German chemical producer BASF has launched the Ultrafuse 316LX filament. Made from a polymer infused with stainless steel particles, Ultrafuse 316LX can be 3D printed as normal on a typical desktop FFF 3D printer. Then, in a process becoming increasingly popular through products such asVirtual Foundry’s FilametandFraunhofer IFAM的最新发布，留下一个纯净的金属物体是烧结的。
在最近的一项案例研究中，在Apium添加剂技术FFF 3D打印机内进行了测试，以3D打印高性能Peek塑料在无定形和半晶状体相位。
从绿色到成品零件
BASF’s Ultrafuse 316LX filament is composed of a polymeric binder with 80 wt.-% stainless steel 316L particles. Initially, items made from the material are 3D printed as “green-bodies” which are larger than required to account for shrinkage caused by debinding.
After 3D printing, polymer binding content of the item is removed using a catalyic acid process. To finish the part is sintered in an oven, fusing together the metal particles.
The structural advantage of FFF metal
巴斯夫在1980年代首先将其引入金属注射成型（MIM）的脱丝和烧结过程使物体具有许多结构优势。
According to Apium CTO Dr. Brand Okolo，，，，“The green-body printed from Apium’s printer have structural properties which enhance their survival chances when put through de-binding and sintering processes.”
Additionally, “The sintered parts,” from Apium’s 3D printers, “meet geometric requirements […] mechanical properties of the sintered parts compare quite well with that of bulk 316L stainless steel” and porosity is “generally below 2%.”
Making metal more accessible
但是，在FFF 3D打印上制作金属零件的主要优点是材料处理和成本。Okolo博士继续解释说：“ 3D处理所需的金属粉末（通常是）很昂贵，材料处理会增加令人讨厌的健康 - 安全环境问题，激光处理是一种高能量的需求，并且过程废料可以考虑到浪费材料的考虑。到80％的原料。”
This is also one of the unique selling points offorthcoming systems from Desktop Metal和马克·福特。未来写作3D打印来宾文章系列Markforged首席执行官Greg Mark说：“强大的印刷目前正在接管生产线的大部分，并且效率不断提高。产品发射的速度将加快，产品可以在星期一设计，在星期二进行原型，并在星期三之前进行全部生产。”
有关最新金属3D打印的更多信息like，，，，跟随andsubscribeto 3D Printing Industry.在我们的3D打印作业网站上注册。
特色图像显示了使用BASF Ultrafuse 316LX细丝在Apium 3D打印机上制造的各种金属物体。通过Apium摄影
