Selective laser melting is an additive manufacturing process that builds metal components layer by layer from a fine cobalt chrome powder, guided by a digital design file.
In dental manufacturing, the process produces frameworks with dimensional accuracy that is difficult to match through conventional casting.
A digital design file is sliced into thin cross-sectional layers. A fine layer of metal powder is spread across the build platform. A high-power laser fuses the powder in the pattern of each cross-section. The platform lowers, a new powder layer is spread and the process repeats until the complete component has been built.
The finished part is removed from the unfused powder, support structures are removed and the component is post-processed and finished by hand.
Traditional casting involves waxing a pattern, investing it, burning out the wax and injecting molten alloy. Each stage introduces potential for dimensional error: investment expansion or contraction, gas porosity and alloy shrinkage during solidification.
SLM eliminates all of these stages. The geometry is defined by the digital file and the laser builds it precisely, producing a fully dense component with no porosity.
SLM is particularly advantageous for frameworks with complex geometry, thin connectors, multiple precision attachments or designs that are difficult to cast reliably.
It is also preferable when reproducibility matters. The same framework can be reprinted from the original digital file without a new impression.
SLM printing is a standard service at Simcast, available to all laboratories submitting digital cases. All frameworks are hand finished and can be fully polished before despatch.
We use dental-grade cobalt chromium powder at Simcast. The fully fused SLM material is denser than a cast component, with no porosity and consistent mechanical properties throughout the cross-section.
What file formats do you accept for digital submissions?
We accept STL, OBJ, PLY and DCM files for digital submissions. If you are unsure about compatibility with your scanner or design software, please contact the laboratory.
What materials are used for SLM metal printing?
SLM frameworks are produced using dental-grade cobalt chrome alloy powder. Titanium production may also be possible on request.
Are SLM frameworks finished by hand?
Yes. All SLM frameworks are hand finished by our technicians. Different polishing options can be provided depending on the requirements of the case.
Can a framework be reproduced if it is lost or damaged?
Yes. Because frameworks are produced from a digital design file, they can be reprinted from the original file if a replacement is required.