Selective Mask Sintering (SMS) is a digital, additive fabrication technique with great potential within Rapid Manufacturing. Three-dimensional parts are produced by selectively sintering or melting a thin layer of plastic powder, one layer on top of the other one, by exposure with IR-light through a digitally printed optical mask – i.e., a photomask – in the form of a toner image. The process thus transfers 2D images into 3D parts by melting each layer in a single exposure. This makes the SMS process significantly faster and more cost-effective than traditional laser sintering, which sinters each layer in a point-by-point fashion. The speed of the SMS process makes it suitable for use throughout the entire product life cycle for plastic parts; from the first prototypes, through production of parts, and finally to “Spare parts on demand”. Sintermask Technologies AB has developed the SMS-process, and has made the first SMS-machines commercially available during last year. The Selective Mask Sintering process and machine will be described in the following.
David S. Hermann, Ralf Larson, "Selective Mask Sintering for Rapid Production of Parts, Implemented by Digital Printing of Optical Toner Masks" in Proc. IS&T Int'l Conf. on Digital Printing Technologies and Digital Fabrication (NIP24), 2008, pp 885 - 889, https://doi.org/10.2352/ISSN.2169-4451.2008.24.1.art00108_2