Selective Laser Sintering and Multi Jet Fusion are the two leading powder bed processes for nylon, and we offer both through our MJF & SLS printing service in Perth. They produce parts that look and feel remarkably similar at a glance, both with a fine matte texture and excellent functional strength, so it is no surprise that customers regularly ask us which one they should choose for a given job.
The honest answer is that both are excellent processes, and the better choice depends on the level of detail you need, the finish and colour you are after, and the quantity you are ordering. Once you understand the simple difference in how each one turns loose powder into a solid part, the decision becomes much clearer, and often the price difference between them turns out to be small enough that suitability matters far more than cost.
How each one fuses powder
SLS uses a laser to draw and fuse every layer point by point, tracing the cross section of each part with a focused beam of energy. Multi Jet Fusion takes a different route, jetting a fusing agent across the whole layer wherever material is needed and then passing infrared lamps over the bed so the treated areas heat up and fuse. In effect MJF prints a complete layer at once rather than tracing it line by line, which can make it faster across a fully packed build where the whole bed is busy.
Despite that difference, the end materials overlap closely. Both processes most commonly build in PA12 nylon, both leave a fine, even matte texture, and both produce parts strong enough for demanding functional use. The mechanics under the bonnet differ, but the parts share a great deal of DNA, which is why a customer holding one of each often cannot tell them apart by feel.
Finish, colour and detail
MJF parts come out a consistent grey because of the fusing agent that is jetted into the powder, and that process can hold very fine detail and small text crisply, which makes it a favourite for parts with intricate features. SLS parts are naturally an off white colour, which makes them ideal candidates for dyeing into deep, even colours, and they tend to have a very slightly softer feel in the hand.
For the finest features and the densest nesting of small parts, MJF often has a slight edge. For parts that you want to dye into a bright colour, or where the marginally softer SLS nylon suits the application, SLS becomes the stronger pick. Neither is universally better, which is exactly why we keep both available and choose per job rather than forcing every part down one path.
Quantity and turnaround
Quantity often tips the balance. For larger batches where the build chamber can be filled completely, MJF can fuse a packed layer in one pass, which sometimes shortens turnaround on high count runs. For smaller jobs, mixed nests or parts that need to be dyed to a specific colour, SLS is frequently the more flexible and cost effective choice, and the lead time difference shrinks to almost nothing.
Both processes share the same digital workflow, so reorders are simple and changes between batches cost nothing in tooling. That makes either one a sensible bridge into low volume production while you decide whether higher volume methods are worth the investment for your product.
Letting us pick for you
In day to day practice we look at your part geometry, the quantity you need and the finish you want, then recommend whichever process delivers the best value. Sometimes that is SLS, sometimes it is MJF, and because the running costs are broadly comparable the price gap is frequently minor.
- MJF prints grey parts and excels at fine detail and small text.
- SLS prints off white parts that dye into deep, even colours.
- Both build durable PA12 nylon with a fine matte finish.
- MJF can suit large, fully packed batches on turnaround.
- Price difference is often small, so we pick on suitability.