How big can an SLS part be?
The standard envelope is 165 × 165 × 300 mm across all five materials, and up to 490 × 490 × 740 mm in PA12-CF. A 350 × 350 × 550 mm envelope across all materials is coming end-2026 with the Fuse X1. Bigger than that? We'll bond sections or move you to large-format FDM at 500 × 500 × 900 mm — just ask.
What machines do you print SLS on?
Day-to-day production across all five powders runs on the Formlabs Fuse 1+ 30W at 165 × 165 × 300 mm, and oversized carbon-reinforced parts run on our large-format platform at 490 × 490 × 740 mm — which is why PA12-CF is the only grade available at that size. In December 2026 we take delivery of the Formlabs Fuse X1, the first in the UK, opening a 350 × 350 × 550 mm envelope across every material.
Which materials can I order online?
PA12 and PA12-CF are available for instant online pricing on up to 100,000 parts. PA12-GF, PA11 and TPU 90A are specialist grades — request a quote and our team will price them for you.
What lead time should I expect?
1–3 working days on express, 5–7 working days standard. On a programme with a fixed line date? Tell us and we'll plan around it.
What finish do SLS parts come with?
A clean, semi-matte surface as standard. In-house we also bead blast, dye, vapour smooth and vibratory polish — so parts leave the way you need them, with no second supplier.
Can you handle high volume production?
Yes. 100+ production machines and 2.5m+ parts in service across 25 vehicle programmes. SLS scales from a single prototype to high volume serial manufacturing with no tooling spend, and our instant quote tool prices up to 100,000 parts online without a sales call. Scheduled and call-off orders are available for programmes with fixed line dates.
Does SLS 3D printing require support material?
No. The un-sintered nylon powder surrounding each layer acts as the support, so SLS needs no support structures. That means complex geometries, internal channels and interlocking assemblies are possible with no support marks to finish out.
Is SLS a good alternative to injection moulding?
Across most volumes, yes. SLS eliminates tooling cost and lead time entirely, so it's usually cheaper all-in for prototypes, bridge production, batch runs and serial production into the tens of thousands. Moulding only pulls ahead on unit cost at very high volumes on a design that won't change. Send us the CAD and your annual volume and we'll tell you honestly which route costs less.
What is the difference between SLS and MJF?
Both are powder bed fusion processes producing functional nylon parts. SLS uses a laser to sinter the powder and offers the widest material range — PA11, PA12, glass-filled and carbon-filled. MJF uses jetted fusing agents and infrared heat, giving a smoother surface and excellent repeatability on PA12. We run both, so your part goes on whichever performs better — see our
MJF service.
Is there a minimum or maximum order quantity?
Neither. SLS needs no tooling, so a one-off part is perfectly viable — and instant online pricing scales automatically all the way to 100,000 parts, with volume price breaks applied as quantity rises. Beyond that, talk to us about a scheduled or call-off production agreement.
What tolerance can I expect from SLS?
Typically ±0.3 mm or ±0.3% of the nominal dimension, whichever is greater, depending on geometry, material and orientation. Every part is inspected to tolerance before it ships. Tell us the critical dimensions and we'll plan orientation around them.
Is SLS nylon food safe or biocompatible?
Don't assume either from the material alone. Both are assessed against the specific application, the finish and the regulatory route you need to satisfy, rather than inherited from a datasheet — and as-printed SLS parts are slightly porous, so vapour smoothing to seal the surface is usually the right route for these applications. Tell us what the part has to comply with at quote and we'll confirm what documentation is available before you commit.
Where can I download SLS material datasheets?
Our SLS capabilities brochure carries the full property tables for all five grades — heat deflection, tensile strength, elongation at break and notched Izod for PA12, PA12-GF, PA12-CF, PA11 and TPU 90A — along with both build envelopes, finishing options and design guidance. Each grade also has its own page with full data:
see all SLS materials.
Do you offer trade accounts for 3D printing?
Yes. If you order SLS parts regularly we'll set you up with a trade account and a
dedicated account manager — one named contact who knows your parts, your tolerances and your programme. Your part history stays on the account, so repeat batches don't need re-quoting, and unit pricing scales with volume up to 100,000 parts.
Talk to us or call
024 7736 0144 to open one.
Do you offer a free 3D printing sample pack?
Yes. Our
free SLS sample pack contains real printed parts showing our material grades, finish options and feature resolution, sent free to UK addresses. Request one online and we'll post it out — no sales call attached.
Can I hand-finish, paint or glue SLS nylon parts?
Yes, and plenty of customers do. Sanding: use wet-and-dry paper around 400 grit with plenty of water. Painting: nylon is porous, so knock the grain back first — vibro polishing or a light sand, then primer, then acrylic. Dyeing: our in-house deep dye penetrates the surface without changing dimensions, which hand dyeing won't match. Bonding: use a two-part epoxy or a gap-filling cyanoacrylate; standard thin superglue cures too fast on a powdery surface to bond well. If you want the part to arrive finished, we do all of it in-house.
Can I choose the orientation my part is printed in?
Yes. By default our technicians orient parts to minimise stepping, warping and cosmetic banding, and to nest the bed efficiently. If a part has a load path, a critical face or a fit feature that needs a specific orientation, tell us at order and we'll place it manually. Orientation affects surface finish and, at the margins, dimensional accuracy — it's worth a conversation on load-bearing parts.
How much does SLS 3D printing cost in the UK?
SLS pricing is driven by the volume of powder your parts occupy in the build, the material, the finish and the lead time you choose — not by an hourly machine rate. Upload a STEP or STL to our
instant quote tool and you'll have GBP pricing in seconds, on anything from a single prototype to 100,000 production parts, with unit price falling as quantity rises. No sales call, no RFQ wait.
Where can I find an SLS 3D printing service near me in the UK?
Every part is printed, finished and inspected at our own facility in Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire — central enough to reach the Midlands, London, the South East, the North West and Scotland on next-day carriage. Nothing is offshored and nothing is brokered out, so you deal with the engineers who actually make the part. Upload your CAD from anywhere in the UK and we'll ship to you.
Can I order SLS parts online without speaking to sales?
Yes. Upload a STEP or STL file, pick your material, finish and lead time, and check out with a card — the whole route from CAD to confirmed order runs online, 24/7. If your part needs a design review, a non-standard grade, or a serial production schedule, our engineers will pick it up from there.
How can I make my SLS order cheaper?
Nest parts sensibly, hollow out solid volumes where the geometry allows, and order in batches — SLS pricing is driven largely by the volume of powder your parts occupy in the build. Choose standard lead time over express where the programme allows. Our design review is free, and we'll flag anything worth optimising before you commit.
