Metal Binder Jetting

Operating Principle & Process Flow

Operating Principle: A print head (similar to an inkjet printer) selectively sprays binder into a metal powder bed. After printing, a fragile "green part" results.

Process Flow: Printing (powder binding) → Curing in oven → Depowdering → Debinding → Sintering in high-temperature furnace → Dense metal part.

Technical Specifications

• Energy Source: No thermal energy during printing (chemical binding); thermal energy only in the sintering furnace.
• Feedstock / Material Feed: Powder bed (and binder via print head).
• Typical Part Size: Small to medium series parts.
• Build Rate: Very high (print process extremely fast with thousands of nozzles working in parallel).
• Accuracy: Medium to high (sintering shrinkage must be precisely compensated in CAD).
• Surface Quality: Medium to good (often slightly rougher than PBF-LB/M).

Applications & Materials

Typical Materials: Stainless steel (316L, 17-4PH), copper, tool steel, tungsten carbide.

Typical Applications: Series production of small housings, casting replacement, complex mechanical components.

Industries: Automotive, consumer goods, general mechanical engineering.