Exploring 7 Innovative Metal Powder 3D Printing Technologies
Interested in the latest in metal 3D printing? Here are 7 cutting-edge technologies shaping the industry.
1. Binder Jetting Metal 3D Printing
Represented by: Desktop Metal (USA), Exone (USA), HP (USA), GE (USA), Digital Metal (Sweden)
2. Support-Free Metal 3D Printing
Represented by: Velo3D (USA), SLM Solutions (Germany)
Support material addition and removal have always been a major challenge in metal additive manufacturing. For example, in Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), support structures are needed to prevent deformation due to thermal stress and to conduct heat away from the melt pool. However, these support structures, once the component is built, need to be removed and discarded, leading to material waste and increased post-processing costs.
3. Million Laser Point Area Metal 3D Printing
Represented by: Seurat (USA) (product nearing maturity)
The forming speed of area 3D printing technology is 1000 times faster than traditional laser 3D printing technology, greatly reducing the manufacturing cost of individual parts. At the same time, parts printed with this technology have higher precision, with a spot diameter as small as 10 micrometers, and the area processing speed exceeds the limits of scalability, allowing for over 2 million lasers to be operated in parallel.
4.High-Speed Cold Spray Metal 3D Printing
Represented by: Titomic and Spee3d (Australia)
SPEE3D’s patented “Supersonic Particle Deposition” technology has been applied in the defense sectors of Australia, the USA, the UK, and Japan. This technology is 1000 times faster than traditional metal 3D printing technologies (such as binder jetting and DMLS) and is provided by the WarpSPEE3D 3D metal printer.
5. Nanoparticle Jetting 3D Printing
Represented by: Xjet (Israel)
Unlike traditional metal 3D printing processes such as Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), NPJ can significantly reduce material waste and costs, and provide designers with greater design freedom. Because it is removed by melting, theoretically it can be added indefinitely.metal 3D printing processes such as Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), NPJ can significantly reduce material waste and costs, and provide designers with greater design freedom. Because it is removedmetal 3D printing processes such as Selective Laser
6. IntelligentLayering Printing Technology
Represented by: 3DEO (USA) (already in mass production)
Using its intelligent layering technology, it can mass-produce parts while reducing costs, and meet the industry standard for metal injection molding. In addition, it can produce metal parts with excellent surface quality, low-cost structure, and fine functionality for customers in the medical, defense, and aerospace markets.
7. Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) Technology
Represented by: ValCUN (Belgium) (initially developed for aluminum)
WAAM technology, due to controlled solidification, can print unsupported parts with up to 75° overhangs and 25mm bridges; printing with low heat gradients ensures that residual stress, deformation, and cracking issues of components are negligible. WAAM technology is currently primarily developed for aluminum materials, as most additive manufacturing technologies are not the most suitable for producing aluminum.
For more information on metal powder applications and solutions, please contact our product manager for detailed information.
