BCN3D Metal Pack

BCN3D Metal Pack

The BCN3D Metal Pack is an extension to the current Epsilon series that enables printing in stainless steel. The kit extends the range of applications for BCN3D customers, especially in the field of spare parts, functional prototyping and tooling. Metal Pack is aimed mainly at the pharmaceutical, food, automotive, aviation and manufacturing industries. 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

The Metal Pack includes Ultrafuse® 316L and 17-4 PH filaments, a new metal hotend, as well as special accessories to ensure trouble-free printing. New printing profiles have been added in BCN3D Stratos to facilitate the process of 3D metal printing. After printing, the debinding and sintering processes can be performed externally through Forward AM's current authorized network of service providers.

Regardless of whether you are producing spare parts, functional prototypes or tooling, switch to an environmentally friendly solution that allows you to create models with virtually identical parameters as in the case of MIM or CNC. The strength and hardness of metal are now affordable, without the need to purchase a brand new printer. The BCN3D Epsilon 3D printer enriched with Metal Pack allows you to freely print from metal.

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.

Ultrafuse® 316L and 17-4 PH filaments contain a high level of stainless steel combined with polymer binders that allow for easy printing. The binder content from the printed part is removed by a catalytic binder removal process. In the next step, the part 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.

How to install Metal Pack

Installing the Metal Pack in an Epsilon printer is extremely easy and fast. Follow the steps in the video below to ensure a hassle-free installation.

Requirements and instruction manual

BCN3D has prepared complete documentation to ensure trouble-free service and to take full advantage of Metal Pack's capabilities.

• How to print with Ultrafuse® 316L filament
• Ultrafuse® 316L filament, tips and tricks
• How to print with the Ultrafuse® 17-4 PH filament
• Filament Ultrafuse® 17-4 PH, tips and tricks
• User manual

Properties

In order to get the most out of Metal Pack, BCN3D has conducted specialized tests. The results that BCN3D achieved while working with metal are presented below.

• Density achieved with the Epsilon series: 7.74 over 7.85 g / cm3 (98.59%).
• Shrinkage with Epsilon series: 19% XY / 24% Z (depends on geometry).
• Maximum accuracy achieved with the Epsilon series: up to ± 0.09 mm XY / ± 0.04 mm Z.

Differences between 316-L and 17-4PH filaments

Post-processing metal parts

Printed, metal elements can be traditionally processed in the same way as steel elements, which creates wide opportunities to improve the finish of the finished model.

Find out what processes can be performed on metal components and how to improve their surface quality. Post-processing metal parts

Kit contents

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