How to properly sinter a stainless steel part?

[curious aardvark]

the desktop metal/markforge process is THREEFOLD.

1) print
2) dissolve the majority of the support
3) sinter.

Given that both the washing and sintering machines both cost more than $10,000 - I would be impressed if you can replicate the process with 3rd party equipment.

There is something in the 'washing' process that removes most of the packing plastic, while leaving the metal still stuck together with 'something' and ready for sintering.
Presumably if you could just sinter the raw filament - they would do so.

https://markforged.com/resources/lea...turing-process

Sintering is done under a mix of gasses.

I would guess that unless you remove most of the packing - then the metal particles won;t be close enough to actually sinter together - probably why the parts keep falling to dust.

Oh and there's a 17% overall shrinkage rate. So - presumably - some shrinkage occurs in the washing/solvent process.