at the
products in the same category, which cost more. Our clients often report that the ROI
is achieved unexpectedly fast. For example, a company that was using molds to make
prototypes reported that the typical cost of molds needed to design a production-rea-
dy gasket was higher than the cost of purchasing Sinterit Lisa SLS 3D printers. When
looking at acquisition cost, always compare it with the savings you achieve thanks to
additive manufacturing. On the other hand printers from Sinterit portfolio give you the
quality of industrial grade SLS 3D printers but are ten times less expensive, so your
initial investment will be cost effective from day one. What is more, you don’t have to
buy the whole SLS solution, the stand alone Sinterit SLS 3D printer like Lisa, Lisa Pro or
Lisa X will deliver the value you expect without additional devices.
Costs of 3D printing materials are high
The cost of 3D printing materials depends on several factors. Some of them, used
with FDM printers, like PLA or ABS are cheap, while others used with DMLS or SLM
printers such as stainless steel or aluminum are very expensive. Polymers used with
SLS 3D printers are in the middle price range. But you should be aware that in SLS 3D
printing technology unsintered powder is reusable which has a crucial input on printing
cost optimization. Another important factor is that you can print tiny models in small
quantities and it still will be effective, as printing bed size adapts to the height of your
model.
sinterit.com How to convince your boss to buy SLS 3D printer? 17
 Costs of 3D printed parts are high I don’t know how to calculate printing costs

If you need to print only one part, it will cost you more than having the whole bunch The best way to calculate your future costs is by connecting with the Sinterit team.
of parts printed in one go. Below you can see an example of parts printed with PA12 Just send us your model, and we will count it. Our engineers have years of experience
powder on Lisa X. The part is quite small, so you can fit as many as 140 sets. In this with SLS 3D printing so you can expect us to calculate costs with the best model
case, with the print area density od 13,6% you get a price of 0,98 EUR per set. orientation in the print chamber, according to SLS positioning best practices.

Maintenance of SLS 3D printer is expensive

Production - small parts It is definitely true when it comes to industrial SLS 3D printers. You need a special
technician to install the printer on your site and make some maintenance inspections
once in a while. But with Sinterit’s SLS 3D printers it is not the case. The printer comes
Material PA12 Smooth
to you precalibrated, it means that after the printer was produced, there were some
Number of parts 140 sets
tests run on it, to be sure that it works properly. The maintenance is simple, and the
Print Time 32:43 hrs
parts that need to be replaced at times are easily accessible and you can do it on your
Print area density 13.6%
own in almost no time.
0.98 € per set
Price
149.11 € per run
Why are your powders so expensive?

When you compare the prices of SLS powders, Sinterit’s pricing may seem a little bit
over the competitors. It doesn’t mean that the price of printed parts will be higher as
well. It is all due to one of the lowest powder refresh rates on the market. The powder
It is cheaper to print with a service provider
refresh rate is a minimum ratio of fresh (sometimes called virgin) powder you need to
If you need just one part per few months, you don’t care about sharing your ideas with add to your pre-used, unsintered powder to maintain its best printing quality. The lower
third parties; it may be a perfect solution. It is the same as ordering prints at a copy the refresh rate, the better cost-efficiency you get, so in the end, you will still produce
shop. If you do it regularly, every week, it may be cheaper to buy your own printer. your parts cheaper.
When you prototype, and the whole prototyping process is crucial for your business
development, downtime costs become more significant in your balance sheets. With
in-house SLS 3D printers you have your prototype the next day, instead of next week or
two, and if some minor adjustment needs to be made, you wait for them just another
day. Compare those two days with one month of waiting, and calculate the cost of this
waiting.

Strenght Strenght Smooth Chemical Impact High High Chemical Electrostatic Chemical Water Adjustable Soft to touch Excellent Resistant
& resistance resistance temperature performance resistance discharge resistance resistance hardness Low shore hardness mechanical to repeated
Details resistance properties bending

Refresh ratio Refresh ratio Refresh ratio Refresh ratio Refresh ratio Refresh ratio Refresh ratio Refresh ratio Refresh ratio

18 How to convince your boss to buy SLS 3D printer? sinterit.com

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How to convince your boss to buy SLS 3D printer?
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20%
 Efficiency
3D printing is not for our company

There are no predefined sectors that need 3D printers. In Sinterit, since 2014 we delive-
red thousands of SLS 3D printers to clients across the world, and we are still surprised
Another misconception about 3D printing is that it is not effective. It is completely
by the application they used our printers for. Surgeons printing models of damaged
the opposite as additive manufacturing is a perfect example of lean manufacturing.
organs to better prepare for surgery, production companies printing seals for their ma-
With 3D printing, you are reducing the waste of raw materials and developing pro-
chines because TPU-made ones are somehow stronger and last longer than original
ducts faster, with fewer tools and space involved in the process.
rubber ones, and so on. 3D printers support out-of-the-box thinking.
3D printing is not efficient enough

To answer this concern, you need to do some maths. If you are looking for a replace- Is it possible to use multiple materials with one device?
ment for your mass production line, 3D printers will not be the best choice, so if you are
Sinterit has the widest material portfolio in the compact SLS 3D printers segment
producing repetitive parts in large quantities, 3D printers are not a solution for you. But
which immediately raises the question of whether you can use them efficiently on
if you also prototype new products, this is an area where SLS 3D printers will give you
one device. Some users fear that if you leave in a printer a bit of material with a lower
desired efficiency. Remember that one of the most benefits of 3D printing is agility.
melting point and then start printing on the material with a higher melting point, the
result will be a small disaster. There may be some devices available on the market
I don’t need a change that make it work this way, and producers advise users to dedicate a printer to one
material. But Sinterit’s SLS 3D printers were designed with a multi material approach
In a fast changing world it is common for many of us to dream of pressing the STOP
in mind. The whole 3D printing area (3D print bed) is easily accessible, so it is a matter
button. But it won’t stop other companies from developing, working smarter and more
of minutes, maximum half an hour, to clean your printer entirely before changing the
cost-effectively. With Sinterit’s SLS 3D printers we offer you a chance to follow the
material group, from for example TPU to PA12 or PA11.
market but with the most economical entry point possible.

Will SLS technology give me benefits? Main body printed with

PA12 smooth
As we described in the beginning of this ebook, there are a lot of advantages that SLS
technology brings. If your applications are alike those mentioned above, consider SLS
3D printer as a potential solution .
Antenna printed with
FLEXA Gray

buttons made of silicon, by means of

a form printed with PA12 smooth

SYBET

The whole device printed on one SLS 3D printer Lisa, using different materials

20 How to convince your boss to buy SLS 3D printer? sinterit.com sinterit.com How to convince your boss to buy SLS 3D printer? 21
 I don’t know how to arrange models I don’t have time to research for all needed accessories

All additive manufacturing techniques require some basic knowledge about the prin- You don’t have to. First of all, Sinterit’s SLS 3D printers come as stand alone systems,
ting process, so called good practices. If you are an FDM user, you will follow different so for a basic use, you don’t have to worry about additional elements. But if you are
rules when using an SLS 3D printer. Not entirely, but some will differ. As SLS 3D printing interested in the most efficient environment, we offer you a complete set. Here you
gives you more versatility, and thanks to lack of supporting structures you could pack can find what is in a complete Lisa X set:
more models in one 3D printing job, you may find arranging difficult. But it is not. There
are just a few simple rules to follow, and you can also use the “auto nesting” function
that comes with Sinterit’s own software: Sinterit Studio, which makes the process far Performance set
easier.
• Lisa X 3D printer
• Dedicated Powder Tools LISA X
Arranging models takes to long • ATEX Vacuum Cleaner

Again, if you would like to arrange each model separately, it will take you a long time, • Powder Separator

especially when printing a lot of small objects. But thanks to the “auto nesting” func- • PHS
tion of Sinterit Studio, just arrange one, and the others will be multiplied. • Sandblaster SLS
• Sinterit Studio Advanced
• Flight case LISA X
• Standard Compac t 12 Service set

Sandblaster SLS
Auto-nesting
Lisa X PHS
feature
Use this auto-nesting to place multiple
models with a few clicks and make this
stage even faster.

I am not sure if the printouts will be good for my application?

There is no better way to find out than printing it. We can print your model or send you
some of our samples. You can test them in your environment and for your needs and
then decide whether SLS is a technology for you.
ATEX Vacuum Cleaner

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 Time Safety issues
Time is money, so it counts in your business plan. You may have some concerns As in the case of many new technologies, also in the case of 3D printing there are qu-
about printing speed or delivery time. What to expect? estions related to the safety of use. In Poland, the home country of Marie Skłodow-
ska-Curie, we are fully aware that some game-changing technologies could be also
SLS technology is time consuming harmful. Is SLS 3D printing safe? The National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health, a part of the CDC published a list of three potential hazards of 3D printing.
“Preparing an FDM printer takes me 3 minutes and I am concerned that with an SLS it
One of them concerns breathing harmful materials, another tells of skin contact con-
will be an hour or so”. It is a very common belief, and for sure, it is hard to compete with
cerns, and the last one speaks of potential explosion hazards. We answer all three.
FDM printers in an area of preparation time. But if you ever travel by plane, you noticed
that it takes longer from boarding a plane to take off, than from getting in the car and
driving off. So why you choose planes from time to time? It is very similar to SLS.
You don’t choose this technology because it will start printing a minute after pressing
the “print” button, but because of the other set of benefits that SLS provides. As this
technology needs more time to warm-up and cool down than FDM 3D printers, it is way
faster than it was five years ago. Now you can have a full capacity of a relatively big
SLS 3D printer as Lisa X printed in just one day, and if you just need smaller parts, it is
a matter of a few hours.
SAFETY

How long do I need to wait for my order? To be sure that you are operating SLS 3D printer
safely, you need to wear protective equipment
Due to a high demand and top quality check factors, it may take a few weeks to wait
like: dust protection goggles, suitable gloves,
for your order to be delivered. Please consider it in your purchasing process to be sure
suitable clothing (lab apron), suitable respiratory
that you will not decide about buying an SLS 3D printer too close to your intended start
protective equipment (Standard: 42 CFR Part 84
date.
or DIN 143 or regional standards like Z94.4).

Is SLS dirty technology?

In SLS your printing material is in powder form.You already know the benefits if it, like

Safety issues
almost isotropic properties, but for some there are drawbacks. Powders seem to be
more messy than filaments. But is it so? If you use your SLS 3D printer by the book,
it won’t get dirty. The whole 3D printing process happens inside the printer. Pouring
the powder in it if done slowly doesn’t have to be messy at all. The only moment you Be sure to check safety issues highlited on the
have to deal with powder dust is during post-processing, but thanks to ATEX Vacuum label of every powder conatiner.The full safety
Cleaner and devices such as PHS (Powder Handling Station), at the end of the day, the datasheets are available on sinterit.com website
process may be quite clean. as well.

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 After-sales support
Let’s talk with our expert
Buying a printer is just the beginning of a journey. Especially, if it is your first SLS 3D
printer, you may wonder if you could maintain it properly. Here are some common Katarzyna Wcisło
International Sales Specialist
questions regarding this topic.
katarzyna.wcislo@sinterit.com

My team is not trained with SLS 3D printers

You don’t have to be an SLS 3D printing expert to use Sinterit printers. You don’t even
need to have experience with other types of 3D printers. The UX is very simple, you can
learn it completely in just a few hours, but you don’t have to, as the printer menu will
lead you through the whole process by specific instructions. With a step by step guide
it is very simple. If you need to become more proficient, that is always recommended,
our support team can organize training for you or you could ask your local supplier for
on-site training.
Let’s talk with our expert
Wojciech Kalina
What if my printer breaks down?
International Sales Specialist
Poland may not be the biggest country, but as it is an EU member, you could expect the
wojciech.kalina@sinterit.com
same level of service and legal protection as in all 27 European Union countries. We
also work hand in hand with professional partners and distributors around the world
that are trained to help you with the printer if it breaks down.

Just contact us
www.sinterit.com

contact@sinterit.com

26 How to convince your boss to buy SLS 3D printer? sinterit.com sinterit.com How to convince your boss to buy SLS 3D printer? 27
 Headquarters
Distributors network

Next to you
60 distributors in over 60 countries provide advice on the selection
and implementation process as well as after-sales Service.
Visit our website and find a local partner.

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