Are you looking for the best custom 3D printing metal suppliers to bring your innovative ideas to life? Here’s a comparison of the top companies in the industry, highlighting their unique services, technologies, and the industries they serve. Let’s dive in and find the perfect fit for your needs.

Metal 3D Printing Service for Custom Parts | Online Quoting

Custom Metal 3D Printing Service

Product Details: Xometry offers metal 3D printing services using Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and Metal Binder Jetting. These processes fuse metal particles layer-by-layer to form strong, durable parts.

Pros:
– Produces high-performance, complex metal parts wit…
– Allows for design freedoms including lattices and…
– Parts are isotropic, with even, multi-directional…
– Suitable for various metals like aluminum, stainle…
– No upfront setup or tooling costs.
– Free shipping on all US orders with no minimums.

Cons:
– Parts may require support structures to prevent wa…
– Enclosed areas must have holes to remove unfused p…
– Stresses during the build and geometry considerati…

Cheap Metal printing services? : r/3Dprinting

Product Details: The discussion revolves around finding affordable 3D metal printing services, particularly for materials like steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.

Pros:
– Craftcloud offers automatic price comparison and h…
– JLCPCB and PCBWay provide competitive pricing, wit…
– In3dtec.com offers cost-effective metal printing s…
– Unionfab and other local services mentioned can pr…

Cons:
– Some services lack automatic uploaders, requiring…
– Shipping costs can be high and sometimes unclear u…
– Material certification options are limited for som…
– Quality and delivery times can vary, with some use…

Metal 3D Printing Service

Product Details: Fathom’s metal 3D printing service uses Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) to produce high-quality metal parts. It melts 20-60 micron layers of metal powder, allowing complex geometries and no tooling requirements.

Pros:
– Enables production of complex part designs impossi…
– Eliminates up-front costs and tooling expenses
– Allows rapid prototyping and iteration of part des…
– Produces parts with high tensile strength, hardnes…
– Ideal for demanding applications in automotive, ae…
– Supports part consolidation, reducing manufacturin…
– Minimal waste compared to CNC machining or casting
– Fast production, usually within 5 days or less

Cons:
– Requires expertise for consistent high-quality pro…
– May need additional post-processing for tight tole…
– Hardening heat treatments not recommended for lase…

3D Metal Printing Services (DMP)

Product Details: Direct Metal Printing (DMP) is an additive manufacturing technology that builds high-quality, complex metal parts from 3D CAD data. It uses a high-precision laser to selectively build up thin horizontal metal layers from metal powder

particles.

Pros:
– Minimizes material waste and enhances energy effic…
– Provides a more eco-friendly alternative to tradit…
– Ideal for high-quality, complex metal parts
– Streamlined processes and skilled operators ensure…
– Saves time and cost by outsourcing metal printing…

Cons:
– Requires specialized equipment and skilled operato…
– Can be expensive for small-scale or one-off produc…
– Limited to materials compatible with DMP technolog…

metal 3D printing service

Product Details: Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) is an industrial metal 3D printing process that builds fully functional metal prototypes and production parts using a laser to fuse metal powder layer by layer.

Pros:
– Produces highly complex features and all-in-one as…
– Fast production time, often within 4 days
– Can use metals with high melting points like stain…
– Offers good strength, hardness, and dynamic proper…
– Ideal for aerospace, automotive, transportation, a…
– Allows for weight reduction and improved strength-…

Cons:
– High initial cost of machines and materials
– May result in porous surface finish, requiring add…
– Limited by the need for support structures in some…

Production 3D Printing of Metal Components

Product Details: RapidMade’s direct metal 3D printing service produces stainless steel and bronze alloy parts in quantities of 100 to 1000. It is 10 times faster and 8-12 times less expensive than DMLS for medium-sized production runs.

Pros:
– Faster production: 10 times faster than DMLS.
– Cost-effective: 8-12 times less expensive than DML…
– No tooling required: Flexible and affordable witho…
– Complex geometries: Accurately creates complex geo…
– Design flexibility: Easy design alterations even a…
– High-quality materials: Uses materials like 316L,…
– Quick turnaround: Production-grade metal parts in…

Cons:
– Size limitations: Best suited for parts no greater…
– Support requirements: Overhangs over 25 mm must ha…
– Design considerations: Inside corners need fillet…
– Potential warping: Thin connections between thicke…

Metal 3d Printing

Product Details: Etsy offers unique or custom, handmade metal 3D printed items from various shops. Products include custom laser cutting, CNC machining, anodized aluminum parts, and metal prototypes.

Pros:
– Unique and custom handmade pieces available
– Includes shipping for many items
– Variety of services such as laser cutting and CNC…
– Custom designs tailored to customer needs

Cons:
– Quality and pricing can vary between sellers
– Shipping details must be checked in each listing
– Limited to what individual sellers offer

Steel 3D Printing Service

Product Details: Steel 3D printing uses Indirect Metal Printing, binding steel powder layers with a binding agent, then infusing with bronze. The process involves spreading steel powder, depositing the binding agent, and drying each layer. The final

model is sintered and infused with bronze for strength.

Pros:
– Cheapest form of metal 3D printing
– Very strong and suitable for large objects
– Ferromagnetic properties
– Can be welded using TIG or silver solder

Cons:
– Interlocking or enclosed parts are not possible
– Variable surface results and color variations due…
– Shrinkage requires design scaling (2% for smaller,…
– Small, round marks from sprues after polishing
– Variations in smoothness and color

Metal 3D Printing Service

Product Details: PrintAWorld offers metal 3D printing services using Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology. They can print metals like stainless steel with high detail and accuracy. The process involves melting metallic powder with a high-powered laser to

create solid metal parts.

Pros:
– Fast turnaround compared to CNC milling or other s…
– High quality and high detailed prints with complex…
– Capable of producing large volume metal objects wi…
– Low deformation and rapid turnaround without the n…

Cons:
– Currently limited to printing stainless steel, tho…
– No mention of cost-effectiveness or pricing detail…

Comparison Table

Company	Product Details	Pros	Cons	Website
Metal 3D Printing Service for Custom Parts	Online Quoting
Custom Metal 3D Printing Service	Xometry offers metal 3D printing services using Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and Metal Binder…	– Produces high-performance, complex metal parts wit… – Allows for design freedoms including latti…	– Parts may require support structures to prevent wa… – Enclosed areas must have holes to remove u…	www.xometry.com
Cheap Metal printing services? : r/3Dprinting	The discussion revolves around finding affordable 3D metal printing services, particularly for mater…	– Craftcloud offers automatic price comparison and h… – JLCPCB and PCBWay provide competitive pric…	– Some services lack automatic uploaders, requiring… – Shipping costs can be high and sometimes un…	www.reddit.com
Metal 3D Printing Service	Fathom’s metal 3D printing service uses Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) to produce high-quality…	– Enables production of complex part designs impossi… – Eliminates up-front costs and tooling expe…	– Requires expertise for consistent high-quality pro… – May need additional post-processing for ti…	fathommfg.com
3D Metal Printing Services (DMP)	Direct Metal Printing (DMP) is an additive manufacturing technology that builds high-quality, comple…	– Minimizes material waste and enhances energy effic… – Provides a more eco-friendly alternative t…	– Requires specialized equipment and skilled operato… – Can be expensive for small-scale or one-of…	quickparts.com
metal 3D printing service	Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) is an industrial metal 3D printing process that builds fully fun…	– Produces highly complex features and all-in-one as… – Fast production time, often within 4 days…	– High initial cost of machines and materials – May result in porous surface finish, requiring add…..	www.in3dtec.com
Production 3D Printing of Metal Components	RapidMade’s direct metal 3D printing service produces stainless steel and bronze alloy parts in quan…	– Faster production: 10 times faster than DMLS. – Cost-effective: 8-12 times less expensive than DML…	– Size limitations: Best suited for parts no greater… – Support requirements: Overhangs over 25 mm…	rapidmade.com
Metal 3d Printing	Etsy offers unique or custom, handmade metal 3D printed items from various shops. Products include c…	– Unique and custom handmade pieces available – Includes shipping for many items – Variety of servic…	– Quality and pricing can vary between sellers – Shipping details must be checked in each listing -…	www.etsy.com
Steel 3D Printing Service	Steel 3D printing uses Indirect Metal Printing, binding steel powder layers with a binding agent, th…	– Cheapest form of metal 3D printing – Very strong and suitable for large objects – Ferromagnetic pr…	– Interlocking or enclosed parts are not possible – Variable surface results and color variations du…	i.materialise.com
Metal 3D Printing Service	PrintAWorld offers metal 3D printing services using Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology. They c…	– Fast turnaround compared to CNC milling or other s… – High quality and high detailed prints with…	– Currently limited to printing stainless steel, tho… – No mention of cost-effectiveness or pricin…	prtwd.com

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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How does metal 3D printing work?

Metal 3D printing builds parts by adding metal material, such as powder or filament, layer by layer. Each layer is fused by a laser or glued together with inkjet, and the part is post-processed to remove support structures and achieve the desired surface finish.

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What metal materials and alloys can you 3D print?

You can 3D print a variety of metal materials, including stainless steels, tool steels, titanium alloys, aluminum alloys, nickel-based superalloys, and even precious metals like gold and silver. The choice depends on the 3D printing technology used.

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Are metal 3D printed parts as strong as traditionally manufactured metal parts?

Yes, metal 3D printed parts can be as strong as traditionally manufactured parts. For example, parts printed using Selective Laser Melting technology have mechanical properties equivalent to casting and can reach 99.5% density.

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What are the common applications of metal 3D printing?

Metal 3D printing is commonly used for producing complex brackets, custom tools, end-of-arm tooling, and low-volume end-use parts. It’s ideal for parts with intricate geometries that are difficult or impossible to machine traditionally.

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Do metal 3D printed parts require post-processing?

Yes, most metal 3D printed parts need post-processing, which can include thermal treatments, machining, polishing, and other finishing methods to achieve the desired surface quality and performance. This adds to the overall cost and delivery time.