With the added capability for 3D printing with metal powders and alloys too, high-performance prototypes and parts can be manufactured efficiently; however, there is also the opportunity to create complex geometries never before possible with conventional technology.
Like Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), support structures are not required in metal Binder Jetting either. This is due to the intrinsic support provided by unused powder bolstering parts during printing.
Stainless Steel 316L is 3D printed with Triple Advanced Compaction Technology by ExOne, in partnership with Shapeways. This material is unique as a corrosion-resistant single alloy, offering high strength that extends to extreme temperatures too. Shapeways customers use this material for the following industrial applications: Mechanical machinery, surgical tooling, heat exchangers, and fasteners and brackets.
Stainless Steel 316L is available in a natural finish, blasted with ceramic media for a slightly rough surface and a matte finish. It is also offered in a polished finish, with 3D printed parts tumbled for a smooth surface.
For this material, 3D models must meet the following minimum and maximum bounding box sizes:
Steel materials from Shapeways are 60% stainless steel and 40% bronze matrix material, and are recommended for strong metal parts that require an industrial look and feel. This material is recommended for consumer products at any size, including applications like tools and accessories, home decor, and small goods requiring intricate structures.
This metal is available in the following colors: Bronze, gold, nickel, bronzed-silver, and black.
A matte finish is available for Steel, featuring an unpolished, rough surface. A polished finish is also offered for shiny, smooth parts; however, note that parts larger than 150 x 150 x 150 or those with thinner details will be finished with bead blasting instead to avoid breakage. This may also present a rougher, less consistent result.
For this material, 3D models must meet the following minimum and maximum bounding box sizes:
Stainless Steel 17-4 PH is 3D printed with Binder Jetting by Desktop Metal, in partnership with Shapeways. This material can be highly optimized for manufacturing strong metal geometries with extreme toughness and corrosion resistance. Shapeways customers rely on Stainless Steel 17-4 PH for industrial manufacturing of: Fasteners, jigs and fixtures, machine tools, parts for oil and gas, pump components, and valving.
Stainless Steel 17-4 PH is available in a Processed finish, with a semi-matte appearance and a rough surface. Parts are media blasted after the sintering process is complete.
For this material, 3D models must meet the following minimum and maximum bounding box sizes:
Sandstone allows for full color Binder Jetting in applications like architecture, medical models, and figurines.
While this material is excellent for products like decorative models, Sandstone is not generally recommended for applications where the material would be handled extensively, due to its low strength and brittle nature.
In either plain or multi-color, Sandstone is available in a natural finish with a slightly textured, rough surface and matte finish, or glossy–to enhance colors and provide both UV and moisture resistance.
For this material, 3D models must meet the following minimum and maximum bounding box sizes:
At Shapeways, Binder Jetting is a simple but highly industrial process suitable for customers requiring a large volume of metal (or sandstone) components printed fast, and often on the larger scale too. Ordering and manufacturing is as easy as uploading one or more 3D designs, requesting instant quotes, checking for printability, and then waiting for parts to be manufactured—whether on an average, priority, or rush basis.
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