The Additive Manufacturing Users Group reports that BASF scientists have found a way to use the additive technique of extrusion to create 100% metal parts. This could be an interesting breakthrough, as most additive processes that use metal materials to make parts are powder-based and use an additive sintering or melting process. Another technique uses an additive blown powder process.
The research began with a filament comprising 80% steel powder (by weight) and 20% plastic binder extruded to create a 3D printed metal/plastic composite part. By subsequently adding a step using a standard industrial debinding and sintering process, the result was a 100% steel part.
One benefit of this process is that it could be less expensive than using selective laser melting with metal powders.
BASF
www.basf.us
