Metal 3D Printing
Our company uses unique 3D printing technology to produce metal prototypes and small batches. This is a cutting-edge method of manufacturing and a new way to create metal parts from scratch to work state within a few days.
Metal 3D printing is a technology that uses a nozzle to create layers of metal, a process similar to FDM used for plastics, eliminating the presence of powders and, consequently, the waste of important resources.
To create the final components, we base on the design provided by the customer or, in some cases, we carry out reverse engineering: we start from a sample without a design, we create the 3D file and then we print the required part, according to an additive manufacturing (AM) process. Basically, it is a reverse technique compared to the traditional subtractive manufacturing methodology.
For more details or to request a quote, please contact us. We operate in the main centers of Emilia-Romagna, including the province of Bologna.
Additive Manufacturing Technology
Meccanica Tecnica uses Desktop Metal’s BMD (Bound Metal Deposition) technology, a metal 3D printing technology very similar to the more popular FDM technology, which deposits overlapping layers of molten metal paste on the work surface to build the model. The difference is that neither powders nor lasers are used to 3D print metal parts, thus eliminating the safety requirements typical of other metal 3D laser printers and reducing to zero the material waste that typically occurs in powder systems.
The process starts with a 3D file designed specifically for additive manufacturing, and then proceeds through an optimization phase, with the goal of achieving extremely high-quality results and taking full advantage of the individual material characteristics.
Metal 3D printing can be performed on a wide range of raw materials, including stainless steel AISI316L, 17-4PH, H13, AISI4140 and pure copper. We are currently developing other metals: Inconel, aluminum and other steels.
Comparing with traditional molding technologies
Compared to injection molding or milling from solid (CNC), additive manufacturing has countless advantages. Among the main ones:
- Geometric freedom: it is possible to make very complex shapes that would not be feasible otherwise.
- Resource savings: Time and money are important considerations when creating precision components for industry. With additive manufacturing, preparation constraints are cut off and different parts can be assembled in a single step.
- Added value: differentiating objects and processes, with the great advantage of being able to customize surfaces and structures is another element not to be underestimated. In this way, competitiveness is assured.
Contact us for more technical details or to request information about our metal 3D printing service. We are active in the province of Bologna and in the main centers of Emilia-Romagna.