Metal 3D printing is currently dominated by powder-based techniques like SLM (Selective Laser Melting). These processes yield incredibly precise parts, but the build times are slow. Furthermore, dealing with the powder increases manufacturing complexity: Whenever the powder is transported, loaded into the machine, or cleaned up afterwards, rigorous steps must
Most cheap-o grade filament metal 3d printers are 10k and up, there really is no real hobbyist pricepoint for metal 3d printing. The industrial level metal 3d printers were already at 100k to million per machine. This is obviously targetting things like automotive and aerospace industry, that can easily pay those prices, not consumers. Maybe if we get more Wire DED metal 3d printers the cost might go down, or it won’t.
About 15 years ago I looked at 3d printers for an engineering team. Between $20,000 and $50,000 range. The best option was a powder based system. Parts were fragile, print time was slow, clean up was a pain.
One of our customers was using an SLA system…parts were fragile, print time was slow…clean up was a pain.
Now I have a 3d filament printer in my shop that cost me less than $1,000, and doesn’t have any of those issues. Of course it’s not mounted on a robotic arm.
Super cool but $150,000k USD…
Holy fuck, 150 million?
I doubt it’ll ever be more efficient to buy than specialized machines at that price.
I use a 15 year old, quarter million dollar 3d scanner at work. It’s on par with what you can get for about 5 to 8k these days.
Most cheap-o grade filament metal 3d printers are 10k and up, there really is no real hobbyist pricepoint for metal 3d printing. The industrial level metal 3d printers were already at 100k to million per machine. This is obviously targetting things like automotive and aerospace industry, that can easily pay those prices, not consumers. Maybe if we get more Wire DED metal 3d printers the cost might go down, or it won’t.
About 15 years ago I looked at 3d printers for an engineering team. Between $20,000 and $50,000 range. The best option was a powder based system. Parts were fragile, print time was slow, clean up was a pain.
One of our customers was using an SLA system…parts were fragile, print time was slow…clean up was a pain.
Now I have a 3d filament printer in my shop that cost me less than $1,000, and doesn’t have any of those issues. Of course it’s not mounted on a robotic arm.