I don't understand what laser 3d printing is. Can you explain a little further.

It is 3D printing but without the use of a plastics extruder. A 3D model is imported into a software, then sliced into layers (same as for conventional 3D printing). Next in build space a thin layer of a suitable material (typically a powder but can be a liquid too) is applied where the laser marks the data of the first layer of the sliced model. This material is melted to one piece by the laser. Then the build space's Z-position is moved slightly, the next layer or material is applied, the next slice is marked and so on. So quite similar to conventional 3D printing the model is built up layer by layer just by melting the material to one big piece. Finally you have to dig the built up model out of your material and can reuse the remaining powder for the next model.

The disadvantage: because of the laser and scanhead this method is more expensive. The advantage: the result is much more exact sine such a laser has a spotsize of some microns, so when you have the resulting 3D model in your hands, you typically can't see that it was 3D "printed".

Mike

Hi Mike
Dont know how much you have found yourself on www but found this from a fast search: http://reprap.org/wiki/OpenSLS or http://directmachining.com . One open source and one commercial
But search for open source sls software... god luck!

Hello perolalars,

yes, these are the ones which I found too - and which I dropped. OpenSLS is too limited and too complicated and DirectMachining way too expensive (they ask for a five-digit number for their software which seems to be close to fradulent for me). So I hoped somebody has already tried this RepliSLS3D thingy, it is way cheaper than DirectMachining but I have not yet done too much with it...

Cheers

Mike

Hi there
I know this thread is a little bit oldie but I would like to know what website helped you? I have the same problem right now and don't know any trustful sources.
Thanks in advance

In order to work properly with a 3D printer you will need a lot of background knowledge and experience. When I started to figure out how 3D printers work, in my head was a complete mess. I was so naive to think that I will need only the printer itself and the computers. I’ve never thought that I will need additional software besides main elements. Thanks God I found a website which had the answers to all my questions. Printtopeer.com helped me to understand how 3D industry works and where I can get the best and suitable software for my printer. In addition it has a lot of information related to 3D field as well. Check it out!