The common material used in SLM machine is metal powder. But i want to know if there are other materials that can be used in SLM machine like thermoplastic powder.
Yes. Any kind of thermoplastic powder could be processed in an SLS machine.
Practicality of using a particular kind of thermoplastic powder is dependent on several factors:
Whether the powder releases bad fumes when heated, because due to the nature of sintering process plastic powder is kept very close to its melting point. Whether the powder easily absorbs laser light of a particular wavelength. Whether you have a supply.
these materials are already widely available and used in SLM. Usually the powder is warmed to near its melting point so reducing the energy required from the laser (faster) and reducing shrinkage and warping during printing. Powders are quite expensive compared to filament.
But the precision and the output quality with powder is usually better then with filament. It depends mostly on the needed output quality.
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