What materials can be used for SLS 3D printing?
RYSE 3D runs five SLS grades: PA12 (the all-round nylon), PA11 (ductile, bio-based), glass-filled PA12-GF and carbon-filled PA12-CF for stiffness, and flexible TPU 90A. All print with no supports, so complex geometry comes free.
What is SLS PA12 (Nylon 12)?
PA12, also called Nylon 12 or PA2200, is the standard SLS material — strong, versatile and dimensionally stable, with around 42 MPa tensile strength and a 161 °C heat deflection. It suits most functional nylon parts, from prototypes to production.
Which SLS material is strongest?
For stiffness and strength, carbon-filled PA12-CF leads at around 85 MPa tensile. For impact toughness and ductility, PA11 is the pick with 40% elongation. PA12 is the balanced all-rounder.
What is the difference between PA11 and PA12 in SLS?
PA11 is more ductile and impact-resistant than PA12, with higher elongation (around 40% vs 25%) and a higher heat deflection, making it better for living hinges, snap-fits and parts that flex or take a knock. PA12 is stiffer, lower cost and the default for general parts.
Do you offer glass- or carbon-filled SLS nylon?
Yes — glass-filled PA12-GF for extra rigidity and dimensional stability, and carbon-filled PA12-CF for the highest stiffness-to-weight in our SLS range. Both print with no supports.
Can SLS print flexible or rubber-like parts?
Yes — TPU 90A is a flexible, rubber-like SLS elastomer (Shore 90A) that stretches to over 300% and springs back, ideal for seals, gaskets, grips and lattice geometry.
Can I get a sample of SLS materials?
Yes — order a free SLS sample pack to see and feel the grades and finishes before you commit, or upload your CAD for an instant quote in any material.
Where can I find SLS material properties and datasheets?
Each grade above lists its key material properties, and full datasheets are available on request or confirmed with your instant online quote.
How do I order SLS parts in the UK?
Upload your CAD to our instant online quote and pick an SLS grade. As a UK 3D printing service bureau we print, finish and inspect in-house in Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, and ship UK-wide. Cost per part falls as volumes rise, from prototyping to production.
How does SLS 3D printing work?
Selective Laser Sintering spreads a thin layer of nylon powder across the build bed, then a CO₂ laser traces the cross-section of the part, fusing the powder point by point. The bed drops, a fresh layer is spread on top, and the process repeats until the build is complete. The part is then cooled, removed from the surrounding cake of loose powder and cleaned.
Does SLS 3D printing need support material?
No. Parts are built surrounded by loose unfused powder, which supports the geometry as it prints. That means overhangs, undercuts, internal channels and even captive moving assemblies print with no support structures to remove and no witness marks where supports were attached — so complex geometry costs nothing extra.
What colour are SLS 3D printed parts?
Our SLS nylons print light grey with a fine matte texture, not white. Grey hides handling marks and fingerprints far better than white nylon, so parts look finished straight off the machine. From there they can be black dyed, shot blasted, vibro polished, vapor smoothed or painted. We do not offer colour dyeing.
What finishes can you apply to SLS parts?
Black dyeing for a deep, through-dyed finish that will not chip, shot blast polishing for an even satin surface, vibro polishing to take the grain off, vapor smoothing to seal the surface and close porosity, and full A-class painting for cosmetic parts. We also fit heat-set threaded inserts and bonded fixings, and handle assembly and sub-assembly. All in-house at our ISO 9001 facility in Shipston-on-Stour.
How accurate is SLS 3D printing?
SLS typically holds tolerances in the region of ±0.3 mm per 100 mm, using in-house scaling compensation refined over years of production. Achievable accuracy depends on part geometry, wall thickness and build orientation, so tell us which features are critical and we will orient the part accordingly.
What is the largest SLS part you can print?
Our standard SLS build envelope is 165 × 165 × 300 mm across all five grades, and carbon-filled PA12-CF also runs in our large-format envelope at up to 490 × 490 × 740 mm in one piece. A 350 × 350 × 550 mm envelope across every material arrives with the Formlabs Fuse X1 in December 2026. For parts larger than that we split the geometry, print the sections, bond them and inspect the finished assembly — or move the job to FDM, where we print up to 500 × 500 × 900 mm in a single piece.
How can I make my SLS order cheaper?
SLS prices on how much of the build volume your parts occupy, so cost per part falls as the bed fills. Order the full quantity in one go rather than in small batches, and send parts that can nest together in the same build. Our engineers will nest the build for you — upload the CAD to the instant quote and the volume pricing is calculated automatically.
Is SLS or MJF better for my part?
Both are nylon powder bed fusion and both print without supports. Choose SLS for the wider material range — including PA11, glass- and carbon-filled grades and flexible TPU 90A — for greater ductility, and for lower cost per part at volume thanks to denser nesting. Choose MJF for a through-dyed black finish and very consistent fine detail across a batch.
