{"id":4889,"date":"2020-08-20T08:12:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-20T08:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ultimakerstage.wpengine.com\/learn\/"},"modified":"2023-05-19T09:21:45","modified_gmt":"2023-05-19T09:21:45","slug":"how-to-3d-print-with-metal-and-which-materials-to-choose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ultimaker.com\/nl\/learn\/how-to-3d-print-with-metal-and-which-materials-to-choose\/","title":{"rendered":"How to 3D print with metal and which materials to choose"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"3d-printing-with-metal-hero\"<\/div>\n

How to 3D print with metal and which materials to choose <\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n

3D printing with metal can produce\u00a0visually\u00a0and physically\u00a0impressive results. Metal is ideal for creating customized parts\u00a0that are\u00a0heat, chemical, and\u00a0impact\u00a0resistant.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

For some industries, metal offers considerable benefits. Here\u00a0is\u00a0more information about how to use\u00a0metal in 3D printing \u2013\u00a0and the best ways to unleash its potential.<\/p><\/div>\n

Why choose metal 3D printing?\u00a0<\/h2>\n

There are some\u00a0considerable\u00a0advantages\u00a0for\u00a03D printing with metal, when compared with traditional metal techniques or plastics 3D printing.\u00a0These include:\u00a0<\/p>\n

Greater design scope.<\/b>\u00a0Metal is\u00a0well-suited to printing\u00a0complex designs.\u00a0This\u00a0makes it a good choice for those wanting to\u00a0create\u00a0specialized\u00a0and\u00a0customized parts for a machine, for example\u00a0<\/p>\n

Optimization.\u00a0<\/b>Parts printed with metal can be adapted to enhance\u00a0their\u00a0performance.\u00a03D printing can produce lightweight parts, for instance, by reducing infill ratio, as well as through the design freedom the technology provides\u00a0<\/p>\n

Good range.<\/b>\u00a0A\u00a0wide variety of metals\u00a0are\u00a0available, offering businesses\u00a0different\u00a0physical properties\u00a0<\/p>\n

Aesthetic finish.\u00a0<\/b>Metal doesn\u2019t just perform well\u00a0\u2013 it also\u00a0looks good. This is an advantage for some\u00a0certain use cases, such as making jewellery<\/p><\/section>\n

\"3d-printing-with-metal-\"<\/div><\/div>\n

Metal printing technologies\u00a0<\/h2>\n

If\u00a0you want to\u00a0enjoy the benefits of\u00a03D printing with metal, you\u2019ll need to use the right technology. Here\u00a0is a run-through of the\u00a0most well-known\u00a0metal printing technologies:\u00a0<\/p>\n

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS).<\/b>\u00a0DMLS uses a laser to melt and fuse the metal powder, forming a printed object layer-by-layer on a build-plate. It uses alloys\u00a0(rather than a single type of metal), which are made up of\u00a0metals with different melting points.\u00a0The metals\u00a0fuse as the temperature rises.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bound Metal Deposition (BMD).<\/b>\u00a0BMD works\u00a0through extrusion, in much the same way as FFF printing. It\u00a0requires\u00a0metal bound in rods of polymer or sacrificial wax, rather than powder. This can then be melted and extruded through the printer’s nozzle.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Selective Laser Melting (SLM).<\/b>\u00a0Like DMLS,\u00a0SLM also uses a laser and prints the object on a build plate. It only\u00a0requires\u00a0a single metal, however, as it prints at one temperature.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Electron Beam Melting (EBM).<\/b>\u00a0As the name suggests, this printer uses an electron beam to melt the metal, rather than a laser. It\u2019s less commonly used than SLM or DMLS.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing (UAM).\u00a0<\/b>UAM uses room-temperature metal deposition to create 3D printed metal objects. This technology isn\u2019t widely used.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Investment casting.\u00a0<\/b>Although it is not a 3D printing technique,\u00a0investment casting\u00a0uses\u00a0a mold, into which the molten metal is poured. Investment casting allows for a good level of detail, making it appropriate for smaller printed parts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

CNC machining.<\/b>\u00a0All of\u00a0the technologies above are costly \u2013 with some being at a price point that\u2019s too high for SMEs.\u00a0While not a 3D printing technique,\u00a0CNC machining is more affordable, enabling companies to create metal prototypes \u2013 though it does have a few limitations, one being that it is not so effective for\u00a0parts\u00a0that require geometric complexity.<\/p><\/section>\n

\"sylatech-metal-\"<\/div>\n
Sylatech uses Ultimaker 3D printers to speed up its rapid prototyping process for metal production processes<\/div><\/div>\n

Types of metals <\/h2>\n

When 3D printing\u00a0with metal,\u00a0it\u2019s important to consider\u00a0its\u00a0properties\u00a0\u2013\u00a0and the advantages and disadvantages of each\u00a0type.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Aluminum alloys\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n