Which AM process is known for its capability to create dense and high-quality metal parts?

Laser sintering is recognized for its ability to produce dense and high-quality metal parts because it utilizes a laser to selectively fuse powdered material layer by layer. In this process, the laser's high energy allows for precise control over the melting of the powder, resulting in a strong inter-particle bonding that leads to denser components with superior mechanical properties.

The capability of laser sintering to achieve high density arises from the efficient energy input and the thermal behavior of the powdered material. As the laser selectively scans the powder bed, it effectively melts the particles at the interface, allowing them to coalesce into a solid layer. Furthermore, the process can be optimized by adjusting the parameters such as laser power, scan speed, and layer thickness, which can significantly influence the density and quality of the final part.

In contrast, other methods such as fused filament fabrication generally work with thermoplastics, which do not achieve the same density levels that metals can reach with laser sintering. Material jetting and binder jetting, while effective in their respective applications, typically do not produce parts with the same level of density and mechanical properties as those created through laser sintering.