What is metal 3D printing?
I am in charge of the Metal 3D Printer Project. Thank you for visiting Aluminum3Dprinter.com.
I will answer some questions related to metal 3D printers here.
lease feel free to contact us with any questions about anything regarding market trends, technical details, and even simple questions.
We also offer a variety of plant tours, machine demonstrations, workshops, training sessions, seminars, and more. Please contact us for further information.
What formats should we send data in?
We can handle a total of 32 formats including A1:STL, IGES, STEP, SolidWorks, Pro/E, and more. Please contact us if you have any questions.
What materials are you able to form?
We are able handle aluminum (AlSi10Mg) and resin (nylon types) with our in-house equipment. We can also handle SUS316L (via an affiliate company).
Approximately how long does forming take?
It depends on the shape of the product being formed, however approximately 5 to 20 hours. Items with a higher degree of substance or which are taller will take longer to form. Shape complexity does not affect forming time.
What is the layer thickness of formed products?
20μｍ
How do you remove supports?
We use cutting pliers and other tools to remove supports manually. We also use wire cutting in some cases.
How is surface finishing carried out?
We blast finish surfaces.
How do you utilize 3D printers?
We mainly use them for commissioned forming of customer prototypes and research components, etc. In addition, we also use them to form jigs, tools, and metal products for use in production lines in-house (sheet metal processing).
When did you introduce your equipment?
We introduced the equipment in October of 2017 and then focused on trial forming in-house for a year. We officially expanded the business in April 2019.
What is the processing precision?
The dimensional accuracy is approximately ±0.10 to 0.15 mm, with a surface roughness of approximately 10 μm. Products with strict tolerances are machined after forming.
Approximately how much are forming costs?
Although it varies from case-to-case, it becomes less expensive for items where multiple items can be produced at the same time.
High mass formed products use a larger amount of powder, and also require longer laser exposure, and are therefore more expensive. Please contact us for a free estimate for specific cases.
What is the maximum forming size?
According to the equipment specifications, the maximum forming size is φ96 mm×H75 mm. We can also accommodate larger items in some cases. Please contact us for further details.
What is the approximate turnaround time?
Approximately 1 week to 10 days after receipt of the order form.
Is it possible to order forming based on 2-dimensional drawings, pictures (or other non-3D data), etc.?
We may be able to accommodate such orders depending on specific details, please contact us for a consultation. (Please note that separate design fees may be required for such cases.)
I’d like to know more about metal 3D printers. Do you hold information exchanges, plant tours, training sessions, seminars, etc.?
We can. We have held training sessions with universities and businesses in the past. Please contact us for a consultation.
Are you able to produce metal dies?
Our company uses aluminum materials. These are not well suited to metal dies which require a higher degree of strength.
We want to contract creation of an item for which we currently do not have a metal die. Is this possible?
If you have 3D data, we can carry out forming of items which have no metal die in quantities from a single product.
Can you carry out forming using materials which we provide?
Unfortunately, we are not able to use substitute powders. However, if you consult with us, we may be able to introduce you to a company which does handle your desired material.
Can we order mass production from you after prototype forming?
We can handle production of lots of approximately 10 pieces. We can also offer proposals aimed at shifting to mass production.
Is it possible to measure the dimensions of a formed product after forming?
We have a 3D scanning measurement device (Keyence VL370), so we can also accommodate inspections and tests.
Can you plate formed products?
We can handle plating and other various surface processing.
To approximately how many companies have you delivered products?
We have a proven track record with approximately 50 customers.
From what types of industries do you receive inquiries?
We mainly receive the majority of inquiries from automobile manufacturers and precision equipment manufacturers.
How do you test formed products?
We carry out numerical assessment of the basic physical properties (hardness, tensile strength, etc.) of formed products through joint research with research institutions. Please contact us for a consultation regarding any other specific or separate tests.
What is the mechanical strength?
As noted on the separate information sheet (joint research with the Nagano Prefecture General Industrial Technology Center).