BCN3D introduces Metal Pack - a package for 3D printing made of stainless steel

BCN3D Metal Pack

Metal Pack enables rapid prototyping and final metal production using 3D printing. This method is a perfect alternative or complement to classic MIM and CNC technologies, offering similar mechanical properties and much greater design freedom.

BCN3D Metal Pack was developed using a dedicated material produced by the well-known chemical concern BASF 3D Printing Solutions, the Ultrafuse® Metal Filament material from the BASF Forward AM line. The complete BCN3D solution will be presented at the largest trade fair for the 3D printing industry - Formnext 2021 in Frankfurt am Main.

The key issue for the enormous success of the solution developed by BCN3D - is compatibility with the flagship machines of the Epsilon W50 and Epsilon W27 manufacturer - which will enable access to metal 3D printing technology for thousands of new users. Metal Pack is a module for 3D printers that extends their functionality, thanks to which in a simple way and at a low cost - devices that used to print only from thermoplastics can be adapted to printing from metal.

The BCN3D brand consistently and at dizzying pace implements its development plans. After the launch of the new cloud-based system and the acquisition of Astroprint, BCN3D continues its dynamic development - creating new, high-class hardware solutions.

With the development of the Metal Pack solution, a new range of applications for BCN3D customers opens up, especially in the areas of spare parts, maintenance, functional prototyping and rapid final production. Parts produced in the process of 3D printing from metal on BCN3D devices are practically identical to those - produced in MIM or CNC technologies, but they retain much greater design freedom, which is enabled by additive technology.

The Metal Pack includes BASF Ultrafuse® 316L and BASF Ultrafuse 17-4 PH, a new dedicated metal hotend, as well as special accessories for the seamless adaptation of metal printing machines.

“The Ultrafuse® Metal Filaments range has been developed based on BASF's many years of know-how in the metal injection molding (MIM) industry. The filaments are designed for maximum ease of use and can be used on any open source Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) printer. We are very happy that both Ultrafuse® 316L and 17-4 PH have been approved by BCN3D. We are pleased that BCN3D has decided to make metal printing technology accessible to its customers by introducing this package ”- Firat Hizal, head of the Metal Systems business group at BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH.

How does this process work?

The technological process of obtaining a metal part from a model made in 3D printing technology using BASF brand materials is divided into 3 stages:

• 3D printing on BCN3D Epsilon printers - Ultrafuse® 316L and 17-4 PH filaments have a high content of stainless steel in combination with polymer binders, which enables the 3D printing process
• Debinding - the binder content from the printed part is removed in the catalytic binder removal process.
• Sintering - the printed model is subjected to a sintering process at temperatures just below the melting point of the metal, which causes the metal particles to coalesce. The material achieves its final properties (hardness and strength) by final sintering.

The end result is a part that is almost 100% made of solid stainless steel.

“The entire AM industry follows the trends of 3D metal printing. The truth is that there are currently no dedicated metal 3D printing solutions that are affordable. With the announcement of our new product - Metal Pack - at BCN3D we are pleased to be able to use BASF's many years of experience and reputation in thermoplastic and metal processing technologies to adapt to 3D printing. By combining BASF technology with our existing 3D printing ecosystem, we have managed to develop a comprehensive and open solution for functional metal prototyping. Metal Pack will enable the production of industrial-quality metal parts at low cost, in just a few days and without the limitations known from classic CNC and MIM solutions. " - Eric Pallarés, CTO of BCN3D.

Kit Composition, Availability and Preorder

The Metal Pack will contain one spool of Ultrafuse® 316L (3kg) and one Ultrafuse® 17-4PH (3kg), a dedicated Magigoo 316L adhesive that is also compatible with the 17-4PH material, two new Hotends M and new brass nozzle wipers for metal.

BCN3D will also publish an add-on to the new BCN3D Stratos software - dedicated to metal printing. It will contain print profiles developed specifically for the Epsilon BCN3D series.

The kit will be shown live for the first time at the most important FORMNEXT trade fair (November 16-19) at the BCN3D stand 12.1 B41.

The Metal Pack price has been set at € 1.099.95 net.

The first deliveries of Metal Pack sets will take place in January 2022 - GLOBAL 3D, as the exclusive authorized distributor of the BCN3D brand in Poland, conducts pre-sale for customers who own machines from the Epsilon series (W50 / W27).