Metal 3D Printing (DMLS / SLM)
Metal 3D printing encompasses industrial powder-bed fusion technologies such as Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and Selective Laser Melting (SLM) that use high-wattage lasers to melt powdered superalloys (titanium, stainless steel, Inconel, cobalt-chrome) layer by layer into fully dense metal components.
Industrial DMLS/SLM Laser Melting Process
In a sealed inert argon gas chamber, a recoater blade spreads a 20–60 micron layer of spherical metal powder across the build platform. A high-power fiber laser precisely scans and sinters the metal cross-section, repeating the process layer by layer.
Filament-Based Metal FDM (Bound Metal Printing)
Desktop systems utilize metal-infused polymer filaments (containing 80%+ metal powder in a polymer binder). Once printed on standard FDM hardware, green parts undergo chemical debinding and thermal furnace sintering to yield solid metal parts.
Economics & Aerospace/Medical Applications
Metal 3D printing enables organic generative lightweighting and internal cooling channels impossible with CNC milling, widely utilized in rocket engine injectors, custom orthopedic implants, and high-performance motorsports.
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