https://markforged.com/markforged-metal-3d-printer-ces-2017/
Wow can we print that with a open source fdm printer
Interesting question. We’ll need to know a lot more about the process. At the least, you’d need access to an oven hot enough to sinter the metal.
@Dale_Dunn You don’t need an oven - you use lasers. Maybe.
@ThantiK Maybe. Especially maybe for an open implementation. But Markforged is talking about sintering the whole thing at once to eliminate weaknesses at layer boundaries. There’s more to be learned here, though. It’s not immediately clear to me what flaws are introduced at layer boundaries if you sinter each layer separately.
I do know that current metal printing processes have warping issues, or at least internal stress issues related to uneven heating. So, that would go away.
@Aric_Norine Articles are saying it’ll start at $99,500.
Original one was $8800 for just nylon and carbon fiber/fiber glass/kevlar. So the $100k price point seems realistic. They’ll also overcharge for the materials that will certainly be proprietary
I have a feeling it’s the same process, or very similar of what you do with “Filamet” from The Virtual Foundry. I have a sample if the stuff, but I haven’t tried sintering it yet. I just wish they offered more materials.
This is Filamet essentially, Ryan is correct. A friend at CES chatted up Markforged about this, they’re printing metal filled filament and firing the parts afterwards. They shrink 19% when fired.
http://www.thevirtualfoundry.com/ – seems to be the makers of the Filamet product. Really interesting – Ordering a 100g sample pack.
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