Metal 3D Printing with Prusa i3 MK3S
The sample metal "green" part shown below was 3D printed with a Prusa i3 MK3S using Stainless Steel 316L filament from Metallum3D (www.metallum3d.com). After printing, part is debound and microwave sintered into solid metal.
Metal loading is 91.7% by weight or 61.5% by volume.
Extruder Temperature = 225 Deg C
Bed Temperature = 60 deg. C
Print Speed = 1200 mm/min
Nozzle diameter = 0.6mm (hardened steel nozzle)
Part shrinkage after microwave sintering ~ 18%
RE: Metal 3D Printing with Prusa i3 MK3S
That's cool. Did you have a question, or are you just alerting the community of this? Or is this advertising? (I'm noting your user name compared to the source of the filament.)
The microwave sintering, what is that done in? A regular consumer microwave oven, or does it require specialized equipment? If it is a regular consumer microwave, is it suggested to put in the oven some sort of microwave sink (like a cup of water) to keep the microwave resonance from getting too large and damaging the oven?
Is that 18% shrinkage uniform across all 3 axis? Does part geometry affect that at all for specific features? Are you able to offer up a photo of a sintered sample next to an un-sintered sample (both the same object) for comparison? (18% shrinkage is useful when calculating starting geometry, but is a bit esoteric for imagining.)
See my (limited) designs on:
Printables - https://www.printables.com/@Sembazuru
Thingiverse - https://www.thingiverse.com/Sembazuru/designs
RE: Metal 3D Printing with Prusa i3 MK3S
That's cool. Did you have a question, or are you just alerting the community of this? Or is this advertising? (I'm noting your user name compared to the source of the filament.)
Methinks advertising given the name, though no link to their website seems odd for such.
The microwave sintering, what is that done in? A regular consumer microwave oven, or does it require specialized equipment? If it is a regular consumer microwave, is it suggested to put in the oven some sort of microwave sink (like a cup of water) to keep the microwave resonance from getting too large and damaging the oven?
I saw a bit about this last week, but there is a severe lack of useful info so far. Pretty much all their website tells you is what they posted above (though the 18% shrinkage is new). You print it on your printer, mail it to them, they microwave it and send it back.
No pictures of what finished products look like or what it's characteristics are (e.g. compared to an identical object milled from 618 stock). They leave a lot to the imagination here...
RE: Metal 3D Printing with Prusa i3 MK3S
Found this article which explains a bit more about this process. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/06/990622055733.htm
Looks interesting!, I wonder what costs are likely to be?, not that I need anything yet, plus being over the pond in Blighty, we may not see this for some time yet.....Hmmmm, how much do you think I would need to start a business???... Hmmmmm
Normal people believe that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain’t broke, it doesn’t have enough features yet.
RE: Metal 3D Printing with Prusa i3 MK3S
Thanks for the article. It's a little bit dated but at least explains the microwave part.
Looks to me like an advertisement. Should be marked as such. Filament price is $199.00/1kg and is showing out of stock. Looks like this company is looking for beta testers and trying to get some attention from the community.
Personally I don't see any benefit in this service. You have certain dimensional inaccuracy on your printer then you send it out for microwaving. The part shrinks in some matters. Then you receive the part back, readjust all the sizes trying to compensate the build process. After 3-4 iterations you might get the part you want. With all the shipping costs and expensive filament it's very expensive prototyping. Don't see a lot of use cases where it might make sense to invest in such a part.
Often linked posts:
Going small with MMU2
Real Multi Material
My prints on Instagram
RE: Metal 3D Printing with Prusa i3 MK3S
More likely, they are looking for website hits to pay this months rent.
RE: Metal 3D Printing with Prusa i3 MK3S
Personally I don't see any benefit in this service. You have certain dimensional inaccuracy on your printer then you send it out for microwaving. The part shrinks in some matters. Then you receive the part back, readjust all the sizes trying to compensate the build process. After 3-4 iterations you might get the part you want. With all the shipping costs and expensive filament it's very expensive prototyping. Don't see a lot of use cases where it might make sense to invest in such a part.
IF the 18% shrinkage is predictable/consistent (e.g. not impacted by size of an area or amount of infill) and IF the performance characteristics are similar to that of machined 618, then I could see lots of value that would make the first few tests to understand the process worthwhile.
I have no idea about the first and I'm skeptical of the later. Without the structural integrity of 618 I have to wonder what it would be good for in the end.
RE: Metal 3D Printing with Prusa i3 MK3S
On the website it states up to 20%. Means it's variable and most likely depends how much material you're using and how the infill looks like. Pretty sure honeycomb/gyroid/rectilinear shrink different.
Often linked posts:
Going small with MMU2
Real Multi Material
My prints on Instagram
RE: Metal 3D Printing with Prusa i3 MK3S
I would guess so. Same with areas thin enough that there is no infill.
Which all means that you can't simply scale your project up 18-20% in the slicer, you have to model it appropriately and that could get tricky (and expensive from multiple test prints) fast.
RE: Metal 3D Printing with Prusa i3 MK3S
The sample metal "green" part shown below was 3D printed with a Prusa i3 MK3S using Stainless Steel 316L filament from Metallum3D (www.metallum3d.com). After printing, part is debound and microwave sintered into solid metal.
Metal loading is 91.7% by weight or 61.5% by volume.
Extruder Temperature = 225 Deg C
Bed Temperature = 60 deg. C
Print Speed = 1200 mm/min
Nozzle diameter = 0.6mm (hardened steel nozzle)
Part shrinkage after microwave sintering ~ 18%
That's wonderful! Good to see you guys posting here.
Edit: Still seems to be a lot of suspicious/paranoid people on here.
RE: Metal 3D Printing with Prusa i3 MK3S
That's wonderful! Good to see you guys posting here.
Edit: Still seems to be a lot of suspicious/paranoid people on here.
It's suspicious/paranoid to want to know some actual facts and see some results? No one has called this a scam, we just want to see what is really possible with it so we can judge it's value to us. This isn't a $12 spool that can be tried and tosses if it doesn't work out.
RE: Metal 3D Printing with Prusa i3 MK3S
That's wonderful! Good to see you guys posting here.
Edit: Still seems to be a lot of suspicious/paranoid people on here.
It's suspicious/paranoid to want to know some actual facts and see some results? No one has called this a scam, we just want to see what is really possible with it so we can judge it's value to us. This isn't a $12 spool that can be tried and tosses if it doesn't work out.
They've been referenced in several 3D printing publications. I first discovered them via an email newsletter, likely 3dnatives. It looks like a promising company. They were offering testing opportunities on their website.
RE: Metal 3D Printing with Prusa i3 MK3S
That's wonderful! Good to see you guys posting here.
Edit: Still seems to be a lot of suspicious/paranoid people on here.
It's suspicious/paranoid to want to know some actual facts and see some results? No one has called this a scam, we just want to see what is really possible with it so we can judge it's value to us. This isn't a $12 spool that can be tried and tosses if it doesn't work out.
They've been referenced in several 3D printing publications. I first discovered them via an email newsletter, likely 3dnatives. It looks like a promising company. They were offering testing opportunities on their website.
I have seen them mentioned in multiple places too, but it is always similar vague and incomplete information. I'm not calling their product snake oil, just asking for reasonable information about how it performs so that I can judge what tasks it may be suitable for. 316L is not a material where fitting and looking nice are the important factors, so why would you not want to know these things?
Just some before/after sintering pics would go along way, though stating that it is 316L (don't know why I got 618 into my head above...) carries with it some specific performance characteristics that it is important to know are carried over or not.
RE: Metal 3D Printing with Prusa i3 MK3S
I'm also reading about new battery technology almost every week. That doesn't mean I need to be excited about that.
If you read already many things about this company/product it would be helpful if you could provide more insight information. 60% metal infused (or 40% plastic infused) filament which is prone to warp (20% is a lot), expensive and can't be finished @home doesn't sound attractive to me. But maybe there are use cases out there and that's what we try to discuss here.
Often linked posts:
Going small with MMU2
Real Multi Material
My prints on Instagram
RE: Metal 3D Printing with Prusa i3 MK3S
wonder what a beta tester needs to invest?
Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK
RE: Metal 3D Printing with Prusa i3 MK3S
well folks my answer was quick returning!
$89 + shipping...
think I will step out of the option!
Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK
RE: Metal 3D Printing with Prusa i3 MK3S
well folks my answer was quick returning!
$89 + shipping...
think I will step out of the option!
Joan
But... but it comes with a free universal roller spool! XD
RE: Metal 3D Printing with Prusa i3 MK3S
🙂 just what I need pay $89 for a free roller!
😀
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK