Metal 3D Printing with SLS Polymer Printers Explored
A new process chain, dubbed 'Cold Metal Fusion,' is enabling metal 3D printing using selective laser sintering (SLS) polymer printers.
The 'Cold Metal Fusion' (CMF) process chain offers a novel approach to metal additive manufacturing by leveraging existing Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) polymer 3D printers. Developed by a German company, this method utilizes a proprietary binding agent that is mixed with metal powder. The SLS printer then selectively applies the binding agent to a bed of metal powder, layer by layer, similar to how it would process polymer powders.
Following the printing stage, the 'green' parts, composed of metal powder and the dried binder, are then subjected to a thermal post-processing step. This crucial phase involves heating the parts in a furnace, which evaporates the binder and sinters the metal powder particles together. The result is a dense, solid metal component.
This innovative technique allows for the creation of complex metal geometries that might be challenging or impossible to achieve with traditional subtractive manufacturing methods. The use of SLS infrastructure also potentially lowers the barrier to entry for metal 3D printing, as it repurposes established technology.
The CMF process chain is presented as a viable alternative for producing functional metal parts, opening up new possibilities for rapid prototyping and on-demand manufacturing in various industries.
The 'Cold Metal Fusion' process represents an intriguing development in additive manufacturing, bridging the gap between polymer and metal printing technologies. By adapting SLS printers, it offers a potentially more accessible route to metal part production, bypassing the need for specialized, high-power laser systems typically associated with metal powder bed fusion. This could democratize metal AM for certain applications.
Edited by the news editor with AI and translated into English from the original report — please refer to the original source.