Schlagwort: 3D Printing Metal

  • Researchers Reveal Method to 3D Print Metallic Glass Alloys in Bulk

    Researchers Reveal Method to 3D Print Metallic Glass Alloys in Bulk

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Materials Science and Engineering researchers at North Carolina State University recently detailed their method to produce large amounts of metallic glass alloys using 3D printing. The development could lead to better efficiency in electric motors and tougher materials and structures.

    Researchers at the Material Science and Engineering department at North Carolina State University have turned to 3D printing to create a means to produce bulk amounts of metallic glass alloys. Typically produced in small amounts, the material (also known as amorphous metals) is notoriously tricky to produce in any large amount.

    Unlike most other metals, metallic glass alloys lack a crystalline structure. With an amorphous structure instead, they boast “exceptionally desirable properties”, says Zyanab Mahbooba, a Ph.D student at the department and first author of the research’s paper.

    To create metallic glass alloys requires the rapid cooling of the metal as it’s produced. Because of this, traditional efforts to create it can only yield casts of the amorphous alloy only millimeters thick (up to a size known as the alloy’s critical casting thickness).

    metallic glass alloys
    metallic glass alloys
    A diagram that better visualizes what the researchers have achieved.

    Casting Metallic Glass Alloys in Bulk with 3D Printing

    The notion of using additive manufacturing technologies to create amorphous metal alloys is not a new one. Kicking around the weeds for some tens of years, Mahbooba claims this is the first published work to prove the concept. She adds: “We were able to produce an amorphous iron alloy on a scale 15 times larger than its critical casting thickness.”

    Though it is not specified which machine was used, a press release describes the process of Direct Metal Laser Sintering. A bed of metal powder (in this instance, iron-based alloy) is melted by a laser. After each pass of the laser is complete the whole bed descends 20 microns and a new layer of powder is deposited on top. The laser makes another pass, sintering the metal on top of the previous layer, building up the model bit by bit.

    For the metal to form with non-crystalline properties, it is crucial that it is cooled extremely quickly. The concept proven here is that the melting of the powder is in such small quantities and area at any one time, the material can cool sufficiently fast enough to contain the desired amorphous structure.

    Ola Harryson, Edward P. Fitts Distinguished Professor of Industrial Systems and Engineers at NC State and corresponding author of the paper adds “… there is no reason this technique could not be used to produce any amorphous alloy. One of the limiting factors at this point is going to be producing or obtaining metal powders of whatever alloy composition you are looking for.”

    And even if you did get your hands on the metal powders you’re looking for, desirable results may require some experimentation. “It will take some trial and error to find the alloy compositions that have the best combination of properties for any given application”, Mahbooba continues.

    Source: NC State University

    (Lead image: Zaynab Mahbooba)

    License: The text of „Researchers Reveal Method to 3D Print Metallic Glass Alloys in Bulk“ by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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  • Iro3D is Developing a Desktop Metal 3D Printer That Only Costs $5,000

    Iro3D is Developing a Desktop Metal 3D Printer That Only Costs $5,000

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    The Seattle-based company Iro3D is developing a desktop metal 3D printer that will cost just $5,000. The printer is reportedly capable of producing strong, high carbon steel objects. It was recently debuted on Joel Telling’s “3D Printing Nerd” YouTube channel. 

    Nowadays, it’s relatively easy and inexpensive to get your hands on a decent 3D printer. The consumer market for FDM 3D printing is full of options. But other additive manufacturing technologies have historically been reserved for industrial manufacturers with money to spend.

    However, over the past few years, a number of companies have been pushing to make these advanced techniques, such as selective laser sintering and metal 3D printing, more affordable and compact. One man from Seattle, named Sergey, is working on a desktop metal 3D printer that would only cost $5,000.

    The printer was recently unveiled on the popular 3D printing YouTube channel 3D Printing Nerd, hosted by fellow Northwestern native Joel Telling. According to the one-man company, called Iro3D, the machine is capable of creating objects out of strong, high carbon steel.

    Still in the stages of prototyping, Iro3D is planning to sell the first round of beta printers to customers in the Seattle area and expand from there. Sergey also intends to implement user feedback into future stages of development.


    Iro3D’s Desktop Metal 3D Printer Targets Middle of the Prosumer Pack

    While a machine this compact and inexpensive is certainly a welcome addition to the metal 3D printing market, don’t expect this desktop printer to deliver prints of steel right off the bat.

    With Iro3D’s unique process, the printer uses metal powder for parts and sand powder for support structures. The materials, which include different granularities of metal powder and sand, are held in four different containers.  Then, the print heads pick up the selected material and deposit it onto the print bed. The printer uses finer metal powder for the exterior of the print, while the rougher powder is for the interior.

    Once the print is complete, the object is placed into a kiln and baked at high temperatures for several hours. Finally, once the heating process is complete, the user will remove excess powder from the part using a wire brush.


    As of now, the current iteration of the printer offers a humbling 32 x 30 x 10 cm build volume. Still, Sergey acknowledges that there’s a lot more work to be done under the hood. For starters, the prototype printer operates with a slow 8-bit micro controller. Additionally, the self-developed software still needs to be enhanced with additional printer mechanics and safety features.

    Although the printer is currently limited to a select few residing in Washington, that reach will expand if the initial launch is successful. And there’s good reason to believe that the Iro3D will become an intriguing option for many makers and businesses.

    Companies like Desktop Metal and Digital Metal are emerging at the forefront of metal additive manufacturing, but Iro3D could bring accessibility to the next level. At just $5,000, this desktop 3D printer’s low retail price is unprecedented in the modern metal 3D printing market.

    If you want to learn more about this unique metal 3D printer, you can check out the 3D Printing Nerd episode below, or one of Iro3D’s very own demo videos.

    Website: LINK