i.materialise launches DMLS: You can now 3d print in Titanium
You can now 3D print in titanium! This is ultra high end new 3D printing process is one of the world’s newest and most advanced manufacturing technologies and is now in the hands of consumers, inventors, designers and you, for the first time.
Do you see the ball above? It is 2cm in diameter. And can you see the small diagonal bar inside the ball? We could write your name on that in a height of 2mm, in titanium.
We’re overjoyed that we’re the world’s first 3D printing service to let consumers order titanium 3D prints. Titanium 3D printing opens up an entirely new world of advanced engineering, manufacturing and jewelry applications for creative people worldwide. Titanium’s high heat resistance, high accuracy and unparalleled strength lets designers now make things that before now could only be made by the research and development departments of only the largest corporations in the world. By putting this technology in the public’s hands were democratizing manufacturing and giving you the opportunity to, design and order something this is exactly as you want it to be.
We do not yet know what you will do with this technology but our clients have been amazing us for decades now and we expect you blow us away with your creations.
The HeartGrid is a customizable titanium pendant where the heart can signify any date of the year that is special for you or special to the person you’re giving it to.
The OurPlace is another customizable jewel. Tell us the place where you met and we will place the heart exactly where it needs to be, 3D printed in titanium.
HeartGrid & OurPlace by Artur Tchoukanov.
How does the process work?
The titanium 3D printing process we use is called DMLS or Direct Metal Laser Sintering. It works as follows:
- A thin bed of titanium powder is laid down in the 3D printer.
- This layer is then sintered by a very powerful laser and will become the bottom layer of your part.
- A new layer of powder is applied and the process repeats itself.
- Your part is taken out of the 3D printer and any loose unsintered powder is removed.
- In most cases your part will have support structures 3D printed on and around it out of titanium.
- These supports have to be removed manually using very powerful circular saws and other tools.
- Once the supports have been removed manual polishing is required to remove evidence of the supports.
- Then a post finishing step may be required such as polishing the entire part.
Pricing
A Standard part 2 by 2 by 4cm with a volume of 1 cubic centimeter would be 93 Euros ($124). A part with the same bounding box and 4 cubic centimeters of volume is 144 Euro ($192).
If you would like to upload a design for titanium you can do so here. We’ve made another blog post outlining the technical specifications, pricing and a dose of truthiness about the process for those of you who want to delve deeper into 3D printing titanium.
Future Developments @i.materialise.com
At i.materialise we’re comitted to letting you make the future. We want to work with designers, software developers and inventors to give you the tools you need to design and produce anything you want, exactly as you would like it. Things made by you to fit you better, to express you better, to work better, to look better, to be better. Things made better for an audience of one, you. We want to slowly but surely push back mass manufacturing and replace it with individualized manufacturing. Titanium 3D printing is a step in the right direction, many more will follow. We will be updating this blog with new developments in 3D printing titanium and other advances in 3D printing technology. Follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be kept in the loop on further developments.
Should you have any questions about uploading and using i.materialise please email contact @ i.materialise.com. Should you have any other questions please email joris @ i.materialise.com
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