Unirapid, Japan, advances SLS for small detailed objects

Unirapid Inc in Japan have demonstrated a small SLS 3D printer which is claimed to have the same 3D printing quality as those costing 200,000 to 500,000 US dollars.

The printer is "specialized for printing very detailed designs, with a maximum build envelope of 150 × 150 × 150mm. The machine prints with a minimum of 0.05mm per layer."

The resin material used is ProtoGen 18420 from DSM, a liquid, ABS-like, photopolymer that produces accurate parts. In addition it can also use NanoTool also from DSM to produce strong, stiff, high temperature resistant composite parts.

The UNIRAPID III is suitable for making high resolution parts for research and development, but it is not recommended to make large models because the speed of construction is slow.

That's the contradiction inherent to 3D printing.  If you want detail in large objects, print times are excessive.  However, this development signals further advances in SLS down the line.