Tiếng Việt
3D printers are now used very widely, even at large scale and for complex work. Recently GE, the well-known American aircraft engine maker, announced that it will produce jet engine parts using 3D printers.
3D printers and their basic applications.
In the past, 3D printers were used for rapid prototyping. The fields where 3D printing gave the most support were bronze casting, composite statue casting and industries that use sand molds, plaster molds and silicone molds. These industries mainly use FDM 3D printing with plastic filament. Next came the jewelry and dental industries, which use resin printers to make wax patterns for investment casting. These use liquid resin with DLP or SLA 3D printing technology. Then there are the fine arts, where artists use full-color 3D printers to preserve their works. This uses full-color SLS 3D printing technology. And now that metal 3D printing has reached a new level, parts with extremely complex structures can easily be made on metal 3D printers.
A part made with metal 3D printing (SLM)
A part made with metal 3D printing technology (SLM)
A part made with metal 3D printing (SLM)
Author: Nguyen Van Cuong.
Tel/Viber/Zalo/Skype: 0975 008 728
Contact CT3D Group
CT3D Group – professional 3D printing, 3D scanning, design and rapid prototyping services nationwide.
- CT3D Thu Duc – Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hai Phong: in3d.edu.vn – Hotline 0975 008 728 (Mr. Thai)
- CT3D District 6 – Ho Chi Minh City: 3dmaker.vn – Hotline 038 7798308 (Mr. Phuc)
Why is aerospace leading the way in metal 3D printing?
Aerospace has very specific requirements that metal 3D printing meets better than traditional machining:
- Weight reduction: every kilogram saved on an aircraft means less fuel burned over its whole service life. 3D printing allows hollow parts, lattice structures and geometry optimized for the loads.
- Part consolidation: an assembly of many welded or joined parts can be redesigned as one printed piece, with fewer joints and fewer potential failure points.
- Complex shapes: curved cooling channels and fuel passages inside a part are almost impossible to make by milling or turning.
- Low production volumes: many parts are needed only in the tens or hundreds, so making casting molds is not economical.
Common metal 3D printing technologies
| Technology | Principle | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| SLM / DMLS | A laser melts thin layers of metal powder one at a time | Dense parts with good mechanical properties; the most common choice for precision parts |
| EBM | An electron beam melts powder in a vacuum chamber | Suited to titanium alloys, low residual stress |
| DED | Metal powder or wire is fed into a melt pool | Large parts, repairs, adding material to worn parts |
| Binder Jetting | A binder is jetted onto metal powder, then the part is sintered | High speed, suited to small-batch production |
Lessons for local manufacturers
It’s not just big aerospace companies that benefit from metal 3D printing. Mold shops, precision machining shops and medical device makers can also use it to make molds with conformal cooling channels, low-volume replacement parts or functional prototypes in real metal. The key is that the design must account for the process: build orientation, supports, machining allowance for finishing and post-print heat treatment. Businesses that want to try it can start with a metal 3D printing service for individual parts before thinking about buying equipment.
Frequently asked questions
Are metal 3D printed parts as strong as cast or forged parts?
Parts made with powder bed fusion such as SLM usually match or beat cast parts in mechanical properties when heat-treated correctly. Compared with forged parts, fatigue strength can be lower, so each application needs its own evaluation.
Why do metal 3D printed parts still need CNC machining after printing?
The as-printed surface is usually rough and has small deviations from shrinkage and thermal stress. So mating surfaces, threaded holes and sealing faces are usually finish-machined on CNC to reach the required tolerances.
Is metal 3D printing suitable for high-volume production?
Usually not for very high volumes, because print speed and cost per part are still high compared with casting or stamping. Metal 3D printing works best for complex parts, low volumes or customized parts.
How is designing for metal 3D printing different from designing for traditional machining?
Designing for 3D printing means accounting for build orientation, minimum overhang angles to limit supports, and escape paths for excess powder in hollow cavities. In return, designers get more freedom with internal shapes, lattice structures and combining several parts into one.
Related services at CT3D Group
- On-demand 3D printing service
- High-accuracy 3D scanning service
- Custom 3D design service
- CT3D Group network: ct3dgroup.com · in3d.edu.vn – Hotline/Zalo 0975 008 728
