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By using additive manufacturing processes various powder materials can be melted and geometrically complex parts can be built. There is a need for high energy density to melt a metal powder layer locally. Therefore a laser beam is used to induce the required temperature level. To attain a more homogeneous temperature distribution a heating unit is integrated. To identify the thermal influences a model has been developed and validated by using tungsten carbide. To evaluate the achieved results different quality criteria have been determined. However, both process stability and part quality can be increased by minimizing temperature gradient mechanisms. Additive layer manufacturing has many advantages (e.g. geometrical flexibility), but also some disadvantages (e.g. residual stresses), which need to be resolved. Therefore, it is mandatory to enable high process stability by increasing part quality. All kinds of powders act as a thermal isolator and keep most of the inserted heat inside the process area. Hence, the thermal leakage is insignificant and a uniform heat distribution over the building platform can be ensured. Manufacturing of hard materials can be optimized by heating up the building platform temperature. Therefore, even small temperatures have an effect on the used energy density. Furthermore, with a lower energy density the temperature gradient mechanism is reduced and the part quality could be significantly increased. Even hardly fusible materials, e.g. tungsten carbide in combination with cobalt, could be handled well. Thus, the potential of selective laser melting can be tapped by enlarging the range of materials. For the future more refractory materials (e.g. ceramics and hard metals) and higher building platform temperatures need to be investigated for being used in SLM.