Metal Printing with 3D Systems On Demand Services

Metal 3D printing has taken flight in the popular imagination over the past years, but what can businesses do with metal printing today? What kind of parts make sense in metal printing and how can companies get started with the technology?

3D Systems on Demand is a leader in metal 3D printing as a service. Through our automated online quoting system, businesses can receive fast pricing information on their metal 3D printed parts. Potential customers can also contact 3D Systems to have their metal 3D printing questions answered by experts. Whether you have a single part with a short deadline or are seeking a metal manufacturing partner for tens of thousands of parts, 3D Systems has a solution for you.

3D Systems believes in partnerships with customers to fulfill not only their order but also their business needs and goals. 3D Systems On Demand has the broadest manufacturing portfolio in the 3D printing and traditional manufacturing service bureau industry. The company has both additive as well as traditional manufacturing in a broad range of processes. The company offers CNC machining, investment casting patterns, polymer 3D printing as well as direct metal 3D printing. 3D Systems has the knowledge in house to advise on these processes and determine which best suit your business case or part. By being one of few players to offer both metals and polymers, 3D Systems can best advise you on which material makes sense for you. 3D Systems can also inform you when 3D printing your part does not make sense and another technology would be more suitable.

Acetabular cups 3D Printed in titanium by 3D Systems On Demand

Direct Metal Printing (DMP),  also called Direct Metal Laser Sintering, DMLS, Selective Laser Melting, LPBF, and Laser Powder Bed Fusion, is a technology capable of delivering parts with a wide degree of design freedom in both the geometry and texture of parts. In the manufacturing of orthopedic implants, for example, it is DMLS’ ability to inexpensively manufacture new textures for trabecular bone implants that make it better suited and less expensive than competing technologies. 3D Systems has many post-processing and finishing lines in-house to give your part the Ra and finish required.

In aerospace, less energy and material being used to make lighter parts improves buy to fly ratios and can improve the performance of aero-engines, space systems, drones, and aircraft.  For one-off prototypes and new design directions, DMLS can be a comparatively fast and inexpensive way to get a new idea made. Thin walls and design freedom combine to let functional geometries exist that could never have taken place before. In addition to prototyping, 3D Systems has the capacity to make tens of thousands of parts monthly at tight tolerances.

A topology optimized aerospace part made by 3D Systems for Thales

In automotive and general industry DMP has shown itself to be a capable manufacturing technology of lightweight and topology optimized parts. Metal 3D printed parts have been used in engines, valves, machine tools, processing equipment, and as spare parts. Metal 3D printing has been used in bridge manufacturing and to produce injection molding tooling. In some cases, 3D printing has let companies introduce custom versions of existing products or to do pre-production versions for internal testing. In other cases, companies have gone to market with 3D printed products. Do you want to find out what metal 3D printing can do for your company?  

Contact 3D Systems today to find out more. Have a project in mind? Get a free quote online now.