AFS-M120: Industrial SLM Metal Printing That Fits Your Workshop
Full-density metal parts straight from CAD — no binders, no debinding, no sintering shrinkage to compensate. The AFS-M120 delivers ≥99.5% density with a 500W IPG fiber laser in a 120 × 120 × 150 mm build envelope. Stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, die steel, cobalt-chrome and nickel alloys — all on one platform.
Why SLM for Precision Metal Parts — Not Binder Jetting
Both technologies print metal. The difference is what happens between your CAD file and a finished part — and that decides density, mechanical properties and your post-processing workload.
SLM with the AFS-M120
- Full density in one step. ≥99.5% relative density straight off the plate — no debinding, no sintering furnace, no shrinkage to compensate.
- Built for precision parts. Thin walls, internal channels and geometries that machining or casting simply cannot produce.
- Properties match wrought metal. Mechanical performance comparable to or exceeding forged and machined material.
When Binder Jetting Wins
- High throughput at scale. Large batch volumes and bigger parts (400 mm and up) where BJ’s per-layer speed pays off.
- Lower per-part cost on simple geometries produced in high quantities.
- Multi-material flexibility and gradient compositions — see the AFS-M120X upgrade path below.
Not sure which process fits? 3DPTEK builds both SLM and Binder Jetting machines. Send us your part geometry and batch size — we’ll recommend the process that fits, not the one we happen to sell.
Technical Specifications
The numbers engineers ask about first — build envelope, laser, speed and accuracy — plus the site requirements your facility must provide.
3-phase 5-wire
SLM Materials: Industry-Grade Alloys
The AFS-M120 processes six material families at 15 – 53 μm powder size. Every parameter set is validated in-house and delivered with the system.
Stainless Steel
SS316L, 17-4PH — medical devices, food processing, marine. Near-full density with excellent corrosion resistance.
Titanium Alloys
TC4 (Ti-6Al-4V) — aerospace brackets, orthopedic implants. High strength-to-weight ratio with osseointegration capability.
Aluminum Alloys
AlSi10Mg — lightweight structural parts, heat exchangers, automotive. Excellent thermal conductivity.
Cobalt-Chrome
CoCrMo — dental restorations, knee/hip implants. Biocompatible with superior wear resistance.
Nickel-Based Alloys
IN718, IN625 — turbine components, combustion chambers. High-temperature strength at 650 – 980 °C.
Mold Steels
H13, 18Ni-300 — conformal-cooled injection molds. 20 – 40% cycle time improvement.
SLM vs. Traditional Manufacturing: The ROI Case
For precision components under 120 mm, SLM eliminates tooling, reduces material waste and enables geometries impossible with subtractive methods.
Material Utilization
SLM uses only the powder that becomes the part — compare CNC, where 70–85% of a billet becomes chips. For titanium at $300+/kg, waste reduction alone justifies the investment.
Zero Hard Tooling Cost
Investment casting runs $5K–25K per mold; CNC adds $500–5K of fixturing per part. SLM prints directly from CAD, so design iteration cost approaches zero.
Design-to-Part Timeline
From CAD to finished part in under 24 hours — versus 2–8 weeks for casting or CNC programming and setup. Accelerate R&D cycles by 10–20x.
Laser Pump Source Life
IPG fiber laser with 100,000+ hour diode life, TEM00 beam quality (M²<1.05) and 25% wall-plug efficiency — near-zero laser maintenance over a decade.
Free Sample Part Program — Printed in Your Material
Send your STL. We print it on an AFS-M120 in your material and ship it with a full parameter report — so you can verify quality before you commit.
Aerospace Bracket
TC4 titanium · topology-optimized
Dental Crown
CoCrMo · biocompatible, ISO 22674
Turbine Impeller
IN718 nickel alloy · high-temperatureYour Part, Printed Free
Send your STL today — we’ll print it on an AFS-M120 and return it with a full parameter report.
Request a Free SampleSLM Platform Growth Path
Start with single-material precision SLM. Expand to gradient materials or a larger build envelope as your applications grow.
AFS-M120
Standard SLM
AFS-M120X
FGM SLM
AFS-M120XT
4-powder feeding
Trade-in programs available. Compare all SLM models →
Application Cases
Real results from 3DPTEK SLM equipment in the field.
Surgical Instruments
Custom surgical tools in 316L stainless steel with conformal features impossible to machine. Sterilizable, full-density, traceable per batch.
Aerospace Brackets
Topology-optimized titanium brackets with 40% weight reduction vs. machined equivalents. Certified per customer QMS.
Mold Tooling Inserts
Die steel mold inserts with conformal cooling in geometries that baffle traditional gun-drilling. 25% faster cycle times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions engineers ask before committing to an SLM system.
The AFS-M120 processes stainless steel (SS316L, 17-4PH), titanium (TC4), aluminum (AlSi10Mg), cobalt-chrome (CoCrMo), nickel-based alloys (IN718, IN625) and mold steels (H13, 18Ni-300) at 15 – 53 μm powder size. Full material parameter sheets are included with every system, and 3DPTEK offers material qualification for custom powder formulations.
SLM (Selective Laser Melting) fully melts metal powder with a laser, producing near-100% dense parts directly — no debinding or sintering needed. Binder Jetting prints a green part that requires post-process sintering. Choose SLM for the highest mechanical properties, rapid single-step production and small precision parts; choose Binder Jetting for high throughput, larger parts and multi-material flexibility. 3DPTEK offers both technologies.
The AFS-M120 is a dedicated single-material SLM system. For gradient material (FGM) capability, 3DPTEK offers the AFS-M120X (horizontal gradient) and AFS-M120XT (horizontal + vertical gradient). They use the same platform architecture but add a multi-powder feeding system for precise continuous gradient composition of two or more materials. Trade-in programs are available.
SLM requires support structures for overhangs below 45° and to anchor parts against thermal stress. The AFS-M120 includes AFSWin V8.4 software with auto-support generation and optimized support strategies per material. Post-processing support removal is straightforward with standard tools, and our applications team provides support optimization as part of process development.
Standard lead time is 8–12 weeks from order confirmation. Installation and operator training (3–5 days on-site) are included with every system. 3DPTEK engineers handle uncrating, positioning, calibration and first-article print verification.
Standard warranty: 12 months parts and labor. Extended service plans include preventive maintenance visits, priority remote support and discounted consumables. 3DPTEK maintains service hubs in China, with partner networks covering EMEA and the Americas.
Compare with other metal 3D printers
For a different build volume or material set, compare the metal systems: 3DPTEK J160R, 3DPTEK J400P, 3DPTEK J800P. Or browse the full metal 3D printers range.