Capabilities

SLS manufacturing, from prototype to low-⁠volume production

Industrial SLS 3D printing (selective laser sintering) for functional prototypes, end-use parts and low-volume production, supported by engineering review, design-for-additive advice and finishing. The current status of every service is shown on this page.

Request a Quote How SLS works

How to read the status

  • Available now In service and accepting work.
  • Commissioning Installed and being commissioned. Requests are reviewed now; production slots are confirmed per project.
  • Planned On our roadmap. Not offered as an operational service yet.
Production platform EOS P 770 Commissioning

Process

Polymer laser sintering, built for functional parts

Selective laser sintering (SLS) builds parts layer by layer from fine polyamide powder. In a heated build chamber, a recoater spreads a thin layer of powder and two CO₂ lasers fuse the cross-sections of every part in the build.

The platform then lowers by one layer and the cycle repeats. Because loose powder surrounds the parts throughout the build, SLS needs no support structures, which makes it well suited to functional parts with demanding geometry.

  • No support structures

    Unsintered powder carries every overhang during the build. There are no supports to remove and no support marks on functional surfaces.

  • Nesting in three dimensions

    Parts can be stacked through the full height of the build volume, so one build can hold a single large part or a batch of smaller ones.

  • Complex geometry

    Internal channels, undercuts, snap-fits and lattice structures can be built in one piece, as long as the loose powder can be removed.

  • Shared process conditions

    All parts in a build share the same powder and the same process parameters. Properties still depend on position and orientation, which we review for each part.

How polymer SLS works

Services

Services and their current status

We state the status of every service plainly: “Available now,” “Commissioning” or “Planned.” A planned service is not offered until its status changes.

  • Available now

    Engineering review

    An engineer reviews every request for manufacturability, orientation, material fit and cost drivers before we quote. The findings come with the quotation.

  • Available now

    Design for additive manufacturing

    Support in adapting a design to SLS: wall thickness, consolidation of assemblies, weight reduction and features that only additive manufacturing allows.

  • Commissioning

    SLS prototyping

    Rapid prototyping with functional polyamide parts for form, fit and function testing. No tooling is needed, so a design change does not mean a new tool.

  • Commissioning

    Low-volume and bridge production

    End-use polymer parts in recurring batches, for series where tooling would not pay off or is not ready yet.

  • Commissioning

    Standard finishing

    Depowdering and bead blasting for a clean, uniform matte surface.

  • Planned

    Extended finishing

    Dyeing, surface smoothing, coating and threaded inserts, for parts that need more than the standard finish.

  • Planned

    Inspection reports

    Documented dimensional inspection of agreed features, issued with the delivery.

  • Planned

    Metal additive manufacturing

    A future direction for VAHDET. We do not produce metal parts and do not accept orders for them.

Production volumes

From a single part to low-volume series

SLS needs no tooling, so the same process covers a one-off test part and a recurring batch. Parts of different sizes can share a build, nested through the 700 × 380 × 580 mm build volume.

  1. One-off parts

    Commissioning

    Single parts for test rigs, fixtures, replacements and design verification.

  2. Prototypes and iterations

    Commissioning

    Functional prototypes for form, fit and function testing. A design change means a new file, not a new tool.

  3. Bridge production

    Commissioning

    Parts that bridge the gap while injection molding tools are being made, or until a supply problem is solved.

  4. Low-volume series

    Commissioning

    Recurring batches of end-use parts where tooling would not pay off.

How many parts fit in one build depends on part size, nesting density, build height and finishing. Quantities and schedule are confirmed per project in the quotation.

Conceptual illustration
  • Part in the section plane
  • Part nested further back
  • Unsintered powder

Build envelope: manufacturer specification (EOS GmbH). Usable part size depends on the geometry and is confirmed in the engineering review.

Application areas by function

Finishing

Finishing options

Parts leave the machine embedded in powder. Standard finishing makes them clean and uniform; extended options are listed with their own status.

Standard finishing

Commissioning

Applied to every part unless agreed otherwise.

Depowdering
Loose powder is removed from outer surfaces and accessible internal features.
Bead blasting
Removes adhering powder and evens out the surface for a uniform matte finish.

Extended finishing

Planned

For parts that need a specific color, a smoother surface or metal threads.

Dyeing
Immersion dyeing for a uniform color, typically black.
Smoothing
A smoother surface that is easier to clean.
Coating
Paints and functional coatings for appearance or surface protection.
Threaded inserts
Metal inserts for threads that are assembled repeatedly.

Surface profiles, magnified

  • As sintered

    Matte and slightly grainy, in the natural color of the powder.

  • Bead blasted

    Commissioning

    More even and uniform. Part of standard finishing.

  • Smoothed

    Planned

    Noticeably smoother, for appearance and easier cleaning. Part of extended finishing.

Conceptual profiles, not to scale. Achievable surface quality depends on material, orientation and geometry.

Process characteristics and limits

Engineering

Engineering support before and during production

The engineering around a part matters as much as the machine. These services are part of how we review and quote every request.

  • Available now

    Design review

    Every file is checked for manufacturability: wall thickness, small features, enclosed volumes and fit with the chosen material.

  • Available now

    Design for additive manufacturing

    Advice on adapting parts designed for machining or molding, so the part benefits from SLS instead of copying the old process.

  • Available now

    Part consolidation

    Assemblies of several parts combined into fewer printed parts, with fewer fasteners and assembly steps where that makes sense.

  • Available now

    Lightweighting and lattices

    Wall, rib and lattice strategies for parts where mass matters, checked for powder removal and manufacturability.

  • Available now

    Orientation and nesting planning

    Build orientation chosen for surface quality, accuracy and strength, with parts nested efficiently in the build volume.

  • Available now

    Design-change recommendations

    Specific, written suggestions with your quotation: what to change, why, and the effect on the part. You decide what to adopt.

Read the SLS design guidelines

Materials

Materials and their status

PA 12 is our primary production material. Further polymers are added once they are qualified on our platform, and each one shows its status.

  • PA 12

    Primary material

    The standard polyamide for laser sintering: a balanced combination of strength, stiffness and chemical resistance for prototypes and end-use parts.

    Commissioning

  • PA 11

    Bio-based polyamide with higher ductility and impact resistance, for parts that flex, clip or take knocks.

    Planned

  • PA 12 GB

    Glass-bead-filled PA 12 for higher stiffness and dimensional stability, for example in housings and fixtures.

    Planned

  • PA 12 FR

    Flame-retardant PA 12 for parts with fire-behavior requirements. Compliance with a specific standard is confirmed per application.

    Planned

  • TPU

    Thermoplastic polyurethane for flexible, rubber-like parts such as seals, bellows and dampers.

    Planned

Specific powder grades are confirmed per project. Numeric material properties are published only from verified datasheets.

Compare materials

Honest scope

What is outside our scope

Clear limits save time on both sides. We do not take on the requests below.

  • Metal parts

    We do not produce metal parts. Metal additive manufacturing is a future direction, not a current service.

    Planned

  • Certified flight hardware

    We do not supply parts for installation on certified aircraft, and we do not qualify parts for flight: airworthiness and flight approval stay with your program. Development and test hardware, ducts, tooling and fixtures for aerospace and UAV programs are within scope.

  • Tolerances before review

    We do not promise tolerances before an engineer has reviewed the part. Achievable accuracy depends on size, geometry, orientation and material, and is confirmed in the review.

  • Mass production

    For large series, injection molding or machining is often more economical than SLS. When that applies to your part, we tell you.

Regulated flight applications

Parts intended for certified or regulated flight applications need qualification and approvals that go beyond manufacturing. Tell us the intended use in your request and we will be clear about what we can and cannot support.

How it works

From CAD file to finished part

Every request is quoted by an engineer, not by an algorithm. You get a clear answer on what can be built, how, and at what cost.

  1. CAD upload

    Send STEP, STL or 3MF files, or drawings, with quantity, material and application details through the secure form.

  2. Engineering review

    An engineer checks manufacturability, build orientation, material fit and any design changes worth considering.

  3. Quotation

    You receive a written quotation with price, lead time and the recommendations from the review. If the part is outside our scope, we tell you why.

  4. Production

    After your approval, parts are built, depowdered, finished as agreed and checked before dispatch.

Start a project

Send a part for engineering review

Upload CAD files or drawings and tell us about quantity, material and application. An engineer reviews manufacturability before we quote, and your files stay confidential.

Request a Quote Talk to an engineer