I have two galvo marking system with Co2 150W power laser, working area is 140x140mm the system's ar in working condition and I'm interested in converting one to a metal sls 3d printer. I did a lot of reading regarding this. I know it will be hard to make it. The working chamber need's to be under vacuum and sustained in gas (argon, gorgon, etc.), i will need to make it from aluminum so it can sustain preheating the powder. Software side is a problem, i manage to find a suitable open source software that can do the slicing of a 3d model and control the laser,galvo and extra axis (for z axis, powder chambers and powder dispenser) but my controller is not implemented and it costs me 2000$ to implement it. Maybe a developer that is interested can help me with this The Biggest problem now is the raw metal powder material, maybe someone can tell me from were to buy some. https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?153,212850,212850#msg-212850 Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:43:11 -0400 Phorum 5.2.23 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?153,212850,296470#msg-296470 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?153,212850,296470#msg-296470
A 30W CO2 laser is enough for any polymer powder. The 10nm wavelength makes any polymer opaque without the need for colorants to absorb the laser eavelength, unlike Yag and some fiber lasers.

Sintering metal? You'll need a min of 400W from a CO2 laser. Maybe slightly less if using a fiber laser. One step at a time....one step at a time.]]> MrBaz Powder Printing and Selective Laser Sintering Fri, 17 Jan 2014 10:10:59 -0500 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?153,212850,219407#msg-219407 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?153,212850,219407#msg-219407
Researched so far, you just need a laser beam up to 1000 Watts of power (without lens)
and a means of distributing the powder, either polymer or metal, which is larger as the temperature of these
material, the lower the power requirements of the laser. Among polymers and metal powders major differences exist and need a very efficient device for controlling the laser, from 20/50 Watts for fusion polymers of up to 250/1000 Watts for fusion of the metal powders.
I think the best way is to simplify and seems easy. I just need to know where can I buy Laser diodes Nd: Yag with competitive prices to create
my first RepRap printer SLS. who wants to give further information, thank you. Congratulations.

Saulo Quevedo

InovaStar]]> Saulo Quevedo Powder Printing and Selective Laser Sintering Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:22:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?153,212850,214810#msg-214810 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?153,212850,214810#msg-214810 2 as it may save you some money however this will depend upon the metal powder you plan to use.]]> Timoth Powder Printing and Selective Laser Sintering Mon, 03 Jun 2013 13:06:37 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?153,212850,213315#msg-213315 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?153,212850,213315#msg-213315 here. Skylighter fireworks supply has titanium powder here.]]> prototypist Powder Printing and Selective Laser Sintering Wed, 29 May 2013 12:13:11 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?153,212850,213000#msg-213000 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?153,212850,213000#msg-213000 I don't have a clue, from were to get plastic or metal powder for testing]]> mecanicu Powder Printing and Selective Laser Sintering Tue, 28 May 2013 15:53:35 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?153,212850,212859#msg-212859 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?153,212850,212859#msg-212859 VDX Powder Printing and Selective Laser Sintering Tue, 28 May 2013 09:56:23 -0400 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?153,212850,212850#msg-212850 https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?153,212850,212850#msg-212850 I did a lot of reading regarding this. I know it will be hard to make it.
The working chamber need's to be under vacuum and sustained in gas (argon, gorgon, etc.), i will need to make it from aluminum so it can sustain preheating the powder.
Software side is a problem, i manage to find a suitable open source software that can do the slicing of a 3d model and control the laser,galvo and extra axis (for z axis, powder chambers and powder dispenser) but my controller is not implemented and it costs me 2000$ to implement it. Maybe a developer that is interested can help me with this
The Biggest problem now is the raw metal powder material, maybe someone can tell me from were to buy some.]]> mecanicu Powder Printing and Selective Laser Sintering Tue, 28 May 2013 09:33:31 -0400