MiniMetalMaker

Hey,

I just found this on indiegogo today:

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/minimetalmaker-a-small-3d-printer-that-fabricates-with-precious-metal-clay/x/4869342

Presenting the Mini Metal Maker

The Mini Metal Maker is very exciting to me because it is a unique combination of an artistic material with the field of 3D printing. The Mini Metal Maker prints 3D objects from digital files directly in precious metal clay, rather than in plastic. Once these clay objects air-dry, they are fired in a kiln to produce beautiful solid metal objects of high purity and precision. Using metal clay essentially replaces the entire wax-casting or lost-wax process ordinarily needed to do this. The Mini Metal Maker will add new capability for the DIY inventor or artist by making fabrication in metal easy and direct. It will be a boon for anyone interested in creating their own gears, miniature mechanisms, or printing detailed jewelry or metal ornaments. The Mini Metal Maker is built around the concept of using the minimum number of parts, reducing the cost to produce and also eliminating many chances for error during assembly. 



http://images.indiegogo.com/file_att...jpg?1383976355
With your help


Your contribution will help us turn our working prototype into a mass-produced product. 
We demonstrated the concept and created a prototype Mini Metal Maker in our shop. It currently runs on the open-source software used by the RepRap community, and is driven by off the shelf high-precision stepper motors. We have personally funded the R&D for this project for the last 6 months, and are ready to take it to the next level – with your help. Our goal is to create a product that is ready for market in three different forms:

• A downloadable product, including 3D build files and DIY instructions.
• Kits containing the hardware, software, and assembly instructions.
• Fully Finished and calibrated machines with software installed.



http://images.indiegogo.com/file_att...jpg?1383976377
Monies raised


We aim to raise $10,000 for materials to refine and package our technology into a producible product.

 In order to achieve the reliability and price point needed to make this good invention a great product, we need to finish our research and development. Funds will go toward the following activities:



1. Refine the metal clay recipe for each of five different clay types:
 Copper, Bronze, Steel, Silver & Gold.

2. Refine our high-pressure extruder design. We currently have a reliable extrusion trace at around 0.5mm but believe this can be reduced to 200 microns.
3. Add a second print head for use with additional metal clays or support material. 

4. Optimize the integrated motor carriage design so that it can be easily printed on low cost printers such as the Makerbot and RepRap.
5. Refine custom firmware for the printer to further optimize printing for clay.

6. Create the Mini Metal Forge software environment in order to foster a good user experience, particularly for the non-technical craftsperson.
7. Work with industrial partners to tool up for production of the machine with injection molding.




If we do not reach the entire goal

This project has been carried this far through incremental progress, and we will continue moving toward our goal: A mass produced and available Mini Metal Maker. Regardless of the funds we raise through this campaign, we will be carrying out the following tasks in the order listed above, as it is the most logical path to completion. Your contributions help us carry out these activities, no matter how large or small.


http://images.indiegogo.com/file_att...jpg?1383976489
The impact



The Mini Metal Maker is a game-changer in the world of do-it-yourself 3-D printing. It gives engineers and designers a new tool for fabricating precision parts without expensive machinery or difficult manual processes. It puts a powerful new tool in the hands of artists and craftsmen for creating customized repeatable items in metal. It is also a valuable and accessible educational tool because it is low cost and small enough to be portable.

I've always dreamed of being able to print miniature parts and detailed sculptures directly in metal. To me, the Mini Metal Maker moves 3D printing from the land of plastic toys into the real world of arts, science, and engineering. I have had so much fun creating and using the Mini Metal Maker, and believe that you will too.

Other Ways You Can Help

Your words are precious to us. If you can not contribute, or if you simply wish to help another way, please like us on Facebook, share our website with your friends, and spread the word about the Mini Metal Maker to anyone who might be interested.

How sturdy are these parts once fired in the kiln?

Example, If I was to purchase one of these it would purely be to produce metal gears for hobby applications, I am just wondering how the parts would hold up to actually being used? ie would a mini metal made gear work with a brass tooth gear? or would the brass chew the clay/metal teeth?

I'll ask it for you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Geoff

How sturdy are these parts once fired in the kiln?

Example, If I was to purchase one of these it would purely be to produce metal gears for hobby applications, I am just wondering how the parts would hold up to actually being used? ie would a mini metal made gear work with a brass tooth gear? or would the brass chew the clay/metal teeth?

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That's a good question. I would see this being a perfect machine for creating jewelry. As for gears, that is a question that the creators would have to answer. It would be awesome if this would work for gears though!
Eddie

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Geoff

How sturdy are these parts once fired in the kiln?

Example, If I was to purchase one of these it would purely be to produce metal gears for hobby applications, I am just wondering how the parts would hold up to actually being used? ie would a mini metal made gear work with a brass tooth gear? or would the brass chew the clay/metal teeth?

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I've got an answer from the maker:
"Strength of the metal – from what I have read and from preliminary tests, parts made with metal clay are not ‘metal clay parts’ when they are done. They are simply metal parts. The bronze & copper I have experimented with seem to have the same strength & bending characteristics as bronze and copper from other sources. It is very low porosity (or no porosity) sintered metal."


Gr. René

I really thought about funding this but it won't shipping till late 2014.
By then I'm sure other will have metal printers out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cokreeate

I really thought about funding this but it won't shipping till late 2014.
By then I'm sure other will have metal printers out.

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Maybe yes, but I guess they still improving their printer, so it won't be back at other printers.

There is a major problem with printing precision parts with "metal" clay, even if it is REAL metal after firing, actually a couple of problems, but one MAJOR. SHRINKAGE ! The shrinkage is HUGE, something in the area of 20%+, and that is pretty much a guess. If you are going to do a gear it must be very precise, even machining a gear, on precision machinery it is difficult to hold tight enough tolerances to make a usable gear. For jewelry it is good enough, good enough for an ornamental gear, but not a functional gear, or even a functional surface, since the shrinkage is not exactly consistent.

Then you have some other problems that make it impractical, you need to burn the organic matter out in some manner. Depending on the type of metal clay, some can be done with a torch, but then the shrinkage is even less predictable. Or you could use a kiln, then you would need to buy a kiln, that adds a considerable cost to the price. If you are going to do copper, brass, or bronze, you have to "burn" out the organics in a SPECIAL carbon, I do not remember the exact make up of the carbon, seems like it was either coconut carbon, or bone carbon, either way, this makes the process a lot more involved than just printing a "metal clay" object and baking it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vanguard

There is a major problem with printing precision parts with "metal" clay, even if it is REAL metal after firing, actually a couple of problems, but one MAJOR. SHRINKAGE ! The shrinkage is HUGE, something in the area of 20%+, and that is pretty much a guess. If you are going to do a gear it must be very precise, even machining a gear, on precision machinery it is difficult to hold tight enough tolerances to make a usable gear. For jewelry it is good enough, good enough for an ornamental gear, but not a functional gear, or even a functional surface, since the shrinkage is not exactly consistent.

Then you have some other problems that make it impractical, you need to burn the organic matter out in some manner. Depending on the type of metal clay, some can be done with a torch, but then the shrinkage is even less predictable. Or you could use a kiln, then you would need to buy a kiln, that adds a considerable cost to the price. If you are going to do copper, brass, or bronze, you have to "burn" out the organics in a SPECIAL carbon, I do not remember the exact make up of the carbon, seems like it was either coconut carbon, or bone carbon, either way, this makes the process a lot more involved than just printing a "metal clay" object and baking it.

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As for i know, they offer a kiln too and you can use it for everything you can print with that printer.
About the shrinking, I asked at the site for it. To be continued.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vanguard

There is a major problem with printing precision parts with "metal" clay, even if it is REAL metal after firing, actually a couple of problems, but one MAJOR. SHRINKAGE ! The shrinkage is HUGE, something in the area of 20%+, and that is pretty much a guess. If you are going to do a gear it must be very precise, even machining a gear, on precision machinery it is difficult to hold tight enough tolerances to make a usable gear. For jewelry it is good enough, good enough for an ornamental gear, but not a functional gear, or even a functional surface, since the shrinkage is not exactly consistent.

Then you have some other problems that make it impractical, you need to burn the organic matter out in some manner. Depending on the type of metal clay, some can be done with a torch, but then the shrinkage is even less predictable. Or you could use a kiln, then you would need to buy a kiln, that adds a considerable cost to the price. If you are going to do copper, brass, or bronze, you have to "burn" out the organics in a SPECIAL carbon, I do not remember the exact make up of the carbon, seems like it was either coconut carbon, or bone carbon, either way, this makes the process a lot more involved than just printing a "metal clay" object and baking it.

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I've got an answer from the maker of the printer again.
Here is a link to a file from shrinking:

http://artinsilver.com/Shrinkage_chart.pdf

I am personally extremely excited to see this printer go into production. I always wanted a metal 3D Printer, but can't come close to affording any of the printers currently out there. MiniMetalMaker could be the first of what's hopefully a string of cheaper metal printers. I wonder when the big boys like Makerbot and Cubify will make a Metal printing line.

I really think people need to research the process and abilities of metal clays, before they spend their money. This is great for making jewelry, trinkets, and possibly toys, but it will not make any thing close to precision.

Vanguard.... I assume that it will also not have the strength of an object made by a high quality laser sintering 3D Printer. Am I correct? So this is basically a printer that works kind of like any filament printer, but with a clay like metal substance? Is this correct? I am not at all familiar with this segment of the market....

Usually you get what you pay for. This is priced rather low for a metal printer. It's going to be awesome for jewelry and such, but as for working gears, and things that require stronger metal, I'm not so sure about that.

The strength of the finished product is not in question, it is a METAL object, it has the strength of a old fashioned type sintered metal, in that it is some what porous, it is lighter that an object of the same design that was machined or cast, because it has tiny holes in it. The problems with precision arise from the shrinkage, it is a best guess for shrinkage. The shrinkage is not consistent throughout the part, making it impossible to predict.

The cost of materials is quite high, it is generally sold per gram. The process is long and involved, including a burn out stage, with special carbon, which again adds to the cost.

To understand this technology a person should search PMC, or precious metal clay, it is used in jewelry to make some VERY beautiful items. The shrinkage is a bonus for jewelry making, since an object can be made larger than it finishes at.

This technology has been investigated thoroughly by engineers as a way to make metal objects, you can make some nice non-ferrous items, but not steel, iron, or anything stronger than bronze. That's alright, bronze is strong enough for many gears, but you cannot get consistent results. You cannot print aluminum. Lost wax casting is MUCH simpler, takes less expense, less equipment, and is less costly. There are already machines for doing this type of thing available in the jewelry making arena. If it was of much use, it would be in use, this is not much more than a way for somebody to get some of your money.

This is up to over $20K with about 3 weeks remaining. I'm glad to see it has been funded. I'm seriously considering backing it on Indiegogo.

Big news guys, the company has just launched a new Indiegogo campaign for this printer. $2,100. Looks pretty good in my opinion. What are your thoughts?
http://3dprint.com/48292/mini-metal-maker-3d-print/

... Too bad they went to Indiegogo if they are serious. I can't abide IG anymore : I thought they were sloppy but no they just actively don't care.

So it extrudes metal clay? I'll be interested to see how much shrinkage there is during firing.

PMC (Precious Metal Clay) can shrink up to 50%.

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Originally Posted by bford903

So it extrudes metal clay? I'll be interested to see how much shrinkage there is during firing.

PMC (Precious Metal Clay) can shrink up to 50%.

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This should be exactly that. It's just pmc. with some base metal versions thrown in as well. all of the limitations of pmc apply here, as would all of the benefits. However, by making thicker parts hollow with a support mesh, (assuming the printer can handle that) we could get more consistent shrinkage I would expect. if the cross sections consistent enough, then it would be more even then usual PMC work.

Still intriguing for the idea of jewelry use, but for those who don't already have a kiln on hand, the need for buying a kiln is a downside. (buying, then setting it up, venting it, learning how to use it to fire etc) High cost and logistics for a DIYer at home, but useful for a jeweler who is used to working with PMC. I'm personally hoping that moldlay filament works well for lost wax casting instead. (will be trying it when both my filament shows up, and my rapide lite printer shows up)

basically any of the modular printers will do this. Why limit yourself to a one trick pony ?

The Mini Metal Maker, with a live second Indiegogo campaign running now for additional funding following a successful first round of crowdfunding at the end of 2013, is here to show just how far 3D printers have come by 3D printing a functional pair of scissors that can cut through paper, cardboard, thread, and more. Their $1,500 3D printer allows for printing of metal-based clay, which does shrink from wet completed print to kiln-fired finished piece, but produces quality objects. Co-founder David Hartkop's functional metal scissors were modeled using LightWave, then broken down via Slic3r, and 3D printed in two symmetrical pieces in about 42 minutes. The Mini Metal Maker can be yours for a $1,500 backing at Indiegogo, or you can get DIY instructions and build files to make your own for just $25. Find out more, including a video, in the full article: http://3dprint.com/53641/3d-printed-metal-scissors/


Below is a photo of the 3D printed metal scissors cutting cardboard:
http://3dprint.com/wp-content/upload.../cardboard.jpg

Hey guys,

I'm new to the forum, so first of all, hello to you all ;-)

I found this thread but it's been dead for a long time.
I'm actually quite interested in this Mini Metal Maker, as it seems to be a more cost effective and simpler alternative to the typical 3D metal printing. I was wondering whether any of you have experience with this printer already. Has any of you bought one or built one? Did it work?

It is interesting to be informed of 3Dprinting developments and a lot gets published here.

However, some of these articles are more wishful thinking than hard facts : several prototypes and startups never make it to full fledged businesses. Indiegogo projects in particular have an exceptionnally high rate of failure.

No matter however, the important part here is the clay, not the printer itself. If you are interested, you can make your own clay extruder, there are a lot of open source resources out there, for instance Printrbot posted one and I think I've seen a kit on imakr

The clay however will be costly since we are talking specialty jewelry. Also firing the clay may prove frustrating if you have no experience on how to prevent deformations during that phase. Plus, you need a kiln. Overall, you're probably better off going to shapeways or sculpteo.