Binder jetting is an additive manufacturing process that uses industrial printhead to selectively deposit a liquid binding agent onto a thin layer of powder particles — either metal, sand, ceramics or composites — to build high-value and one-of-a-kind parts and tooling. It is a rising star in AM, thanks to its speed and accuracy, though also its potential for high volume production. In the case of metal 3D printing, it is considered to be a particularly good choice for scaling up AM, an increasing concern of many companies especially after seeing the success of the technology during COVID-19. This is thanks to its cost-effectiveness compared to many other metal methods, many of which use expensive lasers. Additionally, many laser-based AM technologies may have serious limitations for larger scale production, an issue which is not present with binder jetting. Finally, it is attractive to many as applications for the technology are vast as are the compatible materials, with even more being rapidly developed. But what exactly are these applications? And what are the latest material trends?
To answer these questions and more about metal binder jetting, 3Dnatives was joined by ExOne and the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials (Fraunhofer IFAM) for the webinar “How Are Materials and Applications Driving Innovation in Metal Binder Jetting Technology,” which took place on October 14th. Attendees were able to learn all about this AM process, from powders and design for binder jetting all the way through the final sintering process. Additionally, they were able to get insights into different material applications, the metal adoption process and the current revolution of 3D printed materials. This is thanks to expertise from the world-renowned Fraunhofer IFAM which is often on the cusp of cutting edge 3D printing as well as ExOne, the leading binder jetting printer manufacturer on the market, and a forerunner on material development for the technology. Watch the replay below!
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