Polycaprolactone (PCL) Processing via Selective Laser Sintering Biomedical Material Research with Open-Parameter SLS Technology What is Polycaprolactone (PCL)? Polycaprolactone is a biodegradable and biocompatible polyester widely utilized in biomedical research and applications. Its unique combination of properties makes it particularly valuable for: • • • • Medical implants – Resorbable fixation devices and surgical sutures Tissue engineering scaffolds – Porous structures for cell growth and tissue regeneration Drug delivery systems – Controlled-release pharmaceutical carriers Biomedical research – In vitro and in vivo testing platforms PCL offers excellent mechanical properties, predictable slow degradation rates, and ease of processing—making it an ideal candidate for additive manufacturing in research environments. However, its low melting point (approximately 60°C) and narrow processing window present significant challenges for conventional SLS systems. The Challenge: Processing Low-Melt Thermoplastic Powders Traditional SLS equipment is optimized for high-performance polymers with melting points above 150°C (such as PA12, PA11, and TPU). When attempting to process low-melt materials like PCL, standard heating parameters can cause: • • • • Thermal degradation – Excessive heat damages material properties Uncontrolled sintering – Powder prematurely fuses before laser exposure Poor part quality – Inconsistent mechanical properties and dimensional accuracy Material waste – Expensive biomedical-grade powders lost to process failures Most commercial SLS systems lack the thermal control flexibility required for materials with melting points below 100°C, effectively excluding an entire category of biomedically relevant polym

Sharebot SnowWhite2 is specifically engineered for material research and development, offering unprecedented control over thermal management—including optimization for low-melt thermoplastic powders. SnowWhite2 is the only research-scale SLS system utilizing CO2 laser technology, providing optimal energy absorption characteristics for polymer sintering across a wide temperature range. Advanced lamp-based heating system with adjustable intensity parameters allows researchers to create custom thermal profiles matched to specific material requirements. Build chamber operation from low-melt conditions...

PCL exhibits extreme sensitivity to temperature fluctuations and operates within a very narrow processing window. The standard heating approach delivers excessive energy, causing premature sintering and material degradation. By reducing lamp intensity limits to 0-20%, the system achieves: • Gentle, controlled warm-up preventing thermal shock • Uniform temperature distribution across powder bed and chamber components • Minimized thermal stress preserving material properties • Consistent layer-to-layer processing enabling high-quality part production SnowWhite2's "Lamps Control” plugin provides...

The thermal control methodology developed for PCL is applicable to other low-melt thermoplastics of research interest. SnowWhite2's open architecture enables researchers to extend this methodology to any material requiring non-standard thermal management. ✓ Only research SLS system with CO2 laser technology ✓ Validated processing of expensive biomedical powders ✓ Complete thermal management control for low-melt materials ✓ Compact footprint minimizes material waste ✓ Open parameter access for complete process transparency ✓ Direct engineering support for application development