Metal powder is a raw material that can be used to create parts by 3d printing. It is available in a variety of forms, including titanium alloys, cobalt-chromium alloys and stainless steel. The powder can be sprayed or granulated to the desired size.
3d printing metal powder enables you to create unique designs and shapes, with a range of properties. This process has a number of benefits over traditional manufacturing methods, including speed and cost efficiency.
Currently, the most common type of metal 3d printing technology is called Powder Bed Fusion (PBF). These machines distribute a fine layer of powder over a build table and melt a cross section of your part into the powder. The machine then repeats this process until all layers are complete.
Direct Energy Deposition, or DED, is another method of 3d printing. It uses a laser, plasma arc or electron beam to fuse metal filaments into an object.
Binder Jetting is another large scale, high fidelity method of 3d printing. It combines the scalability of SLM with the ability to print at higher speeds and higher resolution.
The materials in powder form can vary widely in size and shape, but they all have a high degree of mechanical strength. They are ideal for applications that require high strength, but also need to be light and flexible. They are especially popular in the aerospace and automotive industries. They are also being used to manufacture products for medical purposes.
