Raise3D – a leading manufacturer of large-format FDM / FFF 3D printers, has announced the launch of a new 3D printing system – Raise3D MetalFuse. It is a comprehensive, fully integrated metal 3D printing ecosystem developed in close collaboration with BASF Forward AM for Ultrafuse Metal filaments. The main areas of application of printed parts are tooling for machines and production lines, functional parts and prototypes as well as low-volume production.
The Raise3D MetalFuse system includes the Forge1 3D printer, D200-E catalytic furnace, S200-C sintering furnace, ideaMaker Metal 3D printing software and Ultrafuse Metal Filaments from BASF Forward AM. According to the manufacturer’s internal analysis – by excluding parts with a very simple design, the Raise3D MetalFuse solution enables the production of parts of better quality and lower costs, especially for small batches, than the SLM, DMLS or DMP solutions available on the market for laser metal sintering.
IdeaMaker Metal is a modified version of ideaMaker software, optimized to use Ultrafuse Metal Filament, with unique features that ensure the required part density and repeatability to produce the highest possible quality end parts.
The D200-E furnace uses the catalytic oxalic acid bonding process, which is used in the MIM technology, and is also safe and environmentally friendly. At the same time, the FDM / FFF technology allows for complete design freedom, which enables the production of complex parts that would otherwise be too expensive or could not be produced using the MIM method.
In addition, according to internal Raise3D tests, catalytic debinding allows to reduce binder removal time by 60%, increase part density to 98% of wrought iron density and increase yield strength up to 52% compared to the solvent method.
Manufacturing of parts using Raise3D MetalFuse is supposed to be safer, because it uses filament as a consumable material, which differs from the difficult-to-handle materials in 3D printing technology made of metal powder, sintered by a laser. Parts produced by Raise3D MetalFuse from Ultrafuse Metal Filament are also generally 1.4 – 2 times cheaper than most metal powders. The Raise3D solution also requires less hardware investment.
The company will begin large-scale worldwide delivery of Raise3D MetalFuse systems from the first half of 2022 through selected trading partners. The Forge1 3D printer will also be made available to customers who already have their own material debinding and sintering capabilities.
The prices of the Raise3D MetalFuse system are currently not disclosed, but Raise3D ensures that, in addition to all the technical advantages mentioned, it will be significantly lower than similar solutions on the market.
Source: Raise3D press materials
