PA11-Bauteil chemisch geglättet

The right material for your requirements.

High-performance plastics for functional, resilient and application-specific components from additive manufacturing.

1.0 

The right material is just the beginning

Material selection and process understanding determine component quality.

M9 A5189
M9 A5202

Choosing the right material is essential for a component’s function, load capacity and service life. Yet with selective laser sintering (SLS) in particular, the material alone does not determine the final component properties.

The process parameters, temperature control and quality of the powder are just as important. The mixing ratio of virgin and reused powder in particular affects processability and the achievable component properties.

That is why at LMD we always consider the interplay of material, powder management and manufacturing process. Our process expertise and the targeted tuning of relevant parameters lay the foundation for consistent quality and reproducible component properties.

Whether mechanical strength, flexibility, dimensional accuracy or special requirements in the food and pharmaceutical industries: we take into account both the material properties and the conditions of the final application.

Because only the right combination of material and manufacturing process turns a suitable material into a reliable functional component.

 

 

Book material consulting

1.1 

Materials

Industrial materials for demanding applications.

We rely on proven materials that have become established both in development and in series production. Besides the material itself, the right printing parameters and in-depth process understanding are crucial for reliable industrial use.

You benefit from stable processes and consistently high quality.

The range extends from high-strength and chemically resistant materials and flexible materials to detectable and food-compliant solutions.

CategoryColour Chemically 
smoothable 		Typical 
surface roughness* 		Typical 
applications 
PA2201 (PA12) natural / cream white Yes approx. Ra 10–12 µm (standard), smoothed down to Ra 1.8 µm  Machine components, grippers, housings, fixtures, food handling 
PA11 BlueCare blue, through-coloured Yes approx. Ra 10–12 µm (standard), smoothed down to Ra 1.8 µm Food industry, hygienic grippers, applications with optical detection 
PA11 Detect dark blue, through-coloured Yes approx. Ra 10–12 µm (standard), smoothed down to Ra 1.8 µm Food and pharmaceutical industries, safety-critical applications with metal and X-ray detection 
TPU X97 A (flexible) natural (white - slightly yellowish) Yes approx. Ra 12–15 µm (standard), < Ra 6 µm smoothed Flexible grippers, food handling, damping elements, shaped suction cups, flexible components, product supports without chemical marks
PP (polypropylene) natural, slightly yellowishNo approx. Ra 12–15 µm Chemical-resistant components, fluid handling 
Alumide (PA12 + aluminium) grey / aluminium-like Yes approx. Ra 12–16 µm, smoothed down to Ra 1.8 µm Fixtures, robust machine parts, components with increased thermal conductivity 

*Roughness values are typical for SLS components and may vary depending on geometry and post-processing.

Data sheets & conformity

1.2 

Post-processing

Hygienic components through chemical smoothing.

Coatings. Mechanical finishing. Threaded inserts.

Glaetten
Pore-free smoothing
Farbe
Wide range of colours
Reinigen
Hygienically cleanable
  • Thread cutting (internal & external)
  • LMD threaded inserts
  • KerbKonus threaded inserts (Ensat)
  • Drilling / boring
  • Reaming holes (fits)
  • Channel cleaning
  • Grinding (mechanical finishing)
  • Chemical smoothing & contract smoothing
  • Painting
  • Dyeing
  • Flocking
  • Functional coatings
  • Assembly
More on post-processing
Apfelgreifer 001 ohne Hintergrund

1.3 

The end product

Assemblies & Assembly

Precise manufacturing. Precise finishing.
Precise assembly.

IMG 4113

Do you need not just individual components, but a complete, ready-assembled unit?

We manufacture according to your drawings and design data and, on request, take care of the complete assembly. We combine additively manufactured components with standard components, bought-in parts and mechanical and electronic components.

This way you receive your assembly to your specifications – fully assembled and ready for integration into your application.

As always: The highest quality is our standard.

1.4 

Quality and process reliability

From powder to component: quality assured throughout.

Trust is essential, particularly in sensitive industries. That is why we rely on traceable, documented and reproducible processes throughout the entire manufacturing chain - guided by the requirements of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).

A key element is the rigorous monitoring of our materials. We analyse every powder batch – including microscopy to detect foreign particles and assess grain size distribution. We also carry out melt tests to ensure material quality and processability.

During manufacturing, defined reference parts such as dimensional test pieces and membranes are used. These accompany every build job and allow continuous checking of dimensional accuracy, tolerances and leak tightness. This is complemented by six certified quality control stations and AI-supported automatic part measurement.

For complete traceability, we use an ERP system developed in-house. It allows the status of every single component to be tracked throughout the entire process.

Continuous improvement

We continuously develop our processes to offer our customers the highest quality over the long term.

Among other things, we have integrated AI-based part recognition and developed a new system for cleaning SLS components. Chemical smoothing is also an in-house development by LMD and has been established in industrial use for years.

Your advantage
  • Documented batch traceability throughout the entire manufacturing process
  • Regular powder and component analysis for consistent quality
  • Validated reference parts to monitor function and leak tightness
  • Consistently reproducible processes – from powder preparation to post-processing
  • Migration tests by independent institutes for food contact applications

The result is manufacturing that is not only technically convincing, but also meets the highest quality requirements and regulatory standards.

M9 A5637
Luft und Gasdicht ab 1mm Wandstärke
M9 A5165

Case studies and
customer stories.

Sauggreifer bei SMO

6-cup vacuum gripper for the food industry.

Together with SMO Machinebouw, we developed a 6-cup vacuum gripper for direct food contact: additively manufactured, hygienically designed and built for continuous industrial operation. The project shows that SLS components are not a grey area in the food sector, but an established solution when geometry, surface and process are considered holistically.







Learn more
Deckblatt

Bakisto – automated baking with intelligent gripper technology.

In food retail, in-store bakeries are under increasing pressure: rising energy costs, staff shortages and, at the same time, the demand for freshly baked goods available at all times.

In the Bakisto project, a fully automated baking process was implemented together with Wanzl, FANUC and WIESHEU – from loading and baking to presenting the goods at the point of sale.

LMD’s gripper solution plays a central role in this.

Learn more
IMG 0819

Stacking gripper for industrial applications.

For an automated handling task, a stacking gripper was developed that reliably separates, stacks and destacks products.

The challenge lay in safely handling varying geometries at high cycle rates. At the same time, the gripper had to be integrated reliably into existing automation concepts.






Learn more

Active throughout
Europe.

Our customers

Get in
touch.

Contact