3D Metal Printer

Engineering and automation

Canterbury Christ Church University

General description

Our 3D metal printer manufactured by DMG Mori uses additive manufacturing to create prototype products using production-grade material. Designed to be used with either CAD or 3D Modeling this equipment can be used to model and produce highly specialised end-use parts with complex geometry or structures. Furthermore, due to the inbuilt processes, errors in modelling can be rectified prior to the commencement of printing, resulting in a higher level of accuracy in the end product. The use of a metal 3D printer can enable fast prototyping, reduced manufacturing costs, improved product quality or product customisation.

Technical description

The 3D Metal Printer is capable of printing using a number of metals and alloys consisting of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, cobalt, tungsten, titanium and a range of nickle-based alloys. Using the powder bed fusion process, the printer will operate assisted by CAD to design, and ‘print’ the designed product. Metallic powder will be bonded using either heat or light energy in the form of a laser to fuse the material together. Repeating this process by ‘layering’ allows the formation of the metal to the desired shape.