Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) is the most widely used additive manufacturing (formerly Rapid 

Prototyping) technology used for metal layer-manufacturing parts. Its growth has been driven by the 

broad acceptance of additive manufacturing, which began with plastic-based materials in the 1980s, 

and the many commercially available DMLS 3D printing materials.

DMLS parts are made from 3D Cad data in hours or days and eliminate the need for expensive tooling.

The process is repeated until the part is fully produced. Manufactured parts possess the same mechanical

 properties as wrought or billet, and can be finished using a variety of traditional post processes.The direct 

metal laser sintering machine makes use of a powerful fiber optic laser. Within the build chamber is a platform 

for material dispensation and a build platform, in addition to a recoater blade which moves new powder on

 top of the build platform. 

With a focused laser beam, this DMLS technology melts metal powder locally to fuse it into solid parts. Parts 

are constructed additively, one layer at a time. Each layer is usually 40 micrometres thick. This direct laser metal 
sintering process facilitates the creation of very complex geometries derived from 3-dimensional CAD data. The

 process is completely automated and is usually completed within just a few hours. DMLS is a net-shape process,

 accurately creating parts that yield, high resolution, great surface quality and excellent mechanical properties.