Sintratec Kit

The Sintratec Kit is an SLS 3D printer from Sintratec AG with a 110 x 110 x 110 mm build volume.

Specifications

Light Engine: 3W blue-violet diode laser at 450 nm: non-standard for SLS (most systems use CO₂ at 10.6 µm). Low power demands slow scanning but enables a compact, affordable chassis.

Optics/Scanner: Galvanometer scanner with fixed focal length; laser spot diameter ~0.2–0.3 mm at correct focus.

Platform: Steel sintering platform; recommended build volume 110×110×110 mm; actual chamber 130×130×130 mm for thermal buffer.

Chamber: Enclosed heated chamber reaching ~180°C; air atmosphere (no nitrogen): primarily suited for PA12.

Build Volume: 110×110×110 mm (recommended); minimum layer 100 µm.

Software: Sintratec Central (proprietary). No third-party slicer support.

Calibration

Temperature calibration: Chamber must reach stable ±2°C of set temperature before starting a job; allow 30–40 min warm-up.

Laser focus: Adjust Z-offset of laser module using visible-spectrum laser-sensitive paper; target spot ≤0.3 mm.

Recoater: Visual check of layer uniformity after each cleaning: streaks directly indicate a mis-adjusted recoater roller.

Test cube: 20×20×20 mm PA12 cube after assembly and after any significant change: measure after full cool-down (≥8 h).

Common defects

Undercure (porosity): Insufficient laser energy → reduced mechanical strength. Fix by slowing scan speed or adding passes.

Warping: Rapid cooling in a small chamber without nitrogen atmosphere. Mitigate with slow cooling cycle and deep cake placement.

Orange-peel (streaks): Caked powder on recoater roller; sieve and clean before each job.

Thermal bleed on thin walls: Low laser power → broader thermal influence at low energy density. Minimum wall ≥1.5 mm.

What it is used for

Prototyping (design/university): PA12 without support structures → functional assembly and mechanism prototypes quickly and affordably.

AM education: The only SLS system within a student budget; the assembly process itself is a didactic exercise.