Additive metal printing is the printing of CAD designs in 3D, bearing complex geometries, composite lattice structures, and conformal cooling channels. The advantages of 3D printing metal parts are –

• Precision and accuracy that is absent in traditional manufacturing methods.
• 3D metal printing costs are lesser in terms of time and money.
• High tolerance properties.
• Wide range of industrial applications including like aerospace, automotive and healthcare.

There are many 3D printing service providers in Australia that offer solutions in additive layer technology.

This alloy has excellent mechanical properties. It is ideally suited to withstand highly abrasive environments such as pump components, and parts for down-hole drilling and mining equipment. Using Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Zeal 3D’s state-of-the-art printers produce parts directly from CAD models. Post-printing, the parts are cured in an oven. Following this, the 3D printed parts are sintered and infiltrated with bronze above 830°C. Machinability and hardness of the material is controlled by varying the cooling down process.

This alloy has low magnetic properties which makes it particularly useful for the food and medical industries. It acts as a natural antibacterial agent due to its copper content. Additional applications exist in bath and kitchen hardware. Using Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), Zeal 3D’s state-of-the-art printers produce parts directly from CAD models. Post-printing, the parts are cured in an oven and then sintered and infiltrated with bronze above 14000°C. Machinability and hardness of the material is controlled by varying the cooling down process.

This alloy combines strength and thermal properties with low weight and flexible post-processing possibilities making it ideal for the automotive, aerospace and automation industries. Applications include housings, ductwork, engine parts, production tools and molds, both for prototyping and manufacturing purposes. Aluminum 3D printing services sinter powder together with a laser to produce metal parts. 3D printed aluminum has a matte gray finish with a smooth surface. The presence of silicon in this alloy makes it sparkle.

Titanium is the strongest and lightest material currently being used in 3D printing. 3D printed titanium is primarily used in the aerospace, dental and medical fields. Its non-toxicity, high strength and resistance to corrosion make it ideal for medical implants. Using Zeal 3D’s DMLS metal technology, titanium parts are 3D printed down to 0.1mm layers with a minimum wall thickness as low as 1 mm. DMLS uses laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) to melt and fuse the titanium together. 3D printed titanium has a dull gray finish.

Maraging Steel (MS1) is a steel powder that has superior strength and toughness. MS1 parts are easily machinable after the building process and can be easily post-hardened to more than 50 HRC. These characteristics make it an ideal material for many tooling applications such as injection molding, die casting of light metal alloys, punching, and extrusion and so on. It also has applicability for high performance industrial and engineering parts, specifically in aerospace and motor racing. DMLS 3D printing is used for this material.

Nickel Alloy 625 has superior fatigue and thermal-fatigue properties combined with excellent corrosion resistance. Its applications include turbine engine parts, exhaust and fuel systems, marine applications, chemical and process industry parts, and oil and gas industry parts. Using metal laser and sintering printing technology, this alloy can be 3D printed with a minimum wall thickness of 1mm. The 3D printed parts can be machined, spark-eroded, welded, micro shot-peened, polished and coated in both as-built and in heat treated conditions.

Nickel Alloy 718 is a precipitation-hardenable nickel-chromium alloy. It also contains significant amounts of iron, niobium, and molybdenum along with lesser amounts of aluminum and titanium. Its main characteristic features combine corrosion resistance and high strength with outstanding weldability, including resistance to post-weld cracking. Using metal laser and sintering printing technology, this alloy can be 3D printed with a minimum wall thickness of 1mm.

Cobalt-Chrome is a super alloy used in extreme environments, aerospace and biomedical applications. Due to its extreme hardness, it is used to produce dental prostheses. Also, due to its hardness, this alloy is usually cast and not machined. Other uses for Cobalt-Chrome are prosthesis and knee or and hip joint implants. This super alloy exhibits excellent strength, along with remarkable resistance to corrosion and wear as well as to extreme temperatures. Using DMLS metal technology, this alloy can be 3D printed with a minimum wall thickness of 1mm.

Brass is a material commonly used for 3D jewellery printing. It is also used to 3D print accessories and home decor. Brass is a copper alloy containing 15% zinc, 5% tin and 80% copper, capable of showcasing intricate details. It is used especially for its professional and finished look and feel. Though it runs the risk of being tarnished over time, it can be polished back reflect a surface akin to being new.

Bronze is a copper-tin alloy with a deep red color, commonly used for 3D printing jewellery. It is also used to 3D print accessories and home decor. It displays a unique marbling effect, and the silvery highlights give each piece a character of their own, almost rendering them a vintage look. Bronze is capable of showcasing intricate details, offering a professional, finished look and feel. Though it runs the risk of being tarnished over time, it can be polished back reflect a surface akin to being new.

Copper has very high thermal and electrical conductivity. The most popular uses of copper include wires, cables, and parts of electronic items. Copper can also be employed in 3D printing for jewellery. For this, a wax cast is first 3D printed and then covered in fine plaster. Once the plaster solidifies, it is placed in an oven for melting the wax. The molten copper is then poured into the empty cast to come out in the form of 3D printed jewellery.

Sterling Silver (92.5% silver) is a high quality silver alloy used in 3D printing for custom jewellery creation. It offers several finishing options and showcases intricate details and a professional, finished look and feel. Silver tarnishes over time, but can be polished back to a new look. Silver is a more malleable metal, with thin features. Most importantly, silver offers a skin-friendly 3D printed jewellery option.

3D printing in jewellery can also be achieved using platinum. Platinum consists of 95% platinum and 5% Ruthenium. Platinum jewellery models are printed in wax using high-resolution 3D printers. The wax model is put in a container where liquid plaster is poured around it. Once the plaster solidifies, the wax is melted, while the plaster becomes the mold. Molten platinum is then poured into this mold and the plaster is broken away. It is cleaned and polished to give it luster. 

14k Gold consists of 58% gold, 31% copper, 10% silver, and 1% zinc. Gold models used in 3D jewellery printing are printed in wax using high-resolution 3D printers. The wax model is put in a container where liquid plaster is poured around it. Once the plaster solidifies, the wax is melted, while the plaster becomes the mold. Molten gold is then poured into this mold and the plaster is broken away. It is cleaned and polished to give it the trademark gold luster.

18k Gold consists of 75% gold, 10% copper, and 15% silver. Gold models used in 3D jewellery printing are printed in wax using high-resolution 3D printers. The wax model is put in a container where liquid plaster is poured around it. Once the plaster solidifies, the wax is melted, while the plaster becomes the mold. Molten gold is then poured into this mold and the plaster is broken away. It is cleaned and polished to give it the trademark gold luster.

There is an array of choices when it comes to selecting materials for 3D printing jewellery, the most popular and stylish being gold, silver, brass, and bronze. Zeal 3D offers these options and more, including a smooth, matt black finish in either nickel or gold or steel. These metals have a heat resistance of up to 830°C, with a minimum wall thickness of 1.5mm.

Zeal 3D is one of the leading additive manufacturing solutions providers across Australia. We provide state of the art digital manufacturing solutions and rapid prototyping services.

Avail our services in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane. Here is why.

1. We cater to a wide range of industries.
2. We use only the best prototyping and production technologies.
3. We provide post-printing support, using sophisticated tools for processing post-machining tasks.
4. Our finished products always live up to the CAD design specifications.