3D metal printing

[crickets]

If you want to do any of this at home, you'll still need a chemical debinder, in addition to the furnace.

Powder Metallurgy - Sintering Temperatures for Some Common Metals

Aluminum sinters around 600C or 1100F. Common aluminum alloys wouldn't be very strong coming out of the furnace because they age harden at much lower temperatures, around 400F.

The aluminum powders available for DMLS machines appear to be the high silicon variety to achieve good strength straight out of the printer.

I think the idea with these filaments is that the binder evaporates at high temperature, so additional chemical treatment isn't necessary to remove the binder.

 

[Orange Vise]

I think the idea with these filaments is that the binder evaporates at high temperature, so additional chemical treatment isn't necessary to remove the binder.

Is there some more documentation available on that?

I'd be curious as to how this method avoids contamination.

 

[crickets]

Is there some more documentation available on that?

I'd be curious as to how this method avoids contamination.

I stand corrected - the BASF filament mentioned above requires debinding. The other similar method of 3D printing that I thought about and which didn't seem to require debinding was the one Dan Gelbert was demonstrating (his company) :

https://youtu.be/nyYcomX7Lus?t=1779

 

[crickets]

Came across this entertaining video regarding metal 3D printing, seems relatively easy for small shop and even home use :

https://youtu.be/tw9VF1V-Lzc

 

[Hightemp]

Came across this entertaining video regarding metal 3D printing, seems relatively easy for small shop and even home use :

https://youtu.be/tw9VF1V-Lzc

That's basically what the BASF filament mentioned in post 18 is. The big plus with the BASF stuff is that they send you a coupon to send your parts out for debinding and sintering so all you need is a standard 3D plastic printer.

We tried it. Parts were decent. Biggest issue was that the filament is really hard on the extruder, so budget in replacing those components on your printer.

 

[Billtodd]

Might be worth looking at Print 3D Metal using PLA Metal Filaments on the Desktop! – The Virtual Foundry for a low cost foot-in-the-door option.

The owner/founder has his own patents on metal bound filaments and gives full sintering profiles for his products, allowing you to do the sintering in shop.


Interesting interview with the owner here:
https://youtu.be/sYwtE9A6F2A