Selective Laser Melting (SLM) 3D printing is a powder bed fusion technology that uses a focused laser beam to selectively melt and fuse metallic powder material layer-by-layer to build metal parts. In the SLM process, a thin layer of metal powder is evenly spread across a build platform. A high-powered laser then scans the surface, melting and solidifying the powder where the part is to be created. This process is repeated for each layer, building the object from the bottom up.
SLM is particularly noted for its ability to produce parts with complex geometries and internal structures that are difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods. It is widely used in industries that require high precision and material properties, such as aerospace, automotive, and medical implants.
