Application report ZF Passau - detailed description
The specialist magazine Ingenieur VDI reports in detail on the production of equipment using metal 3D printing on Multirap M4 Metal:
https://www.ingenieur.de/technik/fachbereiche/3d-druck/basf-und-zf-friedrichshafen-denkening-components- additive-and-save-enormous-costs
Metal printing unbeatably cheap
FFF / FDM process
With metal filament printing , 90% (by weight) of metal powder is embedded in the plastic.
Printing is carried out as with normal plastic filament, the metal powder is brought into shape with the binder polymer.
The printed component is referred to as a “green body”, and the printed part acquires metal sintering .
The advantages of filament metal printing
Good value for money
- Very good value for money
- Low investment costs (debinding and sintering possible as a service)
- Machines used economically even with low utilization
- also print plastics with low metal utilization
- Material saving (no waste except support material)
geometric degrees of freedom
- Geometries that are difficult or impossible to machine can be printed
- Internal channels possible
- Internal honeycomb structure -> weight savings
Prototypes or small series
- much more efficient than machining and primary forming production , especially for small quantities
- No fixture construction for production (clamping device, mold construction)
- Ideal for non-metalworking companies -> in-house production of metal parts
Handling - occupational safety
- Simple, uncomplicated handling (no disposal of powder, no waste material except supports)
- No expensive disposal waste material
- no metal particles, no risk of dust
post processing
- Rework as with stainless steel possible without any problems
- Simple post-processing already possible on the green part (e.g. grinding)
- Sintered components can be post-processed in many ways (milling, turning, welding, ...)
sintering/debinding process
- Proven debinding and sintering process (BASF Catamold Material)
- external - without investment costs
- alternatively: low-cost systems, eg from Xerion
Multirap M4 Metal - the special printer for metal printing and material combinations
- 4-fold print head specialized for highly filled filaments (metal, ceramics, fibers)
- Heated build space
- High process security
- High precision
- machine safety
More about the M4 Metal
Metal printing process Filament printing
from 3D printing to debinding to the sintered metal part
M4 metal multirap features
Multec's metal-plastic printer with 4-fold print head
Metal pressure jig construction
sintered printed parts - left with weight reduction through infill structure
Metal pressure green compact
Printed part before sintering
metal pressure parts
use cases
Nock metal print
Internal channels
Honeycomb metal print
Weight saving through internal structures
Application rocker arm
Complex internal structures
Detailed document on metal printing for download:
In it you will find a lot of valuable information, from constructive tips and hints to the technological process to pressure parameters and strength values:
- Construction- Material and Filament
- sintering process
- Printing Notes
- achievable strengths
You can find the document for download here.
3D printing with metal
Three-dimensional printing has revolutionized work in various industries. However, the first 3D printers worked with a pure plastic filament, which is poorly or not at all suitable for use in many technical areas. The admixture of metal in a plastic filament now also allows metal printing and thus significantly increases the application possibilities of 3D printing. Find out more about 3D printing with metal at Multec .
How can I print metal with Multirap devices?
The metal 3D printers in our Multirap series work with different types of 3D printing filament. This is not in liquid form like the ink in a standard inkjet printer. Rather, the filament is on a roll that is inserted into the 3D printer and feeds the print head.
The filament is usually a pure plastic material that is melted in the print head and then applied in layers according to the specified construction plan to create the three-dimensional object.
Nothing changes from the basic principle when 3D printing with metal. Here, too, the filament is melted in the print head in order to be able to process it afterwards. However, 3D printing with metal does not melt the metal itself. The filament consists of 90 percent by weight of metal powder, the rest is the so-called binder polymer. The 3D printer for metal therefore does not have to reach the high temperatures required for molten metal. However, after completion, the resulting three-dimensional objects have a strength that cannot be achieved in any other way and are significantly heavier. In order to obtain metal-specific properties, debinding and sintering are required as additional work steps after printing.
Do I need a special device for metal 3D printing?
No, that is not necessary. Multec's Multirap 3D printers are equipped with print heads that can be fed with different types of filament. You can also use the metal 3D printer for 3D prints made of classic plastic filament without any problems. However, it is not possible to do multi-material 3D prints with metal filament. For example, if you want to 3D print a thread embedded in a plastic object, this can only be done in several work steps in the Multirap 3D printer. Because the 3D printing thread, unlike the pure plastic parts, has to go through further production steps after printing.
What is meant by debinding and sintering in connection with metal 3D printing?
As already described, the filament for 3D printing with metal still consists of 10% binder polymer. The three-dimensional printed object is therefore only 90% metallic. However, the printed, so-called green compact is not suitable for many areas of application and must go through further steps.
Only the subsequent sintering process gives the printed object the desired strength. Also depending on the material, the object is fired at a maximum of 1,360 degrees.
3D printing with metal from Multec
If you want to buy a 3D printer for metal, Multec is your competent partner. We provide you with the device and the filament required for 3D printing with metal. However, since the equipment required for debinding and sintering is only profitable at very high utilization, we offer these work steps as a service for our customers.
Do you have any further questions? Then you are welcome to contact .
Tags: Multec reference , 4-fold printing , metal printing
