Metal 3D Printing service
Elimold offers metal 3d printing services across the workflow, right from AM Consulting, Additive Design & Engineering, Research & Development, through Prototyping and Production volume Manufacturing services, right up to design, set up and operation of Captive AM centres. Our metal 3d printing services ensures improved functional performance, better mechanical properties, superior topology and complex geometry to meet the overall requirement of a component technically.
On-demand Metal 3D Printing
Metal 3D printing creates efficiencies by consistently printing parts to the exact specifications of your design file. And, since our process relies solely on the design file to direct production, your designers have the freedom to make quick adjustments to the file if you want to alter a component for the next run. Whether you’re testing prototypes or designing the next iteration of your product for full-scale manufacturing, Elimold metal 3D printing services can support your production requirements.
Metal 3D printing eliminates the need for tooling, support structures or build plates. This makes directly printing metal parts a fast and cost-effective method of serial production when compared to both traditional and other additive processes. Our metal 3D printing materials are designed to work with existing industry processes so the parts you receive are set up for system integration. Plus, our finishing capabilities mean your parts order is ready or near ready for direct commerce applications when you receive it.
Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)
Direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) uses a fibre laser system that draws onto a surface of atomized metal powder, welding the powder into fully dense metal parts.
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Binder Jetting
The use of binder jetting spans a wide range of applications, including full-color prototypes, large plastic/ceramic cores and molds, and small, functional metal parts.
Learn MoreTechnical specifications
| Maximum build dimensions | Dimensions are unlimited as components may be composed of several sub-parts. The maximum build envelope is 500 x 280 x 315 mm |
| Standard accuracy | Better than or equal to the industry standards:
See design guidelines for more information on standard accuracy. |
| Layer thickness | 0.04 – 0.09 mm (material dependent) |
| Minimum wall thickness |
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| Surface structure | Unfinished parts are typically rough, but various post-production finishes are possible |
Ready to get started on your custom metal 3D printing quote?
How Does Metal 3D Printing Works?
The 3D Printer begins sintering each layer-first the support structures to the base plate, then the part itself, with a laser aimed onto a bed of metallic powder.
After a cross-section layer or powder is micro-welded, the build plate shifts down and a recoater blade moves across the platform to deposit the next layer of powder into an inert build chamber.
The process is repeated layer by layer until the part is complete.
Material Options
We’re always innovating and building upon our knowledge of metal 3D printing. Over the years we have refined our 3D printing process and parameters to achieve superior performance characteristics with the materials we use. To date, our portfolio of trialled and tested printing materials includes:
Titanium (Ti6Al4V) is a workhorse alloy. Versus Ti grade 23 annealed, the mechanical properties of Ti6Al4V are comparable to wrought titanium for tensile strength, elongation, and hardness. Final parts built in Ti6Al4V receive vacuum stress relief application.
Primary Benefits
- High stiffness and strength relative to weight
- High temperature and corrosion resistance
Stainless steel 316L is a workhorse material used for manufacturing acid and corrosion resistant parts. Select 316L when stainless steel flexibility is needed; 316L is a more malleable material compared to 17-4 PH. Final parts built in 316L receive stress relief application.
Primary Benefits
- Acid and corrosion resistance
- High ductility
Aluminum (AlSi10Mg) is comparable to a 3000 series alloy that is used in casting and die casting processes. It has good strength -to-weight ratio, high temperature and corrosion resistance, and good fatigue, creep and rupture strength. AlSi10Mg also exhibits thermal and electrical conductivity properties. Final parts built in AlSi10Mg receive stress relief application.
Primary Benefits
- High stiffness and strength relative to weight
- Thermal and electrical conductivity
Inconel is a high strength, corrosion resistant nickel chromium superalloy ideal for parts that will experience extreme temperatures and mechanical loading. Final parts built in Inconel 718 receive stress relief application. Solution and aging per AMS 5663 is also available to increase tensile strength and hardness.
Primary Benefits
- Oxidation and corrosion resistance
- High performance tensile, fatigue, creep, and rupture strength
Cobalt Chrome (Co28Cr6Mo) is a superalloy is known for its high strength-to-weight ratio.
Primary Benefits
- High performance tensile and creep
- Corrosion resistance
Key benefits
17-4PH is characterized by having high yeild strength and being easily heat-treatable to obtain excellent hardness and strength.
Ideal applications
-Lifestyle/Consumer, e.g. watches, jewelry, spectacle frames, decorations
-Automotive/Industrial, e.g. non-corroding common material, food, and chemical plants
Key benefits
MS1 is characterized by having good mechanical properties and being easily heat-treatable to obtain excellent hardness and strength
Ideal applications
-Lifestyle/Consumer, e.g. watches, jewelry, spectacle frames, decorations
-Automotive/Industrial, e.g. non-corroding common material, food, and chemical plants
Key Benefits
High corrosion resistance, high-temperature resistance, and high electrical resistance.
Ideal Applications
Gas turbines for both aerospace and energy industries, process industry, oil and gas, ship building.
Key Benefits
High carbon CoCrMo based superalloy, good corrosion, wear resistance, and good mechanical properties
Ideal Applications
Orthopedic implants
Gas turbines
Engine components
Jewelry
Key Benefits
Excellent thermal and electrical conductivity
Ideal Applications
Inductors, electrical motors, and many other applications.
If you would like to print in a material not listed above, please reach out to us. We’re qualifying new materials and would like to learn more about your application needs for using 3D metal printing
In addition to metal printing, we can also print in various plastic materials for the production of rapid prototypes and end-use parts.
Finishes for metal 3D printing
There are several finishes and finishing processes that can be utilized for metal 3d printing. Options include:
Surface Finishing
- 3- and 5-axis milling
- Turning
- Polish (Mirror or Brushed)
- Passivation
- Wire EDM
- Tapping and reaming
Heat Treatments
- Stress relief
- NADCAP heat treatment
- Hot isostatic pressing (HIP)
- Solution annealing
- Aging
Powder Analysis & Material
- Traceability
- Chemistry
- Particle size and distribution analysis
Mechanical Testing
- Tensile
- Rockwell Hardness
Benefits of Metal 3D Printing
- Metal 3D printing can manufacture complex, bespoke parts with geometries that traditional manufacturing methods cannot produce.
- Metal 3D printed parts can be topologically optimized to maximize their performance while minimizing their weight and the total number of components in an assembly.
- Metal 3D printed parts have excellent physical properties, and the available material range includes difficult-to-process otherwise materials, such as metal superalloys.
Choosing Between DMLS or Binder Jet Metal
Elimold 3D metal printing services include direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) and metal binder jetting as options. These processes are suitable for creating metal prototypes, tooling, and production parts on demand. However, each metal 3D printing process uses different metals and fusing methods, resulting in parts with different mechanical properties, prices, and lead times.
Metal 3D Printing Applications
Metal 3D printing can be used for rapid industrial tooling, where the metal 3D print can be used for parts with complex curvatures and small, thin-walled parts like conformal jigs and fixtures, stamps, dies, and cutting inserts.
For other industries like consumer products, robotics, aerospace, and defense, metal 3D printing can be used for integrated fastening features, end-effectors, and metal lattice structures. Since metal 3D printed parts have excellent durability and strength, they can be used in fully functional late-stage prototypes or end-use parts for any of the above applications.
- Functional Prototypes
- Direct Digital Manufacturing
- Molds and Inserts
- Ductwork
- Rapid Tooling
- Spare Parts
- Rigid Housing
- Heatsinks and Heat Exchangers
Other Services
Elimold is a full-service provider of metal additive manufacturing/3D printing solutions, applying the know-how accumulated in metal and metal processing solutions. We offer a full suite of services, including reverse engineering, process development, powder and substrate characterization, surface profile preparation, material application, post-processing, final processing, and inspection. Elimold also provides services for evaluating, validating, and qualifying parts through mechanical and physical characterization. All processes are controlled in-house to ensure quality results.
What can we do for you:
– Applicable part identification
– Reverse Engineering/Solid Modeling
– Prototype and parts manufacturing
– Physical/Mechanical Testing
– Design licenses and qualifications
– Device selection and transition
– Modeling and Simulation
– Fused deposition modeling of plastics
