Direct metal laser sintering (DMLS)

[Mike94531]

Neat project btboone!

Mind sharing how much the powder costs per lb or kg? Easy to source?

[btboone]

The steel powder at 200 mesh is available from a fireworks supply Pyrotechnic Chemicals and Supplies, Sparklers, Fireworks Fuse for something like $6 a pound. It's not stainless and not as fine as you want for real products, but very cheap for prototyping.

[bestrada11]

can someone on this forum provide sintering services I have a v flash 3d polymer printer but would like to have access to a metal alternative. can we talk about a working relationship. we have cnc mills lathes swiss lathes wire edm machines sinker edm machines hole popper edms plastic injection in horizontal(90ton) vertical insert(75ton) and vertical small scale(30ton) we have developed and build our own injection machines for short run low quantity runs of prototypes and make our own molds for all of our machines we also do laser engraving laser cutting and uv printing..

[KarlD]

Excellent work btboone.
Can't wait to see the results.
What power rating is the laser you are using?

Mike94531-Commercial powder is between $100-180USD per/kg depending on metal.
bestrada11-The University I am with has recently purchased a SLM machine for research and commercial work and I will be doing my research on it.

[btboone]

For the sintering, I am using an 80 watt YAG laser with a short 100mm lens. I get a 19 micron spot size with that when focused tight. I do deep engraving in titanium rings with it.

[bestrada11]

if you would be able to do onesy twosies id love if I could pay you on the side to crank a few test pieces out for us they would be relatively small no matter what no bigger than a softball ever with walls under .118

[btboone]

I'm not set up to do that, but I think imaterialize does metal printing.

[jkrojas]

Great post! It provides brief Information about DMLS technology.While surfing on internet, i came to know that DMLS is similar to SLM or SLS. DMSL provides accurate Metal printing through Metal Fabrication process which has applications like welding, grinding, Lab Tool Design/Manufacturing, etc.

[d_s]

It's amazing to think that in the time since this thread was first started, you can now buy a high quality metal 3D printer from a serious brand for under $100k. I think the first was the ORLAS Creator, but there's probably others now too. It's not really worth thinking about building your own any more

[AltPartsInc]

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) is a direct metal laser melting (DMLM) or laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technology that accurately forms complex geometries not possible with other metal manufacturing methods.

DMLS parts are stronger and denser than investment cast metal parts, and they can help you get to market first with faster turnaround times.