November 13, 2020
A constant question we get from our clients and folks like you calling in is "plastic is great but can I 3D print metal?"
Our answer used to be "you can't really do it unless you have around $100,000 to spare" but that's behind us. BASF's Ultrafuse 316L unlocks the ability of your 3D printer to 3D print metal at home or at your business.
What we'll go through:
Here's an outline of the workflow you can expect to have when dealing with this metal filament. The green part is what you 3D print, and you will then send it out to DSH in the states to carry out the post processing of your part. They will debind and sinter your parts and provide a full report so you can learn and improve for your next run.
Below you can review the basic requirements for your 3D printer, in today's market, most 3D printers meet or exceed these specs. Keep in mind that a hardened nozzle is a must, hardened feeder gears are recommended.
Next up are the printing parameters. If you have the Ultimaker S3 or S5, you can get the printing profile directly on the marketplace, otherwise follow these guidelines:
You'll need to scale your part to account for the shrinkage during debinding and sintering. That can be done in CAD, Meshmixer, or even your slicer.
Make sure you uncheck "Uniform Scaling" when doing this. You will need to scale your parts 120% in the X and Y direction and 126% in the Z direction.
It's important to keep in mind the following design guidelines for your metal parts. Following these will increase the success of 3D printing, debinding and sintering all together. Having said that, we sometimes slightly deviate from these suggestions. Experiment but keep it within reason!
There are a few things you want to keep in mind when printing with Ultrafuse 316L.
If you made it to the end, you are probably looking to get your hands on some of this Ultrafuse 316L filament. You can go on this page to get a spool in either Ø1.75mm or Ø2.85mm
If you have more questions, want to talk about your application or wanted to do this as a print service. Reach out to our team through phone, chat or email. We are always happy to help you!
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