Question

sls: powder removal
use the information below to answer the question.
in selective laser sintering (sls) 3d printing, support structures are unnecessary, but hollow prints often retain unsintered powder inside. to address this unsintered powder, designers incorporate strategically placed escape holes, allowing easy removal of excess powder. this not only streamlines the cleaning process but also reduces the print’s weight, leading to cost savings.
print strength
designers have flexibility in choosing the location of escape holes. they can integrate them seamlessly into the design or hide them strategically. opting not to use escape holes may compromise the strength of the sls print due to added weight. increasing the wall thickness of an sls print, coupled with the incorporation of escape holes, ensures it will have optimal strength.
which of the following is unnecessary for sls prints?
a design
post - processing
support structures
a heat source

Explanation:

The passage states "In Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printing, support structures are unnecessary". For the other options: a design is needed (designers integrate escape holes into design), post - processing (powder removal is a form of post - processing and is addressed), and a heat source (SLS uses a laser, a heat source, for sintering). So support structures are unnecessary.

Answer:

support structures