Printing in SLM
SLM is a 3D printing technology that uses metallic powder to print metal objects instantly.
During printing, a coating mechanism (the recoater) spreads a layer of metallic powder on the printing plate and a powerful laser beam selectively melts the powder of the current layer. After the fusion is complete, the printing platform is moved down one layer, and the process is repeated until the entire object is fused. The whole process is carried out in a chamber, with a shielding gas, to prevent the metal from reacting with other gases at high temperatures.
The main advantage of SLM technology is that it offers many new options in manufacturing metal parts, such as geometric freedom in design, weight reduction, flexibility in prototyping, and speed in producing metal objects in small quantities.