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Can anyone provide any feedback on 3D printers that use metal filament? I really want to get one, but most of the reviews and such that you find on the net are for plastic printing printers. I'm willing to spend upwards of $5,000 if I can get one that can print in more than one metal. Does something like that exist?
The problem is the complexity of Laser Synthering printers, I am not aware of any (new) metal printers in that price range.
I'd recomend the lost-PLA-casting method for metal objects, or prototyping with plastic, later letting shapeways or another service print it in metal.
Good luck finding a printer!
Keep in mind that metal powder needs careful handling!
You may find this thread on the reprap forum useful.
http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?1,68431,68461
I'm not familar with the lost-PLA-casting method. What exactly does that mean? Do you print a cast in plastic and then use that with metal to make a metal object?Quote:
Originally Posted by Marcus
Yes, you print a PLA model, put it into a bucket with sand/clay, and pour hot yummy molten metal into it.
The PLA will melt, is mostly non toxic, and you can produce metal parts in your back yard or driving lot.
At least for some applications it's easier and less dangerous.
http://3dtopo.com/lostPLA/
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NFnfLsr...%3DNFnfLsrSuAM
Very interesting. Can the PLA be reused anyhow after this is done or is it just thrown out?
Mason
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marcus
Quote:
Originally Posted by MasonGerald
I'd like to imagine that because the PLA is a plant-based material, it would vaporize on contact with the molten metal...
I don't think you can reuse the plastic, but because you're not using the plastic model, you can just print it at an infill of like 5% or something...
Most of the time the pla is lost or mixed with sand which results in the little that is left being unsuable
At this time, I think the only metal printers are VERY very expensive. I think the main technology is laser sintering. I personally feel that there are great possibilities in this area, however, if somebody at a large company, with deep pockets hasn't done something similar, then it would be unlikely that us little guys can pull off anything. Doesn't mean impossible, but very unlikely. It is an area I have some ideas about, just not the $$$$ to try.
Agree Vanguard. I think The metal printers will likely be the last to drop in price, and it may take a lot longer then I would hope. We need some more competition in this area, but having said this, I don't think there is enough demand for such printers from the DUY'ers sicne the prices are so steep. Give it 7-10 years and I think we will see a cheap metal printer that is of awesome quality. At that time 3D Printing will have just about hit it's stride.
Somethng new is coming !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WimDI3LX2w
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vader...241860?fref=ts
A 3d printer for metal filament doesn't exist (yet). Metal melts at a too high temperature, you would need some heavy equipment to make this possible. Maybe you could use tin or something which melts at just under 300 degrees, but it would come out too liquid, and just form a drop before it gets solid; wouldn't stay in one place like pla or abs. That's why metals usually get poored in a form which is removed after cooling. But who knows what the future brings; it's sure an interesting concept! Keep on thinking about it maybe we can change the 3d printing world forever!
Bye!
So far i've only seen that use a welder, But those will probably be very bad as quality of the product goes, and can't imagine it easily be detachable from the surface,
Those that work in Powder, laser sintering, will probably always cost to much, i doubt that the powder wont cost alot either probably that will be something that we as consumer wont be able to use it alot either. (Again not completely sure, As i can't find store that quickly selling em :P)
And as health goes i've heard (aint sure) that it isnt great for your health either
The next 3D printing generation is SLA, Stereolithography, almost without a doubt as FDM is simple quiet bad as resolution goes when you compare it, and if you see the peachy printer, well you can see where its going,
I didnt see to much prints of them yet, i don't know how long it takes for a print, But i doubt that we will be using FDM over 5 years wich is quiet soon.
Rough guesses but the technology is there, and its becoming cheaper at the point that FDM will some day simply go away, atleast for smaller parts like we use, For people that actualy use it for big furnitures like a chair, i doubt those will use SLA very soon as it would take ages.
The only metal printing project i've seen so far was this: http://reprap.org/wiki/MetalicaRap
Been in progress for a while now and i guess it will still be quiet pricey, But i guess you might will be able to buy it for 5k.
I don't see FDM going away at any point. It's not the best for everything, but it's just right for some things.Quote:
Originally Posted by DrLuigi
Thats why i said that it will be only for most of us that make smaller parts, Example bigger prints will easyer be FDM as it will probably be faster when printing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Davo
Everythings gets replaced by something better at some point, And i guess a large part of FDM will be soon circa 5-7 years if i would guess it.
Ok thanks Davo didn't see that yet.