Purpose　In　this　research,　the　highly　dense　bulk　Cu-5Sn　alloy　specimens　were　fabricated　using　selective　laser　melting　(SLM).　This　study　aims　to　establish　the　relationship　between　laser　power　(LP),　scanning　speed　(SS)　and　hatch　space　(HS)　with　surface　roughness　(Ra)　and　density.　To　obtain　Cu-5Sn　alloy　formed　parts　with　high　strength　and　low　surface　roughness.　The　microstructure　and　mechanical　properties　of　SLMed　Cu-5Sn　were　investigated.　Design/methodology/approach　The　relative　density　(RD)　was　optimized　using　the　response　surface　method　(RSM)　and　analysis　of　variance.　First,　the　Ra　of　SLMed　formed　specimens　was　studied　to　optimize　the　forming　process　parameters　with　a　good　surface.　Then,　the　dense　specimens　were　studied　by　ANOVA　and　the　RSM　to　obtain　dense　specimens　for　mechanical　property　analysis.　Findings　Dense　specimens　were　obtained　by　RSM　and　ANOVA.　The　tensile　properties　were　compared　with　the　casted　specimens.　The　yield　and　ultimate　strengths　increased　from　71　and　131　MPa　for　the　cast　specimens　to　334　and　489　MPa　for　the　SLMed　specimens,　respectively.　The　ductility　increased　significantly　from　11%　to　23%,　due　to　the　refined　microstructure　of　the　SLMed　specimens,　as　well　as　the　formation　of　many　twin　crystals.　Originality/value　The　Ra,　RD　and　mechanical　properties　of　SLM　specimens　Cu-5Sn　were　systematically　studied,　and　the　influencing　factors　were　analyzed　together.　This　study　provides　a　theoretical　and　practical　example　to　improve　the　surface　quality　and　RD.