Metal Additive Manufacturing Technologies

A process where a heat source selectively melts metal powder in a powder bed, building parts layer by layer.

Common Methods:

• Selective Laser Melting (SLM) – A high-power laser melts metal powder to create dense, high-precision parts.
• Electron Beam Melting (EBM) – Uses an electron beam in a vacuum, ideal for titanium and aerospace components.
• Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) – Similar to SLM but allows for partial melting, creating porous structures.

Best for:

• High-precision metal parts with complex geometries.
• Medical implants and aerospace components requiring tight tolerances.
• Batch production of metal components with minimal post-processing.

A process where metal-filled polymer filaments are extruded like Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), then sintered to remove the binder and fuse the metal.

Best for:

• Rapid prototyping of metal parts before high-cost production.
• Low-cost metal AM with standard 3D printers.
• Desktop manufacturing with minimal infrastructure.

A process where a binder (glue-like substance) is sprayed onto a metal powder bed, layer by layer. The part is then sintered in a furnace to fuse the metal particles.

Best for:

• Cost-effective mass production of metal parts.
• Complex geometries with minimal material waste.
• Low-temperature processing, reducing thermal distortion.

A process that uses a robotic welding arc to deposit metal wire layer by layer, similar to traditional welding.

Best for:

• Large-scale metal structures (e.g., shipbuilding, aerospace, and automotive).
• Cost-effective metal deposition with high deposition rates.
• Manufacturing with standard welding equipment.