In Direct Metal Laser Sintering, how is each layer formed?

• A. By Aiming a Laser at the Powder Bed at Specific Points
• B. By Extruding a Metal Filament
• C. By Pouring Molten Metal into a Mold
• D. By Joining Sheets with Adhesive

Answer: (A)

Each layer in Direct Metal Laser Sintering is formed by selectively fusing metal powder with a laser according to the layer’s cross-section. A thin layer of powder is spread across the build area, and the laser scans the pattern from the CAD slice, fusing the powder only where material is required. This process repeats: the platform lowers slightly, another powder layer is spread, and the laser fuses the next cross-section, building the part layer by layer. The other methods described correspond to different manufacturing approaches (extruding metal filament, pouring molten metal into a mold, or bonding sheets with adhesive), not how DMLS creates each layer.