Advanced SLS offers consulting to individuals or teams of designers on the potential of SLS to produce purposeful objects through a combination of Design for AM for value and dynamic performance. The versatility, durability and quality of SLS lends itself to all fields of design and manufacture.
Advanced SLS can provide consulting to manufacturers who are considering adopting polymer based Additive Manufacturing. Whether through outsourcing or investing in the techology itself, it is critical to understand design for AM to extract the most value from the technology. We are also available to identify traditionally manufactured components as candidates for high value transition to Additive Manufacturing through SLS.
Advanced SLS understands ideas and thrives on consulting with Artists and Craftspeople to achieve their intentions with the application of 3D printing. We have worked with a number of renowned practitioners helping them to quietly, yet powerfully apply 3D printing to their practice.
The world of Additive Manufacturing can be a complex one to navigate and selecting the appropriate starting point from which to embark on a project is vital. At the outset, multiple 3D printing technologies might appear to offer the way forward to production but it is important to look beyond the initial stage and understand the steps that will be encountered further down the road to production. Of the established AM technologies, SLS currently accounts for the majority of production projects and Advanced SLS can provide independent consulting and act as a dependable and informed guide.
The statement that Additive Manufacturing “only applies to high value manufacturing“ is often heard. This is commonly misunderstood to mean that it is only relevant to manufacturers making expensive things. High value simply means making valuable products at least expense. This can be achieved with SLS when you understand how to apply Design for AM for value and dynamic performance. Advanced SLS offers consulting to impart this design expertise in order to extract the highest value from your objects.
All designers need to start any project with an idea of the object’s ultimate value. Understanding what drives the cost of SLS production allows individuals to begin their Design for AM with a clear sense of what it will cost to make their objects and achieve a significant enough margin to make Additive Manufacturing using SLS worthwhile. Once complete, these designs can then be further optimised for production which will achieve an even better return on their effort.
Over recent years there has been much talk of the urgent need for manufacturers to “Adopt Additive Manufacturing.” This is often misinterpreted as the need for manufacturers to purchase AM hardware. A tiny proportion of the designers and manufacturers that Jonathan Rowley has provided consulting for have purchased SLS systems, however they have all successfully adopted AM. Adoption simply means using it as a part of your process. There are thousands of SME manufacturers who could be valuably adopting SLS for the production of modest, yet significantly valuable objects.
Many manufacturers have begun to explore the way in which they make things and review some of the components with the hope of transferring these to Additive Manufacturing. They often select what they consider will be their ideal component candidate parts, only to discover that for a variety of reasons they are not suitable for AM whether this be cost, performance or rate of production. When confronted with this scenario, SLS is sometimes written off, when in actual fact, they are surrounded by seemingly innocuous application objects that could be transformed through AM. Advanced SLS offers consulting in the selection of initial candidate parts that can have an almost immediate commercial impact. These “easy win” solutions have a powerful effect in terms of cementing faith in the potential of the technology. The understanding gained also stimulates designers to find similar and further applications for themselves.
Advanced SLS has connections throughout the AM industry ranging from specialist SLS DfAM designers, SLS providers, hardware manufacturers, research and development partners, Academia and AM investors. Advanced SLS consulting can assist your Additive Manufacturing project with SLS from conception, all the way to market. We are also available to join design consortia funding applications where Additive Manufacturing forms any part of the bid.
Initial consulting on projects regarding their
commercial viability in both the short and long term, through the adoption of SLS.
Consulting on what drives the cost of objects
produced in SLS. Commencing design within
these rules, SLS achieves highest value Additive Manufacturing
Design for AM guidance in order to exploit the dynamic properties of SLS to minimise cost, increase productivity and deliver material function to your Additive Manufacturing.
Advanced SLS consulting is available to assess your part inventory and identify valuable part candidates for transition to Additive Manufacturing with SLS.
Where you have existing objects for SLS production, providing a design review service in terms of how to maximise production rate, value and performance.
Appropriate CAD software selection is key to successful DfAM for SLS parts. Advanced SLS can refer CAD specialists with genuine SLS design expertise.
Not all SLS is the same. Advanced SLS can provide consulting on the 3D printing suppliers suitable for your quality, volume, time frame and finishing requirements.
For over 8 years Jonathan Rowley has focussed and maintained a keen eye on this versatile technology across the widest range of applications. With this knowledge, Advanced SLS can refer you to existing applications that relate to your own project and help you understand why they have worked commercially.
Novel applications of SLS often require technical development to achieve consistency and reliability for production. With established connections to hardware manufacturers, material developers and researchers, Advanced SLS can facilitate the development required. l
Advanced SLS ran a fleet of industrial SLS machines in a service provider environment for 8 years. Whether operating SLS equipment for your own production, offering a service or in Academia, we can provide advice on best practice tailored to your business model.
As a recognised identifier of remarkable and valuable SLS projects, Advanced SLS have direct connections to AM investors who could be able to assist in taking your Additive Manufacturing project to the next level.
If you are embarking upon a research and development project involving SLS for Additive Manufacturing, Advanced SLS are available to join funding application consortia in order to add expertise in designing for commercial value and dynamic performance.
A conversation to understand your ambitions and establish the realistic potential for a fruitful collaboration, is the start of all projects.
This is most appropriate for modest scale projects or ones that are already in advanced development.
Based on an agreed scope, this can either cover the entire project or be broken down in to smaller stages.
For engagement in a development programme involving a range of different applications.
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