About Metal 3D Printing
Metal 3D printing process encompasses a wide range of technologies such as laser powder bed fusion (PBF), metal binder jetting, fused filament deposition (FDM), and laser cladding.
There are two ways that lasers create metal parts from metal powder, either by sintering or melting. The most popular powder bed fusion metal printing technology is selective laser melting (SLM), which fuses metal layers into parts with high-power lasers that fully melt each layer of metal powder. SLM can be used with a wider spectrum of materials – aluminum, titanium, iron, nickel, cobalt, copper-based alloys, and their composites – than you can use with sintering methods.
Direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) involves a laser that slowly and steadily sinters layer by layer of metal powder, which means that the particles inside the metal are fused together, even though the metal is not heated enough to melt completely. The major advantage of DMLS is that it produces objects free from the residual stresses and internal defects that can plague traditionally manufactured metal components and SLM parts due to the melting.
Advantages of Metal 3D Printing Process
The 3D metal printing process can be used to manufacture complicated prototypes much quicker than traditional methods of manufacturing.
Metal 3D printed parts have excellent physical properties, and the available material range includes difficult to process otherwise materials, such as metal superalloys.
The cost is cheaper in comparison with conventional methods of manufacturing.
Depending on the chosen technology, it’s possible to create precise objects with very small details.
It’s possible to 3D print details in assembly, and as a result, save time and money.
More complicated forms mean that the part can be lighter in weight without sacrificing strength.
3D printing with metal almost doesn’t waste material.
Material options
Moxperts offer a wide variety of certified metals and alloys for rapid metal 3D printing services. If the material is not listed, feel free to contact us for a customized solution.
Aluminum alloys
Stainless steel & tool steel
Titanium alloys
Cobalt-Chrome superalloys
Nickel superalloys (Inconel)
Precious metals
Prototype
Finishing Services
- Standard finish – Parts are “as sintered” out of the standard 3D printing process
- Undefined cutting edge finish – Abrasive blasting, vibratory finishing, tumble finishing, pin finishing, sandblasting, magnetic polishing
- Chemical additive finish – Isotropic superfinishing
- Coating – Anodizing, powder coating, wet painting, metal plating
- Electric power finish – Electropolishing and Electropolishing, metal DryLyte
- CNC surface process – CNC machining, grinding and EDM
- Solidification by plastic deformation – Shot peening
