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3D metal printer costs
How Much Does a Metal 3D Printer Cost?
Cost Driver #1: Material Cost
One of the most important metal 3D printer costs is that of the raw materials. Metals for 3D printing are often far more expensive than other forms of the same metal. This is due to special processing and purity requirements. In addition to the raw material itself, some metal 3D printers require inert gas which can add a surprising amount to the overall annual cost. There are 3 main groups of metal 3D printed raw materials as listed below.
- Powder
One of the biggest disadvantages of powder-based metal 3D printing (typically laser-based printers) is the cost of the raw material. In most cases, the process to turn metal into powder is expensive and energy-intensive. In addition to this, the powder needs to be highly pure which only adds to the overall cost. Metal powder can cost anywhere from $79/kg for 17-4PH steel to $738/kg for advanced titanium alloys like Nitinol.
- Metal Wire
3D printing technologies like DED (Directed Energy Deposition) have much lower material costs because their raw material comes in wire form. Metal wire is much cheaper to produce than powder. Essentially, the costs are comparable to spooled welding wire. However, it must be noted that DED printers do not produce good finishes and often need additional machining after printing is complete.
- Polymer Bound Metal
3D printers like the Desktop Metal Studio 2 and Markforged’s Metal X make use of a polymer-metal powder matrix that is supplied in spools. This process uses the same powder as MIM (Metal Injection Molding) processes and the quality and particle size tolerance is more lenient than is the case for laser-based systems. That all gives this technology the cheapest raw material cost. Desktop Metal claims the material cost per kg is 80% cheaper than normal laser-based powder printers.
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A metal 3D printer at work
Cost Driver #2: Design Software
Most metal 3D printing suppliers will provide software to prepare the part for printing. However, full-featured CAD software that can be used to design complex parts must be purchased at an additional cost.
For instance, only specially designed software can properly simulate how loads will affect the performance of a complex, latticed 3D printed component. Normal analysis software cannot accurately simulate these special cases. The software also requires skilled operators who know how to use it effectively. These programs often operate on a subscription basis that may cost thousands of dollars per year to maintain for multiple users.
Cost Driver #3: Machine Cost
The metal 3D printer cost depends on a few factors. Each technology is best suited for certain applications, a fact which is evident in the varying machine costs. In general, metal 3D printers can be sourced for as little as a hundred thousand dollars but can also cost over a million dollars. Cheaper machines are best suited to low production volumes and don’t always produce optimally dense parts whereas higher-end machines can manufacture dense parts 24/7 with very little downtime. It must, however, be noted that the costs of advanced industrial-scale printers cannot be accurately determined due to factors such as shipping, geographic location, custom machine options, etc.
Some common metal 3D printer costs are listed in the table below.
| Name | Technology | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Name Markforged - Metal X | Technology ADAM (Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing) | Cost $99,500 |
Name Desktop Metal - Studio 2 | Technology Polymer/Metal Extrusion | Cost $110,000 |
Name Trumpf - TruPrint 1000 | Technology LMF (Laser Metal Fusion) | Cost $170,000 |
Name 3D Systems - DMP Flex 100 | Technology | Cost $245,000 |
Name Arcam - Spectra H | Technology EBM (Electron Beam Melting) | Cost $100,000 - $250,000 |
Name EOS - M 100 | Technology DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering) | Cost $350,000 |
Name EP - M650 | Technology DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering) | Cost $1,000,000 |
Name Desktop Metal - Production | Technology Single Pass Jetting | Cost $1,250,000 |
Name Lasertec - 6600 3D | Technology DED (Directed Energy Deposition) | Cost $3,000,000 |
Cost Driver #4: Post-Processing Cost
Metal 3D printing often requires varying degrees of post-processing.
In some cases, the part needs to be sintered in a furnace, and in other cases, post-machining or polishing will be needed. All of these post-processes add to the overall metal 3D printer cost and need to be considered when choosing a metal 3D printer. Some typical post-processes are listed below.
FREE Binder Jetting Metal 3D Printing Design Guide
- Machine and Part Cleaning: In the case of powder-based printers, the unused powder must be collected and sifted before it can be reused. In addition to this, the part may need post-processing, especially if it has support structures to remove.
- Machining & Polishing: In some cases, accurate features that 3D printers can’t achieve must be machined into the part using subtractive techniques. And even if that’s not the case, metal 3D printed parts do not come off the machine with polished surfaces. If the part needs polishing, that will have to happen after the part is printed, thus adding to the overall metal 3D printer cost.
- Heat Treatment or Sintering: Some metal 3D printing processes generate internal stresses within the part. This happens when the heat of a laser or electron beam creates uneven cooling. These stresses can be removed through stress-relieving heat treatment processes. Other printing technologies involve polymer binders that must be burnt out of the part in a sintering furnace. These are energy-intensive processes and add to the metal 3D printer cost.
Which Metal 3D Printer Do I Need?
It can be difficult to decide which metal printer is ideal because the total metal 3D printer cost of ownership is hard to calculate. In addition to this, the cost of the part can in some cases be more expensive when compared to metal injection molding or CNC machining. In most cases, it may be easier to outsource the manufacture of these parts — at least in the beginning stages — to get an idea of their production cost. Another method is to use Xometry’s instant quoting feature and metal 3D printing service to get your parts printed on-demand.
Team Xometry
This article was written by various Xometry contributors. Xometry is a leading resource on manufacturing with CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, 3D printing, injection molding, urethane casting, and more.
Best metal 3D printers in 2022: comprehensive overview
What is the best metal 3D printer in 2022?
Over the past few years, there has been a surge in both supply and demand for metal 3D printers.
Manufacturers are launching metal additive manufacturing machines that are faster, easier to use, and more powerful with an increasing number of compatible metals.
Many businesses are adopting these 3D metal printing technologies to produce cost-effective metal parts and prototypes, benefiting as well from increased freedom of design linked to additive manufacturing. They are suitable for a variety of industries such as aerospace, automotive, health, engineering, and more.
Although metal 3D printer prices have been slowly and slightly decreasing, these machines are still relatively expensive acquisitions, mostly ranging from $80K to almost $1M.
With our metal 3D printer selection, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of what’s available from well-established and distributed brands, at various price points, and with different metal 3D printing technologies.
The best metal 3D printers in 2022
| Brand | Product | Build size | Country | Price Approximate starting prices based on supplier-provided information and public data. Prices may vary by region, over time and do not include additional products or services (taxes, shipping, accessories, training, installation, …). | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Markforged | Metal X (Gen 2) | 300 × 220 × 180 mm11.81 × 8.66 × 7.09 in | United States | $ 99,500125 000 €88,260 £14,831,072 ¥ | Quote |
| Xact Metal | XM200C | 127 × 127 × 127 mm5 × 5 × 5 in | United States | $ 110,000100 000 €97,574 £16,396,160 ¥ | Quote |
| Pollen AM | Pam Series MC | ⌀ 300 x 300 mm | – | $ 140,000135 000 €124,186 £20,867,840 ¥ | Quote |
| TRUMPF | TruPrint 1000 | 100 × 100 × 100 mm3. 94 × 3.94 × 3.94 in | – | $ 170,000170 000 €150,797 £25,339,520 ¥ | Quote |
| 3D Systems This brand is a certified partner from our network. | DMP Flex 100 | 100 × 100 × 80 mm3.94 × 3.94 × 3.15 in | – | $ 245,000245 000 €217,325 £36,518,720 ¥ | Quote |
| EOS | EOS M 100 | 100 × 100 × 95 mm3.94 × 3.94 × 3.74 in | Germany | $ 350,000350 000 €310,464 £52,169,600 ¥ | Quote |
| XJet | Carmel 700M | 501 × 140 × 200 mm19.72 × 5.51 × 7.87 in | – | $ 599,000599 000 €531,337 £89,284,544 ¥ | Quote |
| Desktop Metal | Production System P-1 | 200 × 100 × 40 mm7.87 × 3.94 × 1.57 in | United States | upon request | Quote |
| Desktop Metal | Studio 2 | 300 × 200 × 200 mm11.81 × 7.87 × 7.87 in | United States | upon request | Quote |
| Digital Metal | DM P2500 | 203 × 180 × 69 mm7. 99 × 7.09 × 2.72 in | – | upon request | Quote |
| Formalloy | L-Series | 1000 × 1000 × 1000 mm39.37 × 39.37 × 39.37 in | United States | upon request | Quote |
| GE Additive | Arcam EBM Spectra L | ⌀ 350 x 430 mm | United States | upon request | Quote |
| GE Additive | M2 Series 5 | 250 × 250 × 350 mm9.84 × 9.84 × 13.78 in | – | upon request | Quote |
| Renishaw | RenAM 500E | 245 × 245 × 335 mm9.65 × 9.65 × 13.19 in | – | upon request | Quote |
| SLM Solutions | SLM 125 | 125 × 125 × 75 mm4.92 × 4.92 × 2.95 in | Germany | upon request | Quote |
| SPEE3D | LIGHTSPEE3D | 300 × 300 × 300 mm11.81 × 11.81 × 11.81 in | – | upon request | Quote |
| TRIDITIVE | AMCELL | ⌀ 300 x 350 mm | Spain | upon request | Quote |
| Velo3D | Sapphire | ⌀ 315 x 1000 mm | – | upon request | Quote |
Expand to see more specs
Technology: The technologies listed above are main categories of metal 3D printing technologies.
Most manufacturers have their own branded technologies, which fall into the main categories that are listed in the table.
The products in the table are ranked by price (low to high).
| Brand | Product | Technology | Build size | Country | Price Approximate starting prices based on supplier-provided information and public data. Prices may vary by region, over time and do not include additional products or services (taxes, shipping, accessories, training, installation, …). | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Markforged | Metal X (Gen 2) | Extrusion | 300 × 220 × 180 mm11.81 × 8.66 × 7.09 in | United States | $ 99,500125 000 €88,260 £14,831,072 ¥ | Get a quote |
| Xact Metal | XM200C | SLM/DMLS | 127 × 127 × 127 mm5 × 5 × 5 in | United States | $ 110,000100 000 €97,574 £16,396,160 ¥ | Get a quote |
| Pollen AM | Pam Series MC | Extrusion | ⌀ 300 x 300 mm | – | $ 140,000135 000 €124,186 £20,867,840 ¥ | Get a quote |
| TRUMPF | TruPrint 1000 | SLM/DMLS | 100 × 100 × 100 mm3. 94 × 3.94 × 3.94 in | – | $ 170,000170 000 €150,797 £25,339,520 ¥ | Get a quote |
| 3D Systems This brand is a certified partner from our network. | DMP Flex 100 | SLM/DMLS | 100 × 100 × 80 mm3.94 × 3.94 × 3.15 in | – | $ 245,000245 000 €217,325 £36,518,720 ¥ | Get a quote |
| EOS | EOS M 100 | SLM/DMLS | 100 × 100 × 95 mm3.94 × 3.94 × 3.74 in | Germany | $ 350,000350 000 €310,464 £52,169,600 ¥ | Get a quote |
| XJet | Carmel 700M | Material Jetting | 501 × 140 × 200 mm19.72 × 5.51 × 7.87 in | – | $ 599,000599 000 €531,337 £89,284,544 ¥ | Get a quote |
| Desktop Metal | Production System P-1 | Binder Jetting | 200 × 100 × 40 mm7.87 × 3.94 × 1.57 in | United States | upon request | Get a quote |
| Desktop Metal | Studio 2 | Extrusion | 300 × 200 × 200 mm11. 81 × 7.87 × 7.87 in | United States | upon request | Get a quote |
| Digital Metal | DM P2500 | Material Jetting | 203 × 180 × 69 mm7.99 × 7.09 × 2.72 in | – | upon request | Get a quote |
| Formalloy | L-Series | Directed Energy Deposition | 1000 × 1000 × 1000 mm39.37 × 39.37 × 39.37 in | United States | upon request | Get a quote |
| GE Additive | Arcam EBM Spectra L | EBM | ⌀ 350 x 430 mm | United States | upon request | Get a quote |
| GE Additive | M2 Series 5 | SLM/DMLS | 250 × 250 × 350 mm9.84 × 9.84 × 13.78 in | – | upon request | Get a quote |
| Renishaw | RenAM 500E | SLM/DMLS | 245 × 245 × 335 mm9.65 × 9.65 × 13.19 in | – | upon request | Get a quote |
| SLM Solutions | SLM 125 | SLM/DMLS | 125 × 125 × 75 mm4. 92 × 4.92 × 2.95 in | Germany | upon request | Get a quote |
| SPEE3D | LIGHTSPEE3D | Material Jetting | 300 × 300 × 300 mm11.81 × 11.81 × 11.81 in | – | upon request | Get a quote |
| TRIDITIVE | AMCELL | Extrusion | ⌀ 300 x 350 mm | Spain | upon request | Get a quote |
| Velo3D | Sapphire | SLM/DMLS | ⌀ 315 x 1000 mm | – | upon request | Get a quote |
Main types of metal 3D printing technologies
The four main types of 3D metal printing technologies are:
- Metal Powder Bed Fusion 3D printing (SLS, SLM, DMP)
- Directed Energy Deposition (DED)
- Metal filament extrusion (FFF, FDM)
- Material Jetting and Binder Jetting
There are also some resin-based metal 3D printers, and metal sheet lamination 3D printers, but they are harder to come by.
It is not uncommon to see different acronyms and names for similar technologies. Each brand markets their own, proprietary methods. Some metal 3D printer companies even use a mix of different technologies.
A breakdown of the metal 3D printer market by technology types. Source: Aniwaa database (2019)Here we provide a deeper look into each 3D metal printer from our list. They are grouped together according to their main 3D printing technology type (powder bed fusion, material/binder jetting, extrusion, and DED).
Extrusion-based metal 3D printer selection (FFF, FDM)
Extrusion consists of heating the material (filament) and pushing it through a nozzle. In the metal 3D printing case, the filament is generally made up of metal particles mixed into a binding agent.
After the part is 3D printed, the result is a raw object or part; it must go through several post-processing steps– such as debinding and sintering– to attain its final form.
Most extrusion-based metal 3D printing processes include these steps.
The above illustration is sourced from Desktop Metal (Bound Metal Deposition™ process).Desktop Metal’s Studio is an office-friendly, end-to-end metal 3D printing system. Aside from the printer, the Studio line also includes a debinding machine and a furnace for sintering. Indeed, parts 3D printed with this Desktop Metal 3D printer are “green”.
The Studio printer, with its proprietary Bound Metal Deposition technology, uses filament that is filled with small, metal rods. During debinding, the binding material (wax and polymer binders) is dissolved thanks to a proprietary liquid substance. The part is left porous, and must go in the furnace for its particles to fuse and densify the part.
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MarkForged is specialized in continuous fiber 3D printing, but also offers metal 3D printing with their Metal X system, featuring Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing (ADAM) technology.
This MarkForged 3D printer extrudes metal-filled plastic filament to form the part, which must then be washed with a special debinding fluid (Wash-1 Station) and then sintered in a furnace (Sinter-1 or Sinter-2 MarkForged machines).
Available metal 3D printer filament includes various Steels (h23, A2, D2 tool steels, 316L stainless steel) as well as Inconel, Copper, and Titanium.
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Canada-based Rapidia offers an interesting and unique way to 3D print metal. They use a water-based metal paste, which eliminates the need for chemical debinding. The water evaporates during the 3D printing process, so the part only needs to go through the furnace in order to completely solidify and attain its final form.
Confirmed, available paste types include several Stainless Steels, Inconel, and a few ceramics. Copper, Tungsten Chrome Carbide, Titanium, and various other metals are in development.
The ExOne Metal Designlab, designed in collaboration with Rapidia, works on the same basis.
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Pollen AM is a French manufacturer that has been producing pellet 3D printers since 2013. Their Pam Series MC is a delta-style 3D printer (cylindrical build volume) that can print metals, ceramics, and thermoplastics.
It extrudes injection-molding-grade pellets instead of metal 3D printer filament, driving material costs down significantly. Pollen AM names their technology “Pellet Additive Manufacturing”.
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This machine was built with one goal: enable mass production 3D printing of metal parts 24/7. The AMCELL is fully automated, with auto feedstock control, environment control (temperatures, humidity, air filtering), and an ejection system fitted with a conveyor belt.
Rather than providing one, big build volume, the TRIDITIVE AMCELL boasts eight delta-style ø 220 x 330 mm build areas. Its eight “robots” deposit metal-infused filament to create 3D metal parts. TRIDITIVE states that resulting parts are similar to ones produced with traditional MIM (Metal Injection Molding) methods.
TRIDITIVE’s technology is called Automated Multimaterial Deposition®.
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Metal powder bed fusion 3D printer selection (SLS, SLM, DMP, and more)
At the moment, the most commonly used metal additive manufacturing technology is powder bed fusion 3D printing.
Simply put, the 3D printer creates objects out of a bed of powdered metal by using a powerful laser.
3D Systems, a historical actor on many 3D printing fronts, presents the DMP FLEX 100 as a fast, precise, and affordable metal 3D printer. It offers impressive part repeatability and surface finishes, of around 20 μm and 5 Ra μm respectively. DMP stands for Direct Metal Printing.
The printer comes with 3D Systems’ software 3DXpert All-in-One Software Solution for Metal Additive manufacturing. Their LaserForm metal 3D powders are certified.
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This compact metal 3D printer is destined for the production of small parts in small quantities. Its material portfolio is especially interesting for medical use cases, namely dental crowns and bridges. EOS certified metal powders include Cobalt-Chrome, Stainless Steel, and Titanium.
The EOS M100’s laser spot is precise enough to provide a great level of detail, backed by 200 W of powder.
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Originally a Swedish company, Arcam was acquired by GE Additive a few years ago. The Arcam EBM Spectra L is up to 20% faster than its predecessors and is able to reduce part costs by around 10%.
This metal 3D printer is dedicated to Titanium 3D printing, but Copper is in the pipeline as well. Its laser beam power is equal to 4.5 kW, partly explaining the printer’s high melting capacity and productivity. Common applications for this printer include orthopedic implants and parts for the aerospace industry.
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Concept Laser is the company behind GE Additive’s M2 Series 5. It offers an easy, optimized workflow, with a separate processing chamber and handling area that is integrated into the system. This closed-loop material system ensures a safe environment that is free of powder for the operator.
The M2 metal additive manufacturing solution is compatible with a range of metals, from Stainless Steels to Aluminum, Nickel, Titanium, and Cobalt-Chrome.
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The RenAM 500E is Renishaw’s entry-level metal additive manufacturing solution. It offers a relatively large build volume and powder can be handled via a dedicated glove box to avoid powder from getting free.
This system is also equipped with an oxygen sensor and a proprietary emission-filtering system branded SafeChange™.
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Officially established in 2006, SLM Solutions has been a historical player in the powder bed fusion industry for many years. The SLM 125 boasts an open software architecture that allows users to tweak the system’s parameters according to specific use cases, materials, and general needs.
Options such as laser monitoring and melt pool monitoring are available for businesses that require full transparency and control over their production series.
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The TruPrint 1000 is TRUMPF’s most compact metal 3D printing system, with a 100mm-tall cylindrical build volume.
It is suitable for the production of small parts and prototypes, and even small production series when equipped with the multilaser option that increases the printer’s speed.
This metal 3D printer can be operated remotely via a tablet application, which also gives access to its onboard camera stream.
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The Velo3D Sapphire is a high-volume metal 3D printer from the US designed for production series. This metal 3D printer features Velo3D’s Intelligent Fusion technology to allow for complex geometries and 0° overhangs.
The system is also equipped with a range of metrology sensors that measure each and every layer that is 3D printed.
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The XM200C is Xact Metal’s entry-level metal 3D printing solution. It is suitable for both research purposes and small production series. The XM200C benefits from a proprietary Xact Core gantry system for precise movements with a fusing speed of up to 500 mm/s.
Xact Metal offers their own materials, branded Xact Powder, including various Stainless Steels, Super Alloys, Tooling Steels, Aluminum, Titanium, Bronze, and Copper. Advanced users are able to use their own metal powders if needed.
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Metal material jetting and binder jetting 3D printers
Material jetting 3D printers are equipped with various inkjet printheads (somewhat similar to 2D printing) that jet material onto a surface. The material then hardens, and another layer of “metal ink” is jetted on top.
Binder jetting is a similar process, but it is a binding agent that is jetted atop a layer of powder.
The Production System by Desktop Metal was designed for mass production. It is advertised by Desktop Metal as being a fast, cost-effective metal additive manufacturing solution, with a cost per part up to 20 times lower than with other metal 3D printing systems.
This Desktop Metal 3D printer is equipped with over 16,000 nozzles that are mounted onto a “print bar” that recoats the build plate with powder at the same time, hence explaining the technology’s name: Single Pass Jetting™.
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Digital Metal, a Höganäs Group company, creates incredibly detailed metal parts with their DM P2500 system. It is able to print 3D metal parts with an accuracy as high as 0.001mm (1µ), and with a medical-grade surface quality of around 0.006mm (6µ).
Another interesting feat to point out is that almost 100% of leftover powder can be recycled for future prints. This metal AM machine is able to churn out serial production series efficiently and reliably; one of the company’s first DM P2500 printers has been running 24/7 since 2013, according to Digital Metal.
The Digital Metal DM P2500 is a certified metal 3D printer (CE and UL) that is compatible with certified metal materials (ISO 22068).
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Australian manufacturer SPEE3D has developed an impressively fast metal 3D printing technology called Supersonic Deposition. The technology is based on metal cold spray, using compressed air to “jet” metal powder through a nozzle at high speeds.
This enables the LightSPEE3D to 3D print at up to 100 grams per minute and with a range of metals including copper.
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XJet developed an impressive, proprietary jetting technology they call NanoParticle Jetting™. This inkjet method disperses millions of tiny droplets that contain nanoparticles of solid metal. The liquid material comes in cartridges that are easy to insert into the printer.
After being printed, the metal parts must go through support removal and sintering processes to attain their final form.
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DED: Directed Energy Deposition metal additive manufacturing systems
Directed Energy Deposition (DED) is comparable to filament extrusion. The metal material is pushed through a special nozzle, like with FFF/FDM, but a powerful laser beam solidifies the material at its deposition point.
Formalloy produces a range of metal DED 3D printers with up to 5 axes of motion.
They can be used to produce metal parts but also to repair or clad existing parts.
Different laser wavelengths are available, as well as different build volumes: 200 x 200 x 200 mm, 500 x 500 x 500 mm, and 1000 x 1000 x 1000 mm. Metal 3D printers from Formalloy can be customized depending on company requirements.
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Alternative metal 3D printers and special mentions
Hybrid metal manufacturing systems
Some manufacturers are specialized in hybrid metal manufacturing systems. They combine both subtractive and additive manufacturing methods, often with robotic arms that are able to move on more than three axes.
Some of the biggest actors on the hybrid metal AM system market are:
- Gefertec (Germany)
- DMG Mori (Germany)
- Matsuura (Japan)
- Sodick (United States)
XXL-sized metal 3D printers for industrial production
For those that require very large metal parts, there are several huge, industrial machines that offer gigantic build volumes for industrial production.
To name a few:
- Sciaky EBAM 300
- Titomic TKF1000
- ADC Aeroswift
- ADIRA AddCreator
- Fabrisonic SonicLayer 4000
- ExOne X1 160PRO
- InssTek MX-600
- BeAM Modulo 400
- Optomec Lens CS 600
- Additive Industries MetalFAB1
Metal 3D printers from China
There has recently been a lot of growth in the metal 3D printer market in Asia, and more specifically in China. Some Chinese brands have been upping their game in that respect, providing industrial-grade metal 3D printing options:
- Farsoon
- ZRapid Tech
- Shining 3D
- Wiiboox
However, we feel that they are not yet playing in the same league as the 3D printers from our main selection, mostly due to a lack of distribution networks, after-sales service and training, and other factors which tend to matter when considering them together as a whole.
R&D metal 3D printers for labs
In certain cases, metal 3D printers are used for research purposes to develop and test new materials.
There are a few machines that are specifically designed for this:
- Open Additive PANDA-6”
- Freemelt ONE
- Sharebot metalONE
Pros and cons of metal 3D additive manufacturing
Benefits of 3D printing metal parts
- On-demand production: Metal additive manufacturing offers more flexibility and control over the production line.
- Complex designs made possible: With 3D printing technology, it is possible to create highly detailed and intricate parts that would have to be broken down into several pieces with traditional methods.
- Waste reduction: Compared to CNC milling, for example, metal AM produces much less waste as it only consumes the material needed for a certain part. This is more true for extrusion-based methods than it is for powder-based methods, where it isn’t always possible to re-use 100% of unsintered or unbinded material.
- Lighter parts: Whereas metal parts are usually completely solid infill-wise with other methods, 3D printing allows parts to be more or less hollow without undermining their strength and resistance.
- Cost-effectiveness: All the above benefits of metal 3D printing can inherently reduce costs per part, although high metal 3D printer prices do represent a significant entry barrier. Reaching a positive return on investment can take a while depending on your throughput.
Limits of metal 3D printing
- Metal 3D printing prices: Metal AM systems are still quite expensive, as are metal powders and metal filaments. There are hidden costs, too (e.g. energy consumption, learning curve, etc.).
- Environmental constraints and safety precautions: Most metal 3D printers have a large footprint and require specific operating environments with controlled temperatures, hygrometry, and more.
- Post-processing: In many cases it is necessary for parts to be post-processed, whether it’s debinding and sintering or finishing touches for surface quality.
- Physical properties: It can be difficult to achieve the same physical properties that traditionally manufactured metal parts have. There are a number of factors (e.g. anisotropy) to take into account during the design process and file preparation before even trying to 3D print a certain part.
Metal 3D printing materials
Which metals can you 3D print?
A growing number of metals and metal alloys can be 3D printed. These are the main ones:
- Aluminum
- Titanium
- Nickel, Inconel
- Copper
- Bronze
- Cobalt, Cobalt-Chrome
- Steels (tooling, maraging, stainless)
- Precious metals (gold, silver, platinum)
Which metal 3D printing material formats are available?
Metal 3D printing material can be found in various formats, catering to different metal 3D printing methods.
The most common are:
- Powder
- Wire
- Filament
It is also possible to find metal 3D printing resin as well as metal sheets for lamination-based 3D printers.
Metal 3D printer price: how much does a metal 3D printer cost?
Industrial metal 3D printer prices generally range from about $30,000 to over one million dollars for the most premium, industrial-grade metal additive manufacturing systems.
Additional costs to consider are the materials for metal 3D printing, which can cost a few hundred USD/kg, as well as costs linked to post-processing (tools, time, etc.).
Applications for metal AM systems
There are thousands of possibilities and use cases for metal 3D printing in a wide range of industries. A few industries have been incrementally using metal AM:
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Medical
Whether it’s for tooling, replacement parts, or final products, many businesses can benefit from metal 3D printing.
However, metal additive manufacturing isn’t necessarily beneficial for every single metal part. Although some metal 3D printing systems have a relative capacity for serial production, it is generally cheaper to keep using traditional methods for simple parts.
For cases where complex geometries, rapid prototyping, and mass customization are required, metal AM is convenient and efficient.
Metal 3D printing services: order 3D metal parts online
For professionals with limited office space and human resources, low budgets, and/or few needs of custom parts and prototypes, metal 3D printing services can be an ideal solution.
These additive manufacturing service companies own a variety of high-quality 3D printers with different technologies, and their professionals are experts in 3D printing. It is possible to order metal 3D parts on-demand, without acquiring a 3D printer or having to buy a certain material for one-time use.
Here are some of the most trusted 3D printing service providers that offer metal printing services:
- Sculpteo
- Shapeways
- Hubs (ex 3D Hubs)
- Stratasys
- i.materialise
- Protolabs
Metal 3D printing technologies and acronyms
Many manufacturers develop proprietary variations of existing technologies and label them their own registered names:
- Powder Bed Fusion (PBF): DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering), DMP (Direct Metal Printing), LaserCUSING, LBM (Laser Beam Melting), LMF (Laser Metal Fusion), SLS (Selective Laser Sintering), SLM (Selective Laser Melting)
- Directed Energy Deposition (DED): DMT (Direct Metal Tooling), EBAM (Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing), EBM (Electron Beam Melting), LENS (Laser Engineered Net Shaping), LMD (Laser Metal Deposition)
- Metal Material Jetting (MJ) or Binder Jetting (BJ): Magnet-o-Jet, Nanoparticle Jetting, SPJ (Single Pass Jetting), Metal Jet
- Metal filament extrusion/Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF): ADAM (Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing), CEM (Composite Extrusion Modeling), FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling), FFD (Fused Feedstock Deposition), FMP (Filament Metal Printing), BMD (Bound Metal Deposition), MIM (Metal Injection Molding)
- Lamination: SL (Sheet Lamination), UAM (Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing)
- Metal resin 3D printing: DLP (Digital Light Processing), FluidFM, SLA (Stereolithography)
Metal 3D printing FAQ
Is 3D printed metal strong?
Metal 3D printed parts can be as strong (or even stronger) as metal parts created with traditional manufacturing processes such as casting.
The part’s strength will, however, depend on the metal AM method used and the conditions in which it is 3D printed.
When was 3D metal printing invented?
Metal 3D printing became possible in the 1990s with the development of Selective Laser Melting technology. However, 3D metal printing only started to gain traction and public interest from around 2010 onwards.
How does metal 3D printing work?
There are several ways to 3D print metal. Layers of metal filament can be deposited one after the other, producing a green part that must later go through debinding and sintering steps. It is also possible to fuse metal powder particles together with a laser, or with an inkjet printhead that deposits drops of binding material onto the powder.
Precise metal 3D printing on order in Sprint 3D
Metal 3D printing - additive manufacturing of metal products, which is rightfully one of the most promising and rapidly developing areas in 3D printing as such.
The technology itself originates from the conventional sintering of materials used in powder metallurgy. But now it has become more perfect, accurate and fast. And today SPRINT3D offers you metal printing on 3 D printer on really favorable terms. But first, a little information about the production process itself and its capabilities.
Selective Laser Fusion Technology
SLM or Selective Fusion Technology is a type of direct metal printing that achieves a density of 99.5%. The difference is especially noticeable when compared with models obtained by conventional casting. This indicator is achieved due to the introduction of the latest technologies in the hardware part:
- The use of special rollers for compacting powders and, as a result, the possibility of using powders with a particle size of 5 microns.
- Bulk density increase to help compact end products.
- Creates a rarefied atmosphere of inert gases, which ensures maximum purity of the material, no oxidation, and eliminates the risk of introducing third-party chemical compounds into the composition.
But most importantly, the modern 3 D Metal Printer makes it easy to customize the configuration for printing with a specific metal powder. Thus, even with inexpensive material, you can get a first-class result. But only if you use high-quality modern equipment. And here we are ready to surprise you too!
Metal 3D printing B SPRINT 3D
3D printing with own 3D printers
The largest working area is 280x280x350 mm
layer thickness up to 15 micron
3D with various types of metals
Delivery throughout Russia and CIS countries
installations for 3 D metal print, which we use
Production quality is a key requirement that we set ourselves. Therefore, in our work we use only professional equipment with wide possibilities for metal printing. Let's take a closer look at each of the production units. nine0009
Production unit SLM 280HL
SLM 280HL is a development of the German company SLM Solutions GmbH, which uses the technology of layer-by-layer laser melting of powder metal materials.
The installation is equipped with a large working chamber and allows you to create 3D objects with dimensions of 280x280x350 mm. Among the main advantages of printing with this unit are:
- Small minimum thickness of the applied layer - 20 microns.
- Filling the working chamber with an inert gas, which allows you to work with various reactive metals.
- Print speed up to 35 cm/hour.
- Construction layer thickness – 30 and 50 µm.
- Power - 400 W.
A special highlight is the patented powder feed system, which delivers significantly faster print speeds than most production machines in the same price range. We use the following materials in production:
- Stainless steel (domestic 07X18H12M2 (Polema), 12X18H10T and imported 316L).
- Tool steel (imported 1.2709).
- Heat-resistant alloys 08KhN53BMTYu (similar to Inconel 718, produced by Polem) and EP 741 (produced by VILS).
- Cobalt Chrome (COCR)
The SLM 280HL 3D printer can be used to create all kinds of metal components, prototypes and end products. If necessary, we can provide small-scale production. nine0009
ProX 100 production unit
ProX 100 is a compact 3 D metal printing unit developed by the American company 3D Systems. It uses direct laser sintering technology, which ensures high speed and precision of production. Among the main characteristics it is worth highlighting:
- The size of the working chamber is 100x100x80 mm.
- Construction layer thickness – 20 and 30 µm. nine0021
- Power - 50 W.
ProX 100 allows you to create prototypes that cannot be developed by standard methods, provides short lead times, guarantees the absence of material porosity and high part density. In addition, we note the standardized quality of all products, regardless of their structure.
At the moment, the model is actively used in dentistry when creating high-precision prostheses, but it has found wide application in other industries:
- Manufacture of engines and their individual parts.
- Development of medical equipment.
- Printing jewelry and even contemporary art.
In printing, we use the KX28M6 cobalt-chromium alloy (Polem's production), originally developed for additive technologies when creating endoprostheses.
Metal 3D printing - current application
Many experts argue that 3D printing as such has not yet fully revealed its potential. For example, Elon Musk plans to use technology in the colonization of Mars to build administrative and residential buildings, equipment and technology right on the spot. And this is quite real, because already now the technology of three-dimensional metal printing is actively used in various industries: The high precision of production and relatively affordable price have made 3D printing very relevant in this industry.
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And this is only a small part of what can be created on modern equipment. Almost all metal products that you need can be created using metal 3D printing technology. And if this service is relevant for you, contact SPRINT3D. We will undertake work of any complexity and volume. And most importantly - we will provide first-class results!
The future is here!
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I wonder how much a 3D printer costs? Find out the answer!
The real cost of a 3D printer
Now that you know about all the intricacies of 3D printing techniques, types of technologies and devices, it's time to answer the question "How much does a 3D printer cost?".
In this section, we will give you the answer and explain what the price of a 3D printer depends on.
Types of 3D printers
As you already know from our previous articles, additive manufacturing techniques are very different from each other. Not only the reproduction process itself differs, but also, accordingly, the working materials. Of the most common technologies worth noting:
- FDM printers that print with filaments of various polymeric materials;
- SLA 3D printers, where a special liquid photopolymer resin acts as a consumable;
- SLS 3D printers that use metal, plaster or plastic powder.
Of course, such a huge difference in the methods of production of models cannot but be reflected in the cost of devices for 3D printing. In each of the presented categories there is a division into budget and professional devices, however, all SLS 3D printers are one step higher than devices of other classes. There are a number of reasons for this, which our article on 3D printing technologies will help you figure out.
After all, in order to determine how much a 3D printer costs, you need to understand the specifics of the techniques. Conventionally, the cost of printers can be placed in the same order in which they are presented above. Let's explain why. nine0009
Application of 3D printers
Finding out how much a 3D printer costs, first of all, you should pay attention to its type and intended application. Depending on the 3D printing technology, the device can be "sharpened" for specific tasks. For example:
- SLA 3D printers are optimal for jewelry and dental applications, as well as for creating miniature detailed products. Although more serious, professional models of such printers are used for the production of larger objects. The price corresponds to the quality, but remains quite high due to the peculiarities of the methodology; nine0021
- FDM 3D printers are the least expensive and have a huge variety of models. The most affordable option for home use, and more professional models are suitable for meeting the needs of a small business; The
- SLS printers are the most professional option for a wide range of industrial applications.
Due to the ability to print with metal, they are used in the aerospace, automotive, medical industries, etc. For the most part, these are large installations weighing several tons, not for home use. The most expensive 3D printers on the market. nine0021
How much does a 3D printer cost? Yes, the manufacturer is just as important in 3D printing as it is in everything else. And often the user has to overpay a lot of money for the brand. On the other hand, at the same time, he pays for the quality of the product, which he does not want to risk at all.
So, we have reviewed the main types of devices for 3D printing and determined the factors on which their price depends. It's time to answer how much a 3D printer costs. Industrial metal printing devices can cost hundreds of thousands of euros, making them a better option for large enterprises. Traditional SLA and FDM 3D printers cost much less and are available to the average user. To see the real prices for 3D printers, visit our online store, which presents the latest models of high-quality 3D printers.
